Arriving in New Orleans in September, Jim and Sara were not prepared for the climate. Las Vegas was hot, but New Orleans was tropical. The crime, the vice and the tourist could make the two cities sisters. Las Vegas was the pretty, hot younger sister, washed clean by the sun each day and dried by the desert wind each night. New Orleans was her, blowsy older sister, stuck and stagnated under sea level. Vegas burned bright,a child of the 20th century, while New Orleans lived in the luxury and decadence of the 18th century.

Having checked in with their counterparts in the New Orleans Police Department, the duo was assigned a detective. Brass recognized this type of PD. It brought back memories of his experience in Jersey. He knew that the NOPD at one time had been one of the most corrupt in the nation. The new chief had made some headway in improving it, but Jim still felt weary of these cops.

The perp had not killed anyone in New Orleans, but since his violence level had escalated, Brass wanted to get him back to Nevada. He did not want the Feds or the NOPD to put up much of a fuss about their presence. The NOPD had traced Perry Hart to his sisters house near the river off Magazine Street. This was a seedy section of New Orleans with row houses lining the street. The pavement was cracked and weeds grew through the pavement.

A rookie detectives had been assigned to Jim and Sara. She made it obvious that she was not happy with the assignment. She was polite but distant and professional. Their meeting was formal and held in the basement parking garage of the police station that served this area of New Orleans.

"You must be Brass and Sidle" she said as she approached

"Officer Bonham?" Brass said and extended his hand.

"Detective. Detective Kate Bonham" she corrected.

"Sorry, I'm Jim Brass and this is Sara Sidle, she's assisting on this case."

"Crime Scene Investigation" Sara added to Jim's introduction

"Nice to meet you." She looked at Sara from head to toe. "Do you have any street experience? If we run into this guy can you handle yourself?"

"She can handle herself" Brass interjected. He knew Sara would bust his balls about this later, but he could take it.

Sara had been wondering why Brass had asked her to help with his assignment. He had told her she would be needed to help pull the evidence together if Perry killed in this jurisdiction. Taking up for her with this stranger was maddening. He knew she could take up for herself.

"I'll drive" Bonham said, Brass rode shotgun and Sara was regulated to the back seat.

Brass looked back at Sara and grinned. Her pissed looked told him more than her words could say.

Det. Bonham saw the look in the rearview as she backed the unmarked car out of the space and pulled into the street. She knew this detective had a thing for the young woman in the back seat . Bonham could also tell Sara Sidle had no idea. The car pulled into the sun and Kate cranked the AC up to high.

They pulled thought the rough neighborhood andparked down the street from the address. Thisgave Jim a chance to observe the area.

Before Sara got out of the car, Kate turned around and asked. "Are you packing?"

Sara gave her the same "go to hell" look, Jim had been graced with and pulled back her jacket to revel her weapon.

"Good" Bonham nodded.

The heat and humidity was almost unbearable. Brass felt like he was walking through water. He wondered how people could stand this weather. Sara was having the same reaction. She was regretting the jacket she had pulled on to hid her gun. Kate did not seem to notice the heat.

"If I am going to be here long, I will need a new wardrobe." Sara said.

"It's only 80, it gets hotter in Vegas, right?" Kate said.

"Yeah, But its only dry heat" Sara replied.

"Oh, there's a difference?" Kate laughed and turned to Jim.

"I'll take hot and dry over hot and wet any day." Jim added, rubbing his brow with his handkerchief.

Kate stopped and turned and laughed. Jim realized how his words sounded.

"Maybe I should rephrase that." he laughed.

Sara didn't not like the pang of jealously she felt over this little exchange. Sara wondered why she even cared. Sara looked at Jim laughing with Bonham. His eyes were crinkled and twinkling in a naughty way, she had never noticed. Sara shook her head to clear it. It had to be the heat.