eed a playground, and the
third floor set up for children, and--a nanny, do you think, or--"

"Next weekend be okay?" Bain interrupted to ask.

"The sooner the better," Cortin said. If they could move in that
quickly, it might not be a bad idea to invite that reporter for the
week around the Brothers' attack on the convent. If she'd never been
to a fresh raid scene, she could only have a rough, second-hand idea of
the suffering a raid caused. Seeing that might jar her enough to let
her really look at what Enforcement did, and why--including the
necessity for Inquisitors and the methods it took to stop the
terrorists. Cortin wasn't sure it would, but with Blackfeather's
reputation for honesty, it seemed to be worth the gamble. "If they'll
need help, fly out with whoever you need."

Bain spoke into the phone again, then hung up and turned to the rest.
"Two of us will be more than enough, she says. Who wants to be the
other?"

Pritchett raised his hand quickly. "I've always been good with kids."

"I would also like to go," Chang said.

Cortin shook her head. "Sorry, Sis. Even if you weren't pregnant,
it'd be too dangerous. I know you're no more worried about yourself
than any other Strike Team officer would be, but with you at the top of
the Brothers' wipe list, if they tried for you, the Bains would get
caught in the crossfire."

"I had not thought of that," Chang said. "I would not wish to endanger
others, of course. Dave and Tiny, then?"

"Right. On permissive TDY--and," she turned to the designated ones,
"with orders to call me if the Transportation Office gives you any
static about storing whatever she can't or doesn't want to bring along.
Not that that's likely, with both of you members of the King's Own."

"True." Bain grinned. "I kind of hope they do, though. You cannot
believe how much I'd like to see their faces if Her Excellency the
King's Inquisitor had to talk to them."

"Oh, I'd believe, all right," Cortin said. "I've had all the usual
experiences with them myself, which is why I'm kind of hoping you have
to call."

* * * * *

Prince Edward tapped on the King's half-open office door. "Good news,
Father."

The King looked up from the papers he was working on. "Come in and
close the door." When Edward had obeyed and seated himself, the King
asked, "How good?"

"Colonel Cortin's just turned Strike Team Azrael into a family, and
Lieutenant Chang is