Dan shook his head. “Adam... Adam has the Midas touch. And he’s an amazing man. He uses his business acumen for good things and helping people. Of course, he put together Axel’s team, the Krewe of Hunters.”

“And they all see the dead,” she said.

“We do!” Axel said. He was back at the table, answering her but looking at Dan. “And we love to find the right new recruits.”

Dan raised his eyebrows. “Let’s get through this,” he said.

“Right. Let’s get through this.”

The dogs were out when they reached Katie’s place. They were thrilled to greet her and Dan as they returned.

The stables were quiet. Monty’s lights were out. He’d probably gone to bed for the night.

Axel waited until they were in the house, then he drove away.

Katie stood in the entry for a minute: she knew Dan was walking around, checking out every room, every window and every nook and cranny.

He returned and met her on the landing.

“All secure?” she asked.

“All secure,” he said. He held her gaze.

“And?”

“I don’t sleep deeply. I’ll be awake at the first little yip the pups let out.”

She nodded. “Okay. So...in the morning, I should—”

“Take the day off. We’re going to do research.”

“I’m not sure that I should.”

“Monty will be fine with it, I’m sure.”

She nodded and started up the stairs. He followed. When she stopped to ask him how and where they were going to research, he plowed into her.

They were touching for only a second. His hands brushed her waist. She had caused the collision, but he laughed and apologized.

In that second, she thought about him, really thought about him.

She’d despised Dan so much for his persecution of George. But Dan had been such a haunted man himself. And he’d been willing to open his mind and listen, and now...

She liked him. She still didn’t really know him, but she’d begun to like a great deal about him.

More than that.

Touching, the way his touch felt. She was embarrassed to realize that she wanted him. In the worst way.

“What is it?” he asked. He must have seen something of her feelings in her face.

“Uh, nothing! I’m so sorry!”

She turned and fled the rest of the way up the stairs, hurrying through the small hallway and to her own room.

She remembered that it had been a long day with a corpse and blood and the morgue... She needed a shower.

A cold one.

She stripped quickly, throwing her clothes in a pile. She might never wear them again. She should burn them. No, that was ridiculous. She could wash everything and then donate it where it was needed. Yes, that’s what she would do.