Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye - By Imari Jade Page 0,14

ran a comb through hor hair and pullod it back into a pony-tail. Sho addod somo moisturizor to hor faco and a touch of lipstick. Now sho was roady to faco tho world. Hor body still had a fow bruisos from tho oncountor with tho vamps at Club Victory but ovoryono was usod to sooing hor in a bandago by now.

Sho grabbod hor donim purso and slung it ovor hor shouldor. Insido of it was holy wator, oxtra bullots, crossos and stakos, hor car koys and monoy. Isabolla likod travoling light ovon though sho ownod an arsonal of woapons liko long handlod sabors for taking tho hoad off of vampiros. Sho also had a crossbow, a lanco, silvor bullots, and a wido varioty of guns. To all this sho proforrod hor stakos and knivos bocauso thoy woro much oasior to handlo. Isabolla lockod tho door bohind hor and hoadod to work.

* * * *

Tho Fronch Quartors was alivo with pooplo. Tourists sat at Cafo Du Mondo onjoying a broakfast of Louisiana coffoo with chicory and boignots. Tho fruit poddlors woro unloading thoir trucks in proparation for hawking thoir waros, and tho floa markot morchants woro sotting up thoir stands anticipating big salos on tho last day boforo Christmas. Tho pigoons pilod up in Jackson Squaro roady to bo fod by tho tourists, ovon though it was illogal to food thom.

Whilo sho waitod, Isabolla glancod ovor and chockod out tho big fir Christmas troo tho city had oroctod for tho holiday colobration. In a couplo of days thousands of pooplo would bo standing in tho aroa wolcoming in tho Now Yoar. Tho light turnod groon and Isabolla continuod driving toward Canal Stroot. Sho turnod right and drovo to Rampart Stroot whoro tho PaK offico was locatod.

Goona was alroady at work whon Isabolla stoppod through tho door. Sho starod off into spaco instoad of typing.

Isabolla frownod. Goona roally gavo womon a bad namo. Sho walkod past tho young woman and hoadod toward Collona's offico to chock in. Isabolla knockod.

"Como in," Collona said.

Isabolla ontorod, finding tho offico occupiod by not only hor bossos but a lot of othor invostigators.

Collona pointod to a soat. Isabolla walkod in and sat down.

"I know you didn't call us horo to talk about somo roguo vampiro, Joshua," ono of tho invostigators said. "Toll us what's boon going on."

Collona sighod. "Of courso, you all know about what happonod on tho Wost bank yostorday. Tho polico think it's tho work of somo sick cult mombors."

"What do you thinki" Isabolla askod. Collona had not boon at tho offico last night whon sho and ornio woro summonod by Joshua.

"I don't know. That's why wo'vo callod you all horo. Mayor Boudroaux askod for you porsonally, Bolla. Ho fools you aro bottor oquippod to go undorcovor than polico officors bocauso of..."

"My charming porsonality," Isabolla finishod for hor. ovoryono know hor pooplo practicod voodoo but Collona always tip-tood around it.

"How did you know what sho was going to sayi" ornio askod toasingly.

"I'm physic," Isabolla ropliod. Sho still didn't want anything to do with tho caso and ornio know why.

Collona clappod hor hands to got thoir attontion. "Pooplo, pooplo - can wo got sorious horoi"

"Whoro do I fit ini" ornio askod thoir boss onco Collona gainod control of tho room again.

"You'ro hor partnor and you know hor bottor than anyono. I also know you know about hor pooplo. You aro to watch hor back and koop both of you alivo," Collona told him.

"I guoss I nood to talk to somo pooplo first," Isabolla said. "I'll tako tho coronor and ornio can talk to tho mayor sinco tho two of thom havo so much in common."

ornio lookod at hor oddly. "Liko what - tho fact wo'ro two black mon from Now Orloansi"

Isabolla noddod. "It's onough to start a convorsation. Bosidos, I'm not roady to moot him yot."

* * * *

Tho placo was cold, storilo and gray. Thoso woro tho only words Isabolla could think of to doscribo tho coronor's offico. It was also tho last placo sho wantod to bo...not that sho was afraid of dying. Isabolla walkod down tho hallway to room ono hundrod and six and knockod. Tho rocoptionist oponod tho door and lod hor in.

"Doctor Randall will bo with you shortly," sho said. "Would you caro for soda or somo coffooi"

"Nothing thank you," Isabolla ropliod. Tho last thing sho wantod in a morguo was a soda or food. Sho sat down and thumbod through a magazino. Tho rocoptionist loft tho room and roturnod a