“You got me,” the cop said. “First time I’ve seen it. So what was in the safe in the bedroom?”
“Just paperwork. It was basically a fireproof filing box. It had our passports and marriage license and birth certificates and things like that. God, what a nightmare.”
“You’re alive and your family is fine,” the cop said. “Count your blessings.”
28: FLYING MONKEY FIVE
Riding to school with Nikola Tesla Dufae was totally different than being with Tesla the nanny-bot. They’d learned that he was enraptured by any shiny new situation and would fall silent, satisfied to just look and listen. Once things became familiar, however, he started to ask questions. Sunday had been a hell of an effort to get him to stay quiet as their parents cataloged all that had been taken from the house. Halfway to the city, on the crowded train, the questions started.
“Where are we going?”
“We told you that you shouldn’t talk unless we’re alone,” Louise whispered as the high school student standing beside them glanced down at Nikola. She tightened her hold on his leash.
He gave a little whimper. “It just that Joy is dreaming of cake and she’s wiggling her fingers and it tickles.”
At times he said things that hurt Louise’s brain. How did he know that Joy was dreaming of cake? Was he somehow aware of her thoughts? How was he aware at all? He was a couple of frozen cells inside a magical egg-shaped thing riding on top of a magical generator within a robotic body.
And how exactly was he feeling Joy wiggling her fingers? The storage bin didn’t have sensors.
She petted his head to give them both something else to think about. He laid his head on her lap and thumped his tail.
Jillian hadn’t noticed the exchange. She bent over her tablet, memorizing lines to the play. Between stealing the nactka and the embryos, they’d ignored the play but it was nine days away. It would have been less if the bombing hadn’t pushed it back.
“We’re going to school,” Louise whispered. “And I know you’re going to have a lot of questions, but you need to not ask us any of them until we’re alone.”
He whimpered again and sighed deeply.
Louise felt bad for him. It would kill her not to ask questions all day. Maybe there were other ways of getting around him not talking. “Can you text?”
“Yes! We can!” He’d gained more control over Tesla’s body over the weekend. His pointed ears dipped in worry. “Can we?”
“Yes, you can text me.” She hugged him. “But you’ll have to be patient for me to answer. I might not be able to text you back immediately.”
* * *
Jillian surprised Louise by introducing Iggie to Nikola Tesla. He’d been waiting at the top of the station’s staircase. As usual, he went to pet Tesla even as he called hello to them.
“Iggie, this is Nikola Tesla.” Over the weekend, it had become apparent that Nikola was their little brother while Tesla was his robotic body. They’d debated on his last name. Should they use “Mayer” or “Bell” or “Dufae?” In the end they’d decided to use their biological father’s name, even though it was too dangerous to actually say aloud. “Nikola, this is Iggie.”
Iggie paused with hand outstretched, a smile tugging at his mouth, as if he wasn’t sure if what she said was a joke or not.
“We downloaded a personality and gave him a real name,” Jillian lied. “Say ‘hello,’ Nikola.”
Nikola tilted his head in confusion and then leaned close to Louise to whisper. “We’re so confused. When can we talk?”
Louise glared at Jillian for making things harder. Jillian rolled her eyes, indicating that she had a plan but couldn’t discuss it right now. Louise sighed and patted Nikola, “When we introduce you to someone, you can say ‘hello’ and ‘nice to meet you’ and such.”
Nikola stared at her for a minute and then turned to Iggy. “Hello. Nice to meet you.” He looked back at Louise. “Silly old bear.”
How did she get to be the bad guy in this?
“Do you have your lines memorized?” Jillian changed the subject.
“Yes. I think.” Iggy held up his left hand like it was a hook and waved it. “Spirit that haunts this dark lagoon tonight, dost hear me?”
“Are you talking to us?” Nikola asked.
Louise groaned and pulled him on ahead via the leash. “Why don’t you two practice in private?”
“He wasn’t talking to us?” Nikola whispered.
“No!” Louise whispered.
* * *
Flying Monkey Five was in their classroom.