Katie winced. “Listen—”

“Katie, you know you’re going to be obsessed with this. And...”

He was staring out to the left. They were passing Lafitte’s Bar. She wasn’t sure she was leading her poor mule anywhere. Adam Harrison wasn’t with her for a tour.

“Mr. Harrison, I believe you knew my father. And that you care about what is happening. But I can only take your word you’re who you say you are.”

He reached into his jacket pocket, producing a wallet-size folder with his credentials.

“Okay, let me start over again. Dan Oliver tried his hardest to prove my father’s best friend—a man who lost his best friend, his wife, and his best friend’s wife on the same day—is a horrific killer. Now, I believe whoever is really doing this probably knows about George and delights in seeing him suffer, but while Dan Oliver wants to see no one else but George as the killer, I want nothing to do with the man.”

“Interesting. Where are we now?” Adam inquired.

“Oh!” Katie said. She’d led her mule and the carriage through the Quarter and to Rampart Street. She was heading back to the stables.

Well, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. It was time to give Sarah a break. Mules were smart creatures, in spite of the fact that the animals, able to handle the Louisiana heat better than horses, were often considered to be their lesser cousins.

She loved Sarah, and Sarah returned the affection.

“I guess I was randomly heading home,” Katie said.

“Ah, yes, you have a house right next to the stables where the carriages and mules are kept by Mr. Monty Trudeau.” She glanced back at him, and he shrugged. “I’m not a great investigator, but I’m a fine director, and I am with the FBI,” he told her. “I’d love to see the stables and where you live.”

“Fine.”

She had to hop out on the street to open the large gates that led into the Trudeau Carriage Company. But as she entered, she saw Monty come out of the office building that sat between the large enclosure where the carriages were kept and the stables.

“Hey!” he greeted her.

Monty was a big man, tall and broad-shouldered and a bit round. He had a thick head of brown hair that matched his full beard. Both were graying and long and a bit shaggy. Monty reminded her of a bear, but a big, lovable, huggable bear.

“Hey!” she called. “I hope it’s okay I brought a visitor. Adam is an old friend of my dad’s. I figured I’d drive back with him and just walk next door to get my car.”

“Sure. Hi, Adam,” Monty called. He studied the man in the carriage. “You were friends with Lou Delaney?” he asked.

“Lou was a great guy,” Adam said. “You knew him?”