“Please, enjoy,” Kendall said with a laugh.
She danced with Mason. Then, to her surprise, when Mason finally got a chance to dance with his blonde, she found herself on the floor alone, facing Dr. Jon Abel, who had apparently just lost his partner, too.
“Miss Montgomery, right?” he said.
“Yes. Hello, Dr. Abel.”
He offered her a hand. “Would you like to dance?”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Nice affair, isn’t it?” he asked cheerfully. “I’m glad to see people out in force for the benefit of New Orleans.”
“How are things? Is the crime rate still high?”
“We’re not the worst in the country, but a lot of the parish is still struggling.” He smiled. “I’ll let you in on a secret.”
“Oh?”
“You came with Aidan Flynn, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I know he’s frustrated that I haven’t gotten some results for him yet. And I’m sure he thinks I’ll be angry about turning the work over to the Federal lab. Here’s the secret. I’m not angry at all. I’m relieved. We’re still too busy with the present.”
She nodded. “I guess that makes sense.”
She’d already noticed that he was a smooth dancer, and now she was pleased to discover that he was also a pleasant man. Rebecca had said a few times that he could be fierce, but that probably just came with the territory.
“This is a lovely party, don’t you think? I hear they’re going to announce another one tonight, something out at that place they inherited,” he said.
“Oh?”
“You don’t know?”
“I’d heard they were talking about it.”
“It should be good, casual instead of formal like tonight. Don’t tell Aidan I applaud his family’s efforts, though. It’s better if he keeps thinking I’m an old grouch.”
“My lips are sealed,” she assured him.
The music stopped, and it looked to Kendall as if there were going to be some announcements. Sure enough, the mayor got up on the stage, thanking everyone for making the city great again. Then he turned the mike over to Al Fisher, the DJ emceeing the event, who in turn gave it over to Jeremy.
Jeremy promised to keep his remarks brief, saying he didn’t want to stop the evening with a speech. He talked a little about Children’s House, then said, “I know this is short notice, folks, and it will be first come, first served, but I want to announce a benefit bash out at the Flynn plantation on the thirty-first. We’re calling it our Haunted Holiday Happening, and we’re hoping to raise a lot more money while everyone has a lot more fun.”
The DJ came back then to talk about how, where and when people could buy tickets, and while he was talking, Vinnie reappeared at Kendall’s side.
“They have to hire us this time, Kendall. You’ve got pull. Tell them they’ve got to hire the Stakes.”
“Vinnie, I can suggest it,” she said. “You know Jeremy pretty well. Why don’t you talk to him about it?”
“Yeah, but I think your boy calls the shots where that house is concerned.”
“That’s not true at all. And who knows? The radio station hired this group, maybe they’re in charge for the next party, too.”
“Just ask Aidan, would you?”
“Ask Aidan what?”
He was back at her side. She glanced up at him and felt very warm all of a sudden. The room was full of beautiful people tonight, but Aidan wore his tux exceptionally well. His hair was so dark and his eyes so deep a blue, and his broad shoulders, tapering hips and sheer height gave him a James Bond quality. And once, she realized, he really had been a G-man, even if not a British one.
“Vinnie wants me to ask you if the Stakes can play at the Halloween benefit,” she said. “He thinks they should.”
“So do I,” Aidan said.
Vinnie stared at him. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ll ask Jeremy what he has in mind. It’s his decision. Kendall, care to dance?”
“You’ve made his day,” she said as she swept out on the floor with Aidan.
She wanted to ask if he’d totally cleared Vinnie of suspicion, but she decided not to. They seemed to be getting along, and she wanted to keep it that way. After all, maybe he just wanted to keep a close eye on Vinnie.
He could dance so well that at first she didn’t realize he had maneuvered them into a spot where he could watch Mason, who was dancing with the blonde again.
“Are you always like this?” she asked him.
“Like what?”
“Conducting surveillance?”
He had the grace to grimace. “Not always. I won’t be later, I promise.”
“Later?”