Axel came toward them. “There’s paperwork, and Ryder and I will be heading to the hospital with Browne, whoever he may really be, so we’ll get together in the morning. Another Krewe agent is here... His name is Andre Broussard, and he’ll take a report from you for now. You were a consultant on this, Dan, so...just make sure he knows you and Katie were out for a nice dinner when Katie recognized Browne, and he saw her, and law enforcement was immediately notified, and...well, whatever happened after.”

Dan nodded. “Right.” Apparently, it didn’t go on a report anywhere that a dead man gave you a tip.

Axel paused, staring at Dan.

“Amazing. You disarmed him. You didn’t kill him.”

“I wanted to kill him,” Dan admitted softly.

“But you didn’t.”

“No.” Dan took a breath. “Almost. But we need him alive. He’s not the mastermind behind all this. There are others involved, and we don’t know how many. I’m not so sure I was being moral or ethical at all. We need him alive.”

Axel nodded. “Well, I’m going to the hospital. He’s pretty badly burned, but... Hey, Katie. Quick thinking. Well done!”

She gave him a weak smile. “Thank you.” She was quiet a minute. “Others are involved, but that man killed my mom and dad. Brutally. He hacked them to pieces. I hope I hurt him badly. I hope he’s in pain for as long as he may live. They say that healing comes only through forgiveness, but he planned on killing me, too. I guess... I guess I’m glad we didn’t kill him. I never want to be as bad, but I hope he hurts. I can’t help it!” she whispered.

“That’s okay, Katie,” Axel said. He saw the EMTs were carrying the man out on a stretcher. Ryder was right next to it, nodding to them, but not about to leave the suspect—even burned and shot—without him making sure he wasn’t going to try to bolt and run.

“Get some rest,” he said softly. “Ah, here’s Andre.”

The man coming toward them looked to be about thirty-five, and Dan had the feeling that he’d probably been part of some branch of law enforcement or another for a while. He was about Dan’s height with dark hair and dark eyes in a lean, sharp face, and he had the look of a man who kept fit, as field agents tended to do.

He offered them a nod as Axel quickly introduced them, and then Axel took off after the stretcher carrying Neil Browne out of the restaurant.