a local modeling agency for any who wished to
participate. Prizes were awarded and the contest ended, then Mandi and most of
the others were led offstage.
At the photo booth, Mandi/Jane grinningly explained that her participation
had been a spur-of-the-moment thing brought about by the offer of a costume for
the occasion. She said that she had no interest in modeling and signed 'Jane
Blaise' on a release form for pictures taken during the contest.
John was waiting for her as she left the dressing room.
"Only sixth place, huh?" he asked with a grin. "Too bad. You really do sort
of look like her, you know."
She returned his grin with, "So they tell me." Glancing around to see there
was nobody near, she asked, "Can you spare a minute? It's about Cade."
Stiffening slightly, John asked, "Cade? What about him?"
"How well do you know him?"
Giving her a studious look, John said, "We go back a long way, Mandi. The
seventies in Europe. The Cold War. He was with a different agency back then. So
was I, for that matter..."
"That's the job, John. How well do you really know him?"
"Well, I'd trust him with my life or anyone else's. Does that answer your
question?"
With a trace of hesitation, Mandi said, "Almost. What do you think of his
ability to recover almost instantly after something like what just happened? Do
you think that's normal?"
John stopped and leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed and a
thoughtful look on his face.
"It is for Cade," he said. "Why all the questions, Mandi? Has he done
anything or said anything to you that..?"
Shaking her head, Mandi hurriedly said, "No, nothing like that. He's been a
perfect gentleman around me. To me. No problems there. But I watched him kill
that man in the lobby, John. A few minutes later his system was completely back
to normal, as if nothing had happened."
Grinning, John said, "Oh, I wouldn't say that..."
"I would," she cut in. "His heartbeat was seventy-six. Respiration normal.
How? Why?"
With a sense of being pinned like a bug, John answered, "That's just Cade,
Mandi. Always has been, as far as I know. Years ago I asked him the same
questions you're asking me. He told me that it's as if someone else takes over
for a little while. The psychs call it disassociation."
At Mandi's peering gaze, John's arms uncrossed in a gesture of protest and
he said, "Don't get me wrong. Cade's not cra