ome a souvenir?
From the glove compartment of the car Cade took a sheaf of folded papers,
which he handed to Mandi. She, in turn, offered one to the newswoman, who took
it and started to introduce herself.
"I'm Julia Waters," she said, "WNN news. Would you answer a few questions
for me?"
"After you've read the brochure, if there's time," said Mandi. "That's my
press release. I can't stay long, so see if your questions are on there, okay?"
Julia's eyes fell to the brochure and she opened it.
As she did so, Mandi held up another brochure and said, "I have about a
hundred of these, if anyone wants one."
The crowd seemed to surge forward as a mass of grasping hands. WNN's
newsteam found themselves jostled out of position as both Cade and Mandi handed
out the brochures.
Many immediately began clamoring for autographs. Cade handed Mandi a pen and
continued to hand out brochures as Mandi signed brochures, clothing, arms, and
whatever else people presented with a quick, cursive 'MS'.
Just as they handed out the last of the brochures -- right on cue -- Cade's
cell phone rang. He answered it, then tapped Mandi's shoulder and handed the
phone to her.
"Mandi," she said, then listened intently for a moment, said, "Be right
there," and pushed the 'off' button as she handed the phone back to Cade.
For the benefit of the audience, she asked Cade, "Will you take care of the
car for me?"
Nodding curtly, Cade strode around the car, got in, and started it. Easing
through the crowd, he headed the car down the ramp toward the street, glancing
in the rearview mirror.
Mandi raised her arms for quiet and said, "I'm sorry, everybody, but I've
been called away. Thank you all for your time," then she launched herself
skyward.
Turning right at the corner, Cade drove half a block and turned right again
into the hotel's receiving docks. One of the guys from John's A-group opened the
second set of gates and Cade turned the car over to him, then shut the gates
behind him as he drove the Crown Vic to the front parking area.

Chapter Thirteen

As he walked up the steps to the hotel's rear entrance, Cade felt a watching
presence and faded into some shadows to have a look around. Seeing no one
immediately, he quietly dropped behind some bushes to get to another vantage
point and continued studying his surroundings.
There was still no one in sight, but the feeling was str