Page 13 (1/2)

"You’re senior man on the case," Daniel pointed out, "but you’re not the only hoood, competent help" Daniel shook his head "Unfortunately, our city has had its share of very bad happenings Think about La Maison Lalaurie Madame Lalaurie and her physician husband kept a houseful of slaves chained to the walls and they performed the most horrible medical experiments on the poor people They tortured, maimed, and risly deeds when a fire brought in the city fireht in the police The house remains in the French Quarter today; the Lalauries escaped There was the butchery at the ‘Sultan’s’ house, when the Turk and his entire household were found in pieces In the late twenties, early thirties, we had the ax oes on and on"

"That was the past, Dad And yes, it was horrible But I’otIt’s taking far too long And all the modern miracles in the world won’t help if I don’t have a suspect to tie in with the evidence" Daniel was quiet for a ainst the wall

Unfortunately, lots of killers are never caught"

Sean set the paper down "Dad, I will get this guy This is my city Nobody kills and cuts up people like this in rinned "There’s the fighting spirit You got anything going that isn’t in the papers?" Sean shrugged "Well, we didn’t let it out in the papers that we foundthe sidewalk They led directly to the side door of Montgomery Enterprises--then stopped I ?"

"Of course"

"Well?"

"Nothing We scoured the place with a fine-tooth co Did you omery?"

"Yes, she was cooperative, and allowed us to search the premises"

"And that’s all? You asked to search her property and did so?" Sean lowered his head, grinning He’d spent about eight years of his life living with a girl named Sophie Holloway Sophie was pretty, sweet, and vivacious, a Mardi Gras princess They’d otten back together They’d finally planned to marry when Sophie had discovered she had uterine cancer, and no pleading on his part could convince her that they should one nearly six years now Sean dated He liked women, liked sex--hell, it was a necessary fact of life, like breathing But living with soer

He hadn’t found the right wo to die a bachelor, and his illustrious line of Canadys would come to an end

"Yes, Dad I asked to search her property, and she gave her permission" He hesitated "I also saw her at a jazz club last night, so we had so of a chance to talk Why?" Daniel sht Just curious"

"Honestly, just curious," Daniel insisted "If you look in the old faooo in that none of the wohters see to the Montgo more common these days, I’m afraid Many professional women keep their surnames

Personally, I like the old concept, when a woman took her husband’s naoging

"Downright snooty in a way"

Sean smiled "How’s that, Dad?"

"Well, they take off to Europe with their babies, then come back here tosnooty"

Daniel grinned "I wouldn’t suggest anything of the kind But there have been interesting relationships between the families over the years Sometime, I’ll show you all the records I have I wouldn’t h Her ancestors have been fascinating woht?"

"No, Dad, she’s nothis father’s hopeful expression Then he relented

"Yeah I liked her"

"Did you ask her out?"

"In a way"

"Did she accept?"

"Not really"