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"Hey," she said

"Hey, yourself"

"You look tired"

"She’s a barracuda," he said

"Susan?" she asked, s a hare to Girls! Girls! Girls! do you?"

"You do look a little worn" She laughed

He groaned "She never sleeps"

"I’ll do the talking You just trail behind, how’s that?" she asked hi chipper How is it that you’re so happy when I seriously doubt you’re getting any rinned in return "It’s just that I’ quality sleep," she assured hiain, isn’t it?"

As Julian turned, she studied thecoffee at the counter She was surprised to feel a pang of pity for him, and she wondered why He was a stalwart politician To the best of her knowledge, he tried to keep his promises And he hadn’t lost the election Not yet, anyway

"He looks tired, too, huh?" she said to Julian

"Why not? Billy Banks is yapping right at his heels"

The man walked out of the coffee shop, two of his aides in tow Passing their table, he smiled at them absently and hurried on

"He didn’t even tell us to vote for him," Julian said

"You think it makes all that much difference, who’s in and who’s out?"

Julian shrugged "I don’t know that uy looks tired I wouldn’t want the job I can’t iine where in the world it would be harder to create a climate of honesty and ethics than here, in the land of Girls! Girls! Girls! People love New Orleans because there’s a sense you can do what you want to do here--short of the obviously illegal, of course If someone could come in and maintain that, and still wipe out the stuff that cos, child porn, all that stuff--I’d vote for him in a minute Maybe that is Harold Grant And h he seems to me like a Bible-thumper who doesn’t show up in church co for old Harold He looks worn but tough You know, like a good old bulldog"

Nikki rose "Our custo to arrive"

"Where’s lover boy this ?" Julian asked

"Off somewhere"

"Good heavens, the romance can’t be over already?"

She smiled "We didn’t turn into one person," she told hilasses up "No? Just about It seems as if you don’t need me anymore"

She kissed his cheek "I’ll always need you You’re ot your barracuda"

He groaned "You’re not going to believe this--and if you repeat it, I’ll call you a liar and wash your mouth out with soap--but I can’t keep up with her"

Nikki laughed "So where is she now?"

"Back at my place" He shook his head "Nikki, I ht, huh? We could have a planning "

"Hey, I’m not the boss"

"Oh, convenient Push us all around in his absence, then, when I need help, pretend that Max cares"

"I think he does care"

"Not enough to be here," Julian said

"He knohat’s going on," Nikki said "He can be generous when he wants And I’"

"So call hi boy Tell her that you have a life Now couide"

Julian nodded and followed her over to the group that was for about Nancy Griffin was her resemblance to Nikki, at least froht, and she had very similar hair Her eyes were different, a deep brown, but she was attractive, about the saht, and she moved in the same easy, naturally sensual way

She met Brent at Café du Monde He kneho she was the second he saw her co over to the table

He had risen "Yes, and thanks for ed "The police have basically said that they can’t do anything about it I’ve already canceled hed "What I’m really sorry about are the pictures, some of nieces and nephews that I probably can’t replace One of my sister and me as little kids… well, you know I lost some cash, but hey, that can be replaced"

"They may still find your discarded purse somewhere," Brent told her

"I hope so Are you sohtly "The only reason I’ you is that you called irl You checked that out?"

"Caller ID" She laughed "Luckily, my cell was in my pocket Anyway--"