n decrease, Cade also
sighed and asked, "Is it reversible?"
"No."
"Will it be bad for me in any way?"
"No. Exactly the opposite."
"Can I possibly envision at this moment what it'll be like?"
"Well... no, not really. You may think you can..."
Raising his hand, he interrupted her.
"No, I can't. You tossed a Crown Vic around. One car, about a ton. I saw you
do it, so okay, I believe it. But me lifting six cars? It isn't that I don't
believe you, Mandi, it's just that the feeling of power like that just isn't
there for me yet, and it won't be 'till I've done something to make it feel
real."
Sipping his drink, he added, "But what's really got you tweaked is my kill
sheet." Cade shrugged. "Can't change those numbers. Can't undo the conversion,
either. Seems to me that if I turn out to be a big mistake, you'll have to kill
me rather than let me run loose in the world. Fair enough, ma'am. Are you ready
to go see what they have next door?"
For a long moment, Mandi simply stared at him, then she swung her legs from
beneath the table and stood up. Cade did the same and they walked around the
hedges between the restaurants to another chain burger joint.
"There's a Mexican restaurant the other way," said Mandi.
"That's why I didn't go that way. You like Mexican food?"
"I just mentioned it, Ed. It's there, that's all."
"Yeah, and it can damned well stay there. I wasn't hungry enough to eat
Mexican food when I woke up today."
Mandi snickered and asked, "You really don't like Mexican food, huh?"
"No, ma'am, I really don't. The stuff's a health hazard."
"It won't be a problem for you after the conversion."
"Great, but I still won't want any."
At the end of the hedges a loud rustling sounded as a guy in his twenties
jumped in front of them and said, "Gimme your money," as he aimed a stiletto at
them.
Cade opened his jacket and put his hand on his Glock as he said, "You don't
get to keep the knife. Drop it, then get lost."
"You aren't going to arrest him?" asked Mandi.
The guy had spread his arms and leaned as if to put the knife on the ground.
He suddenly leaned the other direction and took off running. Cade ran after him,
caught up with him almost instantly, and grabbed his knife arm.
Bones snapped and crushed in his grip. The guy screamed and the knife fell
from his hand to the pavement as he stared at Cade in shock and agony.