As for Virgil, he was back in jail where he belonged, while evidence was gathered against him on the two murder charges.
The Velvet Kitty had also been closed, and immigration hearings were scheduled for the women who’d been held there against their will. But hundreds more were still lost in the netherworld of the underground trade, their passports filed in a dusty drawer, their shadow lives their own living death certificates. Fortunately, Tatyana and Galya weren’t among them.
“Tatyana has the makings of a top-notch female wrestler,” Vincent had reported. “Not only is the woman gorgeous, but she’s strong as a bull. She’s been working at the gym and beating the hell out of some of my students. A talent scout asked if he could drop by and check her out. Personally, I think she’s going to be a big TV star.”
Tatyana and Galya, along with Zouzou, had moved into Vincent’s building rent-free. The agreement was that he would groom Tatyana for a shot at wrestling stardom; in return, he would be her manager. Galya was now in school, while Zouzou spent her days with Terri and me.
“Just remember: your rear-end is mine in another two weeks,” Hickok had said when he’d last called. “So don’t get any funny ideas about leaving the Service.”
There was little fear of that. I was addicted for life. Charlie had made sure I didn’t lose my job by doing what he loved best—fighting the agency bureaucrats and telling them all to take a flying leap.
“You did the right thing, Bronx—rules or no rules. We did a number on Sergei’s ass fair and square. What else do the head honchos want?”
I didn’t know. But I felt sure I’d find out.
All thoughts of work dissolved as Santou pulled me closer.
“So what do you say, chère? Should we pick up where we left off?”
I closed my eyes and went with the flow. I knew Jake was questioning whether we should try living together again.
“Let’s just take it day by day for now,” I replied, already mentally rearranging my closets to accommodate the man.
It was as if Santou could read my mind. His hand caressed my back, sending ripples of delight through me as Gena ended her song.
A good man is handy during the day. But for rocking my nights, I’ll take a bad man every time.
The last note of the blues guitar hung suspended in the air, its sting slowly blending into the delta night.
Acknowledgments
Thanks go to USFWS Deputy Assistant Regional Director Mike Elkins, who helped open those all important research doors; to Special Agent Zach Green, for trudging through kudzu and showing me the Delta; and to Special Agent Dave Cartwright, who so generously shared his knowledge and Beanie Weenies.
I am also grateful to Adair and Jim Schippers for their Southern hospitality. And lastly, to Jayne and Kyle Creson, who not only took me into their home, but made certain that I experienced the real Memphis, from Beale Street, to Graceland, to Al Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle.
About the Author
JESSICA SPEART writes about environmental and wildlife issues. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, OMNI, Travel & Leisure, Audubon, National Wildlife, Mother Jones, Delta’s Sky Magazine, and many other publications. Coastal Disturbance is her seventh Rachel Porter mystery. Jessica lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two dogs, Max and Tallulah.
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“NEVADA BARR HAS GIVEN
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CREATES U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE SPECIAL AGENT
RACHEL PORTER.”
Boston Globe
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“Fresh and close to the bone. [Speart’s]
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“The author portrays the stark atmosphere…vividly….
There are plenty of appealing characters,
not the least of which is Rachel herself.”
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“[Speart’s] mysteries take readers to all sorts of
interesting places…. She has a real flair for bringing
colorful characters to life on the page.”
Connecticut Post
“Rachel’s take-no-prisoners attitude is fun and exciting.
Plan to stay up all night!”
Glynco Observer (GA)
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Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
BLACK DELTA NIGHT. Copyright © 2001 by Jessica Speart. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © MARCH 2007 ISBN: 9780061846953
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