Screeching Halt by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781462089390
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2004-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

The entertainment media assigned to cover the Heroes of America ceremony went crazy when Dashmagne Grant arrived in Dallas without the infamous Madison Love on his arm. Most members of the media had little or no interest in the next group of heroes being inducted into HOA. As far as they were concerned, it was simply a self-absorbed little club created and financed by an eccentric Texas billionaire, Lucas Beltmann. Boring.

No, the media was there to catch a glimpse of the sexy supermodel, currently the main squeeze of American’s newest hero. Photographers brought extra rolls of film and gigantic telephoto lenses with them to Texas, just in case they couldn’t get close to the pair. Magazine covers beckoned. Whatever shots they could capture would go for big bucks on the open market in the world of tabloid publishing.

Grant, however, had shown up only with Quick Willie Spoon, who was serving in his capacity as Dash’s press secretary and business manager. This greatly disappointed the news media and the city was now buzzing with unanswered questions. Where was the sexual dynamo, Madison Love? Was she working somewhere on location? Was she ill? Pregnant? Or had she and Grant already called off their torrid romance? And if that was the case, who dumped who? These were the thoughts that occupied the minds of sweat-drenched reporters and photographers in Dallas during the first steamy week of August.

Beltmann had arranged for his limousine to collect Dash and Willie at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He also had his publicist leak the time of Dash’s arrival to ensure maximum coverage of the event. Anything to promote the organization and its televised event on Lifetime the next night. But even Beltmann didn’t know in advance that Love would not arrive with Grant. Naturally, he was as disappointed as the news media.

Jordan Lewis met Dash and Willie at the gate with a pair of large, no-nonsense bodyguards. The two men were intimidating in their appearance and extraordinarily efficient when it came to crowd control. They remained silent as they escorted the two Minnesotans through the crowded concourse.

“We’ll take care of your luggage,” said Lewis, always the loyal and competent assistant. “Lucas is very eager to see you again.”

The entourage wove through the airport amid camera crews and mindless gawkers before finally working its way outside. Dash had to shield his eyes from the gleam of the black stretch limo parked at the curb of a nearby no-parking zone. Beltmann’s influence, not to mention his money, obviously packed plenty of punch in Texas.

“Good to see you, Dash,” Beltmann said boisterously as Dash and Willie climbed inside. “Hiya, Willie. How ya’ll doing today?”

“Hello, Mr. Beltmann. We’re good. You know, you didn’t have to go to all this trouble for us. We could have taken a cab to our hotel.”

“No trouble at all,” Beltmann replied. “And hey, call me Lucas. This is Texas. Down here even the wealthiest of us are still just good old boys. We’re always on a first-name basis.

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