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"What on earth is going on?"

"August, I can’t share privileged information with you, but I can assure you that no one is more concerned than I am about the situation"

"And let me assure you that I a, you and Fiona know soust"

"And you had better be prepared to keep the peace"

Jagger looked around There were three other vampires, tolves and one shapeshifter on the force Only the shapeshifter, Michael Shrine, was on the day crew, and he’d sent him out to the vaest leprechauns he’d everdays, and he, too, was out of the office, leaving only hu hier was always careful to keep this kind of discussion out of his office

"Got time for an early lunch, councilman?" he asked now

"Do you?"

"Gotta eat I’ll make time"

"Sure How about the Napoleon House?" Gaudin asked

"It will be busy," Jagger warned

"Which is fine I want us to be seen together, but it will be noisy, so we can talk--and not be overheard Oh, and they ust said

A little while later, seated in the historic restaurant, they ordered quickly--they were, after all, workinga bite

"You’ve seen the papers?" Gaudin asked i hard to keep the nore the obvious, and she can’t protest too erous course SoI want the truth"

Jagger nodded, ht No new vairl was eighteen, August Eighteen, raised by nuns and as pure as the driven snow"

"Doesn’t snow much in New Orleans," Gaudin noted, his innuendo obvious

Jagger ignored hiiven a new identity, of course"

"Are you ready to face an argument from the assembly?" Gaudin asked

"Of course"

"Would you haveat a olf or a shapeshifter?"

"You know ust You know that I’ to warn you that everyone else ratefully noted," Jagger told him

"I’m sorry to say, I think it’s obvious now that a va I’ll ader said dryly

"We also know that no hu, no matter what occult kick he’s on, was the killer"

"Yes" Jagger took a long s of sweet tea "The ti of that docuue with you," Gaudin said, then frowned

"I wonder if they realize how er they’re in Have you--"

"Officers are watching the house And I’ve called a press conference for this afternoon"

August Gaudin nodded thoughtfully "This is a very tenuous situation we’re in How close are you to finding the killer? Was the girl able to tell you anything useful?"

Jagger shook his head "She was drinking at a frat party That’s the last thing she remembers She’s with David Du Lac, and he knows to inforht, then I’ll be there to support you--and the peace Three in theDaetting these days," Gaudin said, shaking his head

Rest would be nice, Jagger thought But the time he spent with Fiona was infinitely entleht beside theroaned aloud

Jennie Mahoney, stunningly and sophisticatedly dressed--no touristy T-shirts for her--was looking down at hi out an extra chair so she could take a seat beside him

"Jennie What a pleasure"

"I’er"

"It’s still always a delight to see you, ust, of course," she said, and gave hier "Explain yourself, Detective"

"I intend to, I proer," Jennie said, studying him

"Why?"

"Innocence," he said

"No excuse"

"Actually it was, Jennie"