"Officer," Irena began breathlessly. "I was hoping…"

Then she stopped. He was looking at her kind of like she was a bug. She knew she looked ok. And she had on a hat and white gloves and pearls, so he'd know she was a lady and not something else. At least she hoped he'd know that.

"Officer—"

He interrupted. "It's Special Agent Morna. FBI." He flashed a badge.

"Oh. My." She couldn't hide admiration. FBI agents were very brave. "I'm Irena. Oh. Irena Ariston. I'm with the Trib." Special Agent Morna gave her the same look the editor liked to give her. "I was hoping you might have a story for me."

She looked at him nervously. He seemed undecided what to say to her.

"What could it hurt you to tell me something? The papers are going to publish this story. Wouldn't yhou at least like your name spelled right?" Irena smiled. "If you give me something I can use, I promise to do that. And I won't even publish anything you don't want people to know about."

Special Agent Morna gave her a funny look. "The Trib? How long have you been doing this? I haven't sseen you around before."

Irena started to answer and then decided it would be stupid to lie to a fed. He could check up on her anyhow. "I started awhile ago. But they have me doing flower shows and garden parties. But I want to be a real reporter. I want a real story. You could give it to me if you want."

"Cigarette?" He asked.

"No, thank you. I don't smoke."

He smiled at her. "You want to be a reporter, you better learn to smoke." He lit one and handed it to her. "Here. Try it."

Irena accepted the cigarette from him and put it in her mouth. She breathed in the smoke and right away started coughing until tears came down her face.

"Now it's time for coffee."

"Coffee?" She choked and coughed some more.

"Coffee. You want to be a reporter, you got to drink coffee and smoke."

"I drink coffee."

"Good. The boys here are in control of the scene. Let's go downstairs and get some coffee. It will fix you."

"Okay." Irene managed to stop coughing long enough to walk to the elevator. "And then you'll give me a story."

Special Agent Morna just smiled.