Jack leapt over the railing and crouched next to Cadence. She knew he was yelling her name, but she couldn't make out anything else. She also heard chatter on the IAC, something about a car, Zabrina, and "on the ground," but she really had no idea what anyone was saying. Instinctively, she reached for the Glock she had in a holster near her left hip, the side she had not landed on.

She began to regain her clear-headedness just as another thud echoed against the pavement, and she ...