The Siege by Alexie Aaron

when something out there needs my help,” Cid said.
    Mia smiled wide and full.  “That’s something you and I have in common, besides our good looks, big brains and adoration for one Theodore Martin.”
    Cid laughed and added, “And he for us.”
    “Damn straight.”
     

     
     

Chapter Six
     
    “Yes, I know I’m not on the maternity floor.  And I’m telling you for the last time, I’m not in labor!”
    Audrey heard the raised voice coming from the hall and almost peed herself laughing.  A very irate Mia entered her room.  She was dressed in a bump-hugging, charcoal cashmere dress. Audrey was certain this costly present was from Mia’s over-indulgent godfather Ralph.  The long, dark, penguin print socks that made up the distance between her hemline and boot tops had to be Mia’s doing.
    Mia pulled off the matching knit cap and tossed it in the chair along with her coat.  She rushed to Audrey’s bedside.  “You poor dear!  I’m so sorry.  Would you like me to call Judy?  I’m certain she can take the sting out at least.”
    “Oh, I’m letting Mr. Morphine do that,” Audrey said, nodding at the controlled drip above her.
    “Me and that man never got along,” Mia said, wrinkling her nose.  “He gave me nightmares.  Speaking of which, the Dawson investigation is in the bag.”
    “I heard.  Mike stopped by on his way back to Lincoln Park.  Bravo for you and Ted.”
    “No, bravo for PEEPs.  Do you know, the odds of settling down a poltergeist infestation without totally ruining the home are one in a hundred.  The last group to do that are all snug in their graves.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “They were a trio of maiden aunts who worked in Boston just after the American Revolution.  Just ask Glenda; I’m sure she went to school with them.”
    “Mia!  You are so bad.  Did you come alone?”
    “No, Ted’s parking the car.  The valet took one look at my truck and went on break.  His loss, I only have a twenty on me.”
    “What are you going to do when the baby comes along? You can’t fit all of you in the truck.”
    “Three of us…”
    “Come on, you and I know that Murphy and Cid make five.”
    “Oh yes, Mia’s boys.  Hey, we have another boy at the house.”
    “Mike told me Dave moved out of Burt’s.”
    “Yes.  Dave’s a bit hard to take, unless you have your own private supply of Mr. Morphine.”
    “You’re doing the right thing,” Audrey said.
    “Do you think so? Because I’m starting to doubt myself.”
    “Come here and get a one-armed mushy hug,” Audrey ordered as she stuck out her unhampered arm.
    Mia leaned in and let the researcher comfort her for a change.
    Ted walked in to see a two-headed, three-armed beast wriggling in the bed.  “I don’t know whether I should get my holy water or get a box of popcorn.”
    Mia broke away from morphine-high Audrey.
    “Aw, where are you going?” Audrey complained.
    “To get you this,” Mia said, taking the gift bag from Ted.
    Audrey’s eyes lit up.
    Ted leaned down and whispered, “She’s higher than a kite, right?”
    “Higher than the HIMAWARI 8.”
    “I’m so impressed, Mrs. Science,” Ted said, following Mia to Audrey’s bedside.
    “Whats a HIMAWARI 8?” Audrey asked.
    “A Japanese weather satellite,” Ted answered.
    “Okay, is that what’s in that bag?” she asked.
    Mia couldn’t help giggling at the doped-up researcher.  “No, something better.”  Mia laid the gift bag on the bed.
    Audrey noticed it had some weight to it, but instead of diving in with one hand, she plucked the envelope out first.  Mia helped the one-armed woman extract the card and handed it to her.  Audrey stared at the framed still of her catching the Tiffany lamp.  “Ouch,” she said before she started laughing.  “Did you make this?” she asked Ted.
    “Jake helped.  He searched for the right moment.  Right before you started screaming I believe,” Ted said.
    “You guys have a unique sense of humor.