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just in case. If you don’t answer, I’m calling the police. Where are you, now? Still in town?”
    “Not exactly.” I thought like mad. “They took me to Vegas. Apparently there’s some big Homeland Security facility there.”
    “In Vegas?” he asked, clearly incredulous. “We have a Federal building downtown and they took you to Sin City?”
    “Perfect cover. Who would suspect?” I was amazed at how easily making this crap up was coming to me. Martini looked particularly impressed, and even Christopher seemed to be sneering at me a little less.
    “Makes sense. Did they give you the pen back?”
    “Yes, Dad. They took all the samples they needed, cleaned it, and it’s back in my possession.” That was my father in a nutshell—do you still have the expensive gift I got you? Not that he was materialistic, it’s just that spending large sums made him nervous, so it was a real occasion when he did.
    “Good. Okay, check your watch, let’s make sure we’re on the same time.”
    “Dad, for God’s sake.”
    “Fine, fine. I’ll set the alarm so I’ll wake up in the night, too.”
    This was going to be hell, but then again, how did I know they weren’t going to do something to me? “Okay, Dad. But if, like at four in the morning, I tell you to not call again, you’ll understand, right?”
    “Sure, Kitty. I know you’re a grump when you wake up, just like your mother. Maybe we’ll take the calling in shifts.”
    “Dad, Mom’s going to have jet lag. Let her sleep.”
    “Her daughter just stopped a terrorist. I think she’ll be wired.”
    “Great, then yeah, let her call, too. Maybe the rest of the family can go round robin with it.”
    “Great idea! I’ll make some calls between now and the next two hours.”
    “Dad … joke. Really, a joke. Please don’t call anyone else. I think the Department is worried I’ll become a target for attack. Let’s not give them any reason to be right.” I was good at this. I’d almost never lied to my parents in my entire life, and now I was lying to my father like a natural.
    “Okay.” I could hear the disappointment. “Not even your uncle?”
    “Definitely not Uncle Mort.” Uncle Mort was a career Marine heading into his fourth decade with the Corps and the last person I wanted advised. Unless, of course, I was in danger. Then I wanted Uncle Mort to rally the troops and come save me. However, Uncle Mort would be likely to know there was no Homeland Security facility in Las Vegas. “I don’t want him to feel like he has to come or something. I’d like to do this on my own.”
    “Okay, kitten. I understand. I’ll only call Uncle Mort if you don’t answer the phone.”
    That I could get behind. “Sounds good. But, Dad, remember, in the wee hours, try calling more than once. If I’m safe and asleep, I may not hear the phone even if I have it right by me.”
    “Three times, that’s it. You don’t answer, I call in the Marines.”
    “Great, perfect plan. I’ll talk to you, well, every two hours for a while. So, love you, gotta go now.”
    “Love you, too. Be good, and don’t let them push you around. You’re a hero, and heroes deserve respect.”
    “Will do.” I closed the phone and looked back to White. “My father will be calling me every two hours from now until I’m released by Homeland Security. He has an extensive network of friends and family, and despite my telling him not to, I’ll bet he calls a few of them anyway. Your move.” I looked at Christopher. “Oh, and nothing had better happen to my parents, either.”
    Christopher shrugged. “I’m image control, not eliminations.”
    “Great.” I turned back to White. “So?”
    “So,” he sighed, “we have two hours to convince you to tell your father that all’s well.”
    “Give or take. He’s willing to call regularly for days. This is probably fun for him.”
    “I guess we’ll have to time things out,” Martini said. “Don’t want him calling at an inopportune