CHAPTER 9

Michael turned the steering wheel and the car responded, turning into a street. He glanced up and saw the old apartment complex where Iryna stayed and he smiled. He didn't have any assurance that he would see her there, but it wouldn't hurt to check if she was still there.

The neighborhood where she stayed was one of the older sections of New Orleans, where living costs were greatly reduced. It had a higher-than-normal crime rate and Michael shivered as he studied the streets. After all, he was a famous model, the last thing he needed was to get mobbed.

He eased his Porsche into a tight parking space on a lot facing the building. At this hour in the morning, it was surprising that it was quite crowded.

Everyone should have gone to work, he thought.

Michael was about to step out of the car when he remembered that he was a celebrity. He opened a compartment in the dashboard and brought out a cap. It would really suck to be found out in the neighborhood, the thought of being engulfed by