Encounter in Atlanta

she'd been called into John's anteroom office, she'd begun to have some misgivings about having converted Cade. It had occurred to Mandi to wonder how Cade would handle being converted without consultation, but not for long. He seemed to be exactly the kind of man Mandi wanted on her team; capable, determined, outside the reaches of political parties and religions, and able to both teach and learn. He was a little long in the tooth, but that didn't seem to make any difference concerning his effectiveness. And -- his profession as an armed spook aside -- he seemed a warm, giving person, not just another of those 'I am my job'-types. Cade's reaction when she dropped by his room seemed to validate all her immediate gut feelings about him. He'd simply grabbed his gear and said that 'on-the-job is the worst possible time to have to learn new tricks'. Mandi had almost laughed at that. Almost. He was right, of course, but she didn't have the luxury of time. As soon as the convention job ended, she had to return to Las Vegas. But still... Twenty kills and no arrests? Had she read him wrong, despite her training and genetic predispositions? After signing in for the look-alike contest, she'd been led to a dressing room with the twenty-six other women and had put on the rather crude replica of her costume. When all the women had been paraded past the audience and judges, they waited in the wings for the results. That's where she was when she saw John suddenly head for the doors. Looking through the walls, she saw agent Pierce holding a man down and agents Evans and Bartow on the floor as a man hurtled toward Cade with a weapon. Mandi almost abandoned the contest to go to his aid, but the situation unfolded too quickly. In a bit less than eight seconds the attacker was unconscious and dying fast and Cade was again on his feet, talking into his lapel mike. When Carter picked up the attacker's weapon and asked if Cade was okay, he shruggingly replied that he could use a coffee. Was that just a bit of bravado for Carter? For several long-seeming moments more Mandi watched Cade after he'd resumed his post in front of the doors. He showed no outward signs of aftermath anxiety; his heartbeat and respiration returned to normal inside three minutes as he stood calmly in a loose parade-rest stance. Had she been mistaken about him, after all? Had his soft side only been a facade for her benefit? John appeared and dismissed Cade, who headed for the escalators as John returned to the ballroom. Mandi's contest alias -- Jane Blaise -- was softly called by the woman emcee, who was working from a list. She said that there would be photo opportunities after the show with 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 crazy, Mandi. He's fifty-three, for God's sake. If he was going to go nuts he'd have done it before now. Jesus, you ought to hear some of the things he's been through." "Great idea, John. When can I see his records?" John's eyes got somewhat larger as he said, "Uh, well..." Mandi put a finger on his chest that felt like a steel rod and said, "No. Don't say 'uh, well'. Just say when I can see them." Gathering himself against her imposing presence, John said, "Mandi, before I say 'when', I have to ask 'why'." Letting her finger drop from his chest, Mandi said, "I wanted him for my project. I was going to talk to you about it, but now I have some doubts about him." "Uh, isn't he kind of old for what you have in mind?" Thumbing toward the lobby, she asked, "You can ask that after what happened out there? That guy was half Cade's age." She shrugged and added, "Besides, he calls himself semi-retired and he joined this op without a second thought, didn't he? Do you really think he'd turn me down?" With a wry grin and a sigh, John shook his head. "No. There's not a chance in hell of that, once you tell him what it's about. Okay. You'll see his records." "When?" "Is now good? He'll be filling out reports in the ops room, so we can use the computer in my room." Mandi nodded and said, "Thanks, John. I wouldn't ask if I didn't need to know." They headed up to the fourth floor and John pulled up Cade's records on his computer. "This isn't everything," he said, "But it ought to be enough for now. If you aren't satisfied with these, you can see his complete file on Monday." Mandi thanked him and began reading as John lay down with a damp towel over his face and dozed. Fifteen minutes later Mandi slid her chair back and stood up. John pulled the towel off his face and looked at her. "Well?" he asked. "You never mentioned that he'd been a mercenary, John." "You didn't ask." Indicating the computer with a nod, he asked, "How do you feel about him after reading all that?" Glancing at the computer screen, she said, "I'll still want to see his full file on Monday. There are a lot of variables." "If you'll swing by the office, I'll arrange it." John started to get up, but Mandi raised a hand and said, "No, stay put. I can find the door. Thanks, John." "Only for you, ma'am," he said, putting the towel back over his eyes as he chuckled and repeated, "Only for you."

  Chapter Eighteen

  Instead of using Mandi's roof entrance to the hotel, she and Cade walked down the vehicle reception ramp to the street, then continued walking south until Mandi said, "All clear." Wrapping an arm around Cade, she leaped into the air. Minutes later they touched down beside a fast food restaurant which was surrounded by several similar restaurants. After buying half a dozen super-burgers, they sat at one of the plastic-umbrellaed tables and dug into the food. Mandi spoke as she unwrapped her second burger. "Ed, your records indicate that you've made twenty-four kills and no arrests while you've been with the NIA." He met her gaze and said, "I wondered why you were so quiet, milady. That many, huh? Damn. Does that include the last two?" Her gaze narrowed a bit as she asked, "Do you have a good explanation for not taking any prisoners?" Speaking around some burger, Cade said, "Nothing that isn't in my records. Basically, ma'am, they just wouldn't cooperate. They never gave me the chance to arrest them." "You're sure about that?" He nodded. "Any of them could have put their weapons down, but they didn't. Where are you going with this? Having second thoughts about converting me?" Maybe Mandi's mild surprise showed in her face. Cade's eyebrow went up as he sipped his Dr Pepper. Nodding, she said, "I h
ad some reservations, yes." Cade shook his head and said, "Nope. Not 'had'. You have some real, live doubts. You're thinking maybe