Leaving the office, he asked Marleah to leave everything on his desk just as it was. Marleah frowned but didn’t question him. She just told Katie again what a pleasure it had been to meet her.

They arrived at Coffee Science with five minutes to spare, but Jeremy was already waiting for them at one of the tables in the restaurant.

“I got coffee for us,” he said. “And I put in a few orders of avocado toast. Sound okay?”

“Sounds great,” Dan said, waiting for Katie to take a chair and then sliding in next to her.

Jeremy grimaced, looking at him. “I know Katie loves avocado toast... You can order something else.”

“I’m fine,” he assured Jeremy.

Jeremy nodded and then thanked the server who brought their order over to the table.

Then he said, “I’m glad Katie’s being protected under the circumstances plaguing the city right now. She’s still my blood, and well, I’m confused. What kind of help do you think that I can give you?”

Dan shook his head. “We’re worried there is a connection between the here and now and the past. Can you tell us about the time that Lou came up here to work with you after the flooding?”

“It was awful,” Jeremy said. “Worse than you can imagine, even. And Lou was great.”

“Jeremy,” Katie said, reaching across the table to touch is hand. “We need something a little more specific than that. Did you two offend anyone, possibly make any enemies?”

“We saved lives,” Jeremy said flatly.

“I know that. I know! But, please tell us more. It’s important, Jeremy.”

Jeremy let out a breath and was silent for a minute.