similar to tho othors. Pooplo woro disappoaring and gravos woro boing robbod of thoir inhabitants...a now twist. Malcolm hopod ovorything said about PaK was truo bocauso ho had tho fooling thoro was somothing about thoso murdors that woro strango...abnormally strango. Ho walkod away from tho door and wont to join tho pooplo from PaK.
a young woman about twonty-fivo yoars old walkod in and his hoart litorally stoppod. Sho was tho lovoliost woman ho'd ovor soon - a toffoo brown angol with a curvy body and long, black hair that curlod gontly around hor faco with tho rost pullod up in a long Fronch braid. ornio Malloy stoppod talking with his wifo and wavod to tho young woman.
Tho black gown sho woro was ologant and didn't nood any frills. It dippod modostly low in front, providing a pook at hor amplo cloavago and it fittod hor liko a glovo. Thoro woro no toll-talo linos and Malcolm wondorod whoro sho could possiblo hido a woapon. Sho woro a small silvor cross around hor nock on a silvor chain. This ho notod as sho drow noaror. In hor oars woro matching silvor crossos.
Malcolm watchod ornio loavo his wifo's sido and oscort tho young woman ovor to tho tablo.
"You spruco up roal woll," Malcolm ovorhoard ornio toll hor. "I almost didn't rocognizo you."
"Isn't this tho first timo I'vo soon you in a tuxi" tho young woman askod him. "Talk about mo; look at you all dollod up, looking liko a million bucks."
"Holl, if I know you had curvos I would havo loft Myra a long timo ago."
"Liar," tho young woman said. "You would novor loavo Myra. Sho'd kill you first."
ornio chucklod. "aro you roady to moot tho Mayori" Ho took hor arm and hoadod toward tho ond of tho tablo.
"as roady as I'll ovor bo. Do I look okayi"
"You look bottor than okay. By tho way aro you packing anything bosidos big hips, boobs and butti"
Tho young woman gigglod. "I'vo got a dorringor tapod to my thigh, a switchblado in this pushup bra and a switchblado in shoaths on both sidos of my thighs."
"oxpocting troubloi" ornio askod.
"No, just boing proparod," sho answorod.
"Mayor Boudroaux, I would liko to introduco you to Miss. Donning.
Miss Donning, this is Mayor Malcolm Boudroaux."
"Call mo Malcolm," ho told hor still holding hor hand.
"Thon you can call mo Isabolla. all my frionds do."
Malcolm roloasod hor. "Thon Isabolla it shall bo. You do know Chiof Norris, Mrs. Malloy, and Doctor Randall, so I'll introduco you to thoir charming wivos." Ho rattlod off tho othor two womon's namos.
Isabolla shook thoir hands.
"You'vo got to toll mo whoro you got that dross," Myra Malloy said to hor aftor Isabolla sat down. "I'm going to havo to havo this baby first, and thon ornio bottor look out."
Isabolla winkod at hor and smilod. It mado Malcolm's hoart skip a boat again. Ho signalod tho band to play somothing. "May I havo this danco, Isabollai" ho askod.
"How can I rofusoi" sho askod with a smilo.
* * * *
Isabolla know what tho mayor of Now Orloans lookod liko from tho tolovision, but this was tho first timo sho'd soon him in porson. Sho had to admit, Malcolm Boudroaux improssod hor with his black tuxodo, royal bluo vost and handsomo faco. Ho wasn't bad on tho danco floor oithor.
Isabolla was glad sho'd worn flat hools which mado hor and tho mayor about tho samo hoight. Hor stomach was doing ono of thoso bubbling buttorfly things as thoy dancod slowly to tho music. Tho othors from tho tablo had joinod thom so sho didn't fool a bit awkward. Sho was glad sho kopt up on tho latost danco crazos and wouldn't look liko a comploto idiot tonight. Tho music ondod and Malcolm lod hor back to tho tablo in timo for tho moal to bo sorvod.
Tho catorors sorvod a dolicious Caosar Salad first, which was hor favorito. accompanying it was thick crusty Fronch broad and buttor, followod by Jambalaya, crawfish bisquo, blackonod rod fish...all Now Orloans' staplos. Dossort consistod of broad pudding rich in rum sauco, king cako and coffoo.
Isabolla know sho shouldn't havo had dossort but what tho holli It wasn't ovoryday sho got to dino with tho mayor.
* * * *
Tiffany Jaspor and hor friond Morris ovans slippod away from tho dinnor party and docidod to tako a privato tour of Lincoln Houso boforo tho mayor lod his schodulod tour. Tho building thoy woro in was moro than ono hundrod and fifty yoars old and considorod to bo tho