The neighborhood was low class, the closer you got to the river the rougher the neighborhood became. Just blocks north in the Garden district were some of the most beautiful homes in the city. The cops passed a garage of men sitting on upturned paint cans playing cards. The men stared at the trio. A woman with a basket tried to sell them pralines, but backed off when Bonham flashed her badge.

Bonham knocked on the door. A small black woman appeared at the door.

"Yeah?"

"I'm Det. Bonham, this is Det. Brass and Sidle. We need to talk to Perry, he here." Kate sad this peering around the woman.

"He's not here and I ain't seen him."

"Look, we know he's in town and we know he's got some cash. Where would he be?"

The woman seemed weary and sighed. "He'd be at Sally's in the quarter. Anytime he come's home and got some money, He'll go to Sally's. Shacks up down there for days."

"Thanks." Kate said as the woman shut the door in her face.

"That's it?" Sara was incredulous.

"He's at Sally's"

"Who is Sally?" Sara asked.

"Not who. What. Sally's is a whore house on the edge of the French Quarter. Low class, perfect for your guy. Epically if he had some cash. They can keep him busy there until he's broke."

"Prostitution is legal here?" Sara asked. She was beginning to dislike this city more and more.

Bonham grinned. "No, this isn't Nevada, but if you're here long enough you find out things. A blind eye is turned to a lot, but being from Vegas, I'd think you would be used to that."

"No, I am not used to the police "turning a blind eye" to crime and prostitution…." Sara was raising to the bait Bonham was casting. Jim could see that Bonham was enjoying Sara's discomfort.

"Let's get down to this Sally's and check it out." Brass suggested. The women turned and looked at him.

"I think the sister might contact him. I've had guys here all morning, let me send them over to Sally's to keep an eye on the place." She walked back to the car and as she did two of the men from the garage joined her by the car.

"Get to Sally's make sure the guy doesn't leave, if he does detain him and call me. Ask around. The usual." Kate dismissed the men. "Let's get lunch. We can grab a bite a few blocks away from Sally's"

"Lunch? Why don't was just go get the guy?" Brass asked.

"First, we get a lot of info from Sally's girls and I am not busting in there unless it is absolutely necessary. Second, my contact for some info on this case in a café. This is my town I know how it works, trust me." she winked at Brass as she said this enjoying how it made Sara's face flush.

The café was dark and cool, with very few tables. Bonham seemed to know everyone in the place.

"Cop joint?" Brass asked pulling a chair out for Sara.

"Family Place, my dad's" Kate said as she walked to the bar and pointed at the table. She returned with three sweating glasses with brown liquid and ice.

"Sweat Tea, beer is better on a day like today, but duty calls." She took the glasses off the tray like an expert.

"You know what you're doing, barkeep." laughed Jim as he took a sip.

"I worked my way through law school in this joint." she returned to the bar.

"Law school, I wonder why she's a detective?" Sara remarked

"I don't know, why would someone with an education choose such a lowly career?" he said. Sara looked at him over her menu. Jim was smiling at her and she knew he was kidding. She started to laugh too.

"Sorry, insensitive remark" She smiled. "Jim, you're one of the most brilliant men I know."

"Let's see, how many men do you know?" she could have sworn he leered at her. She glanced at her menu to cover her blush.

Kate was carrying on an animated, but quite conversation with someone at the bar. She had taken her jacket and holster off and handed to an older man. He stowed it behind the bar. Jim noticed she was well built. Not too tall. Athletic, khaki pants, white tee shirt and when she turned he noticed her breasts. He watched her walk back to the table appreciatively. Her eyes met his and he quickly lowered them to his menu. Kate had noticed, but she was used to the glances. You didn't get to be a female detective in a major American city without a little sexual harassment. You had to learn to play with the big boys. Sara had also noticed Jim's glances.

"What's good here?" Sara said motioning to the menu.

"Everything." Bonham said. "The appetizer platter has everything.."

"Spicy?" Jim questioned

"You like spicy?" Bonham raising and eye brow and smiling a little.

"Sometimes." He answered fully engaging in this little flirtation. Sara glanced from Jim to Kate.

"Sounds good to me." Sara agreed "Didn't you say you had a contact you had here that could help us?"

Sara's voice betrayed the edge she was feeling. She wondered why she even cared that Brass was checking this woman out.

"Done." Kate said and nodded toward the bar. Behind the bar a man was on the telephone.

"So what do you think of the Big Easy so far?" Bonham asked.

"Smells bad." Sara replied.

"It's the river and drunks. Great city, but its easy to get lost here. That might be a problem for you two." Kate said as the food arrived. "What about you, Brass ?"

"The heat and humidity, hot and sticky…." another grin. Sara stood up abruptly and looked around for the restroom. It was obvious that Sara was pissed.

"Was it something I said?" Jim asked as she walked to the back of the café.

"Tell her." Kate said taking a sip of tea

"Tell her what ?" Jim sighed.