“Nat Ridenhauer,” he said. “The Picayune. Don’t want to be a shit. But would you mind if I ask why you’re visiting New Orleans?” He held out a tape recorder.

“Not a problem,” Addis said. “I just wanted to get out of Washington for a few days with a friend.”

“And her name?”

Rudd had moved away.

“If you think it’s necessary. It’s Holly Rudd.” He spelled the last name.

“And what line of work is she in?”

“That’s not important,” he said. “She’s an old friend, that’s all. But I’m sure you can find her on Nexis if you’re determined.”

“And no business here?”

“No.”

“You’re not going to stop in on the governor, then, to talk about—”

“It’s nothing personal, but no—”

“About what President Mumfries is doing next—”

“Really, I’m here on personal time. A few days. So I’m not going to get into any—”

“Well, then can you share your feelings about what you think Mrs. Hanover should do?”

“Not today, Nat. Is that enough? … I think that’s about it.”

“I guess it will have to be,” the reporter said. “Thanks a lot.”

Rudd joined Addis, as he walked away. She tried not to pay attention to the photographer shooting them.

“Thanks again,” he said. “I owe you.”

“No you don’t,” she said. “But it does bring back memories.”

Good? Bad?

“Do photos of you still make the wires?” she asked.

“Not as much as they used to.”

“That must make life easier.”

“Guess I haven’t noticed,” he said.

She chuckled, and Addis asked why she had laughed.

“I’m not sure,” she said.

Addis dropped Rudd off at the Tulane law library. She had brought work with her and preferred to sit in the library rather than in their suite. He told her he’d be back in a couple of hours.

Flip Whalen lived near the school. Set back from the road, behind a cast-iron fence with a rose pattern, the house was pure Greek Revival, built, Addis recalled, in 1856 by a molasses mogul. Fluted Corinthian columns flanked a veranda in front. Jefferson Davis had spent three weeks here after the Civil War. The first time Addis had visited, Whalen escorted him through the grounds. He showed off the trees: crepe myrtle, sweet olive, pear, Japanese plum.