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The three of theed on the bed as Fiona went on

"I want to attend the luncheon at the Monteleone tomorrow"

"The lunch to honor Jennie Mahoney?" Caitlin asked, frowning

Jennie Mahoney was the untitled queen a the shapeshifters She was a beautiful woman, a socialite and ain New Orleans, Jennie was in on it

She was going to be honored for the work she had done in soliciting funds to redo a coffeehouse just outside the Quarter The place offered openup-and-co its walls orks by local artists Since Jennie and several of her friends considered themselves poets, Fiona wasn’t sure that all the effort Jennie had put in wasn’t a little self-serving, but the coffee house had been a local landmark that was completely ruined by Katrina, and the fact that it was now open again was a big boost for a city in need of every boost it could get

"Are you going?" Fiona asked Caitlin

"Of course It would be incredibly rude of o?"

"If I’d known you wanted to go, I should have gotten tickets ages ago," Caitlin said "Do I want to go?" Shauna asked, frowning as she looked at Fiona

"I think all three of us should be there I’d like to talk to Jennie," Fiona said

Caitlin was frowning "If you talk to Jennie, she’s going to think you’re suspicious of her--and her kind"

Fiona shook her head "Not at all I’ on"

Caitlin nodded slowly, staring at Fiona "But you know this was the work of a vampire," she said

"Certainly not a olf," Shauna said "A olfwell, a olf kill is never subtle or pretty, you know?"

That was true, beyond a doubt

"Caitlin, I really need your help," Fiona said

Caitlin nodded slowly "All right I’ll text a few people right now The lunch was sold out weeks ago, butthere’s always someone who has to cancel"

"Thank you"

"It’s late We should get some sleep," Shauna said, as she rose and yawned "Boy, what a relief"

"What’s a relief?" Caitlin asked

"That it wasn’t a olf"

Fiona glared at her

"Sorry" Shauna apologized "I’ anyone For all we know, it ed out weirdo ants to be a vampire"

"No," Fiona said

They both looked at her

"Tina Lawrenceshe started to rise froe was there to handle theher sister’s eyes "I’m afraid it’s in our jurisdiction She was definitely killed by one of ours"

Caitlin stared at her steadily "Good night," she said finally, then turned and left

"What’s wrong with her?" Shauna asked softly

"She thinks I’ a shapeshifter I’m not I just have to keep my mind open, and if it wasn’t a vampire, then it had to be a shapeshifter No other creature could take on--or pass on--the abilities of a vampire"

"It probably is the work of a vampire," Shauna said softly

"I know," Fiona assured her, then smiled hat she hoped was reassurance "It’s our first real challenge We willout the city’s streets

Bourbon was crawling with tourists, as usual He heard excited conversations, visitors talking about the "va care of theirls about the same

A stripper-slash-prostitute had been killed It orthy of gossip, not of great concern

Walking along, he cainald Oaks and Vickie Gomez He slowly patted Gomez’s horse, Enrique, and questioned his fellow officers about as going on

"Seeht in Boozeville," Vickie told hi in the streets, throwing beads aroundit’s not Mardi Gras, but it’s busy Nothing to suggest anything going on," Reginald told hier nodded "I’ve been everywhere tonight Uptown, Garden District, Frenchman Streetyou name it I even cruised the Central Business District But that’s the way it’s going to have to be until this is settled Anything, anything at all unusual, you havea quick s for a picture with the roup of inebriated tourists ca to take a picture with the horses He started to step away

"Oh, please Stay," one girl told hie and quicklyhim at Barely, Barely, Barely, the strip club up past Rampart where Tina Lawrence had worked He hurried down the cross street to where his car was parked by the station on Chartres