and rented some blondes
to fill out the..." At Mandi's sharp glance he hastily explained, "They're
actors, Mandi. Frank's friend is in the talent business. He called one of the
union reps here."
They reached the elevators and Cade pressed the call button as Mandi said,
"Knowing Frank, that isn't terribly reassuring."
John laughed and agreed with her, then continued, "Yeah, but we wanted a
full stage. They don't look like hookers, so even if that's what some of them
are, they'll do. There'll be about twenty other spur-of-the-moment contestants
unless they've added some since six o'clock."
Cade asked, "How did you come up with uniforms?"
"The superstore near Ft. McPherson. White bathing suits, boots and blue
spray paint, red fabric, and gloves. Phyllis and agent Vocce took the girls to
room 439, said that making their own uniforms was part of the job, and put them
to work. One of them started to object, but the one who brought her kid along
said that sewing and painting for a few minutes would beat the hell out of
waiting tables tonight. They all stayed."
"Waiting tables?" asked Cade, "That one doesn't sound like a hooker. She
brought her kid? Couldn't find a babysitter?"
Nodding, John said, "You got it. No problem, though. The convention has a
babysitting room so parents can attend panels and the like without disrupting
them. All we had to do was get her a day pass to the con."
The elevator arrived and they suspended the conversation until they arrived
at lower lobby two and debarked. As they threaded their way through the crowd
toward the ballroom where costume contests were held, Cade spotted the Brooklyn
Klingon woman yet again. She carried a blonde wig and seemed in a hurry.
"That's Chandra," said John. "When she saw us bringing in a vanload of
blondes, she got curious. We put her on the payroll for this event to keep her
quiet."
"This is where I get off," said Mandi, pointing at a side door. "See you
later, guys."
As Mandi headed for the door, John said, "She'll put on one of our homespun
uniforms and join the other contestants after Phyllis fixes her face."
Cade gave John the fisheye and asked, "There's no way she can win, is
there?"
Shaking his head, John smilingly said, "Sorry, but no. The best she can hope
for is third or fourth."
"Have the judges already picked the winner?"
Again shaking his head, John said, "No, just one loser in