Top Gun Tiger (Protection, Inc 7)

“Destiny,” Hal said. “That’s my personal line.”

She recognized the voice at the other end of the phone as Roland’s. “Destiny? Is Hal there?”

Doing her best to keep a straight face, she passed the phone to Hal. “It’s for you.”

“Yes?” Hal, juggling the phone as he lifted Ellie’s feet to prop them on a stool he’d pulled up, hit the speakerphone button.

Roland’s voice came through loud and clear. “I hope the family’s doing we—over there! By the lamp!”

There was a crash and cursing in the background. Ellie playfully covered Haley’s ears. Nick, completely serious, glanced at her and then covered Elliot’s.

“The twins and Ellie are great,” Hal assured Roland. “What’s going on?”

Roland raised his voice to be heard over the commotion. “Have you seen any odd little creatures like the flying kittens and so forth in the cages at Apex?”

There was another crash and more swearing, then Merlin’s eager voice saying, “Whatever it is, I want it!”

Hal somehow managed to keep a straight face as he replied, “Yes, actually. Have you?”

“Possibly,” Roland replied. “We just had a… creature of some sort… get into the office, which Carter says is impossible with the security system he installed.”

“Carter’s with you?” Hal inquired.

“Well…” Roland lowered his voice. “He said he was just going to install a security system and then leave. He’s still here, though.”

Carter’s annoyed retort came through loud and clear. “Because I obviously need to fix it! Then I’m leaving!”

Roland and Hal both ignored this. Hal asked, “Well, what does the creature look like?”

“I’m not sure,” Roland said. “It moves too fast to get a good look at it. Whatever it is, it’s flittering around the office knocking things over.”

More crashes. More swearing.

“That sounds like Pete,” Hal said.

“Yes, Pete decided to join us on the condition that—”

“Roland!” Pete yelled. “Not while you’re on speakerphone!”

Undisturbed, Roland said, “And of course we were very happy to have him.”

In the momentary silence, Ransom’s voice sounded clearly. “It seems attracted to bright lights. If we turn off the lights, then hold a flashlight in front of an open window, it might fly out.”

“Ransom too?” Hal inquired.

Ransom replied himself. “On a very temporary basis.”

“And we’re happy to have him, too,” said Roland. “On any basis. Hmm.”

“What?” asked Hal.

“It’s gone now,” Roland replied. “Ransom’s trick worked.”

Merlin’s irritated voice rose in the background. “I said I’d take it!”

“It’s not like you didn’t have plenty of chances to catch it,” Pete retorted. “Next time bring a butterfly net to the office. Or maybe I should bring one, for you!”

Hal spoke louder, to be heard over the arguing. “Got a name for your team yet? Or do you want to be Protection, Inc: The Other Office?”