FifteenThe white and gold ornamental wirework gate at 1918 Emerald Plaza opens in to a lushly landscaped garden and Celia Stone's town home in metropolitan New Orleans. Overnighter and briefcase in hand, Michael steps tentatively up the brick walk, which is lined on each side with irises, delphiniums and hollyhocks, to the antique white front door embellished with beveled, opaque amber glass. He opens it easily with the key Celia had delivered to him.
Michael enters and peruses the smartly furnished living room for a moment. It looks like something out of a design magazine, all glass and chrome, rose and cream silk and brocade, elegant yet inviting, like Celia Stone herself. He climbs the thickly-carpeted circular stairway to the upper level, wondering if he should have taken off his shoe
