from their books. Today they'll bitch about stacks of rejection slips, wasted
time and postage, and stupid editors who can't see the value in their work. If
they happen to get published, they'll wind up bitching about being screwed by
their publishers over rights and book returns from chain stores."
After a short laugh, Mandi asked, "Then why do you go to these panels?"
Grinning, Cade said, "Sometimes they stay on topic."
She shrugged and said, "I feel as if I've just wasted an hour with that one.
Don't you?"
"Nope. I can usually find some way to use even an experience like that in
one of my ebooks."
Mandi was about to say something when her cell phone chirped. She and Cade
stepped out of the flow of foot traffic as she answered the call.
"Angel here."
"Alan. We found Hamad Marjeel and two of his people right across the street.
The Rivage seems to be getting all their business today. Instead of running,
they grabbed a couple of hostages in 831 and they're demanding media coverage."
"Meaning you want me to go in as a reporter?"
"It's all we can come up with. We're staging up in 835."
Mandi said, "I'm on my way."
"You'll be holding a mike and handling the interview," said Cade. "You'll
need a cameraman."
"You're volunteering?"
Shrugging, Cade said, "Well, if you'd prefer to have one of the younger guys
in there with you... You know, one of the guys with a wife and kids..?"
Mandi gave him a wry look and nodded, then said, "Alan, I already have a
cameraman."
"Cade?"
"Yes. We'll be there shortly."
She put her phone away and gestured for Cade to hurry along as she took the
escalator steps three at a time, weaving her way upward past some very startled
people.
Cade followed at a somewhat more sedate pace, taking only two steps at a
time and easing past the other riders. The terrorists wanted media coverage and
they had hostages as leverage, so they weren't going anywhere right away.
At the front doors, Mandi was waiting for him.
"You sure you're up to this?" she asked.
"What's the hurry?" asked Cade. "They'll be there. Where do we get news
credentials and hardware on short notice?"
As they started across the sidewalk to the street, Mandi said, "That's
Alan's job."
"Might want to give him a ring and see what he's doing about that."
"I already know what he's doing about it. He's doing whatever he has to."
As