“They were busy. I was busy. But I did see your dad about six months before he was killed. He was in DC for a reunion. We were able to go out to dinner together right before I dropped him at the airport to head home.” He hesitated. “He raved about you, Katie. He said you were an amazing young diver, that you might turn that love into something wonderful one day. You’d found pieces in the channels that belonged in museums over sites where wrecks had been salvaged and investigated dozens of times.”

She shrugged. “I loved it once. Now,” she said, offering him a smile, “I love mules. And New Orleans.”

He returned her smile. “Katie, what do you remember about that day?”

“Oh, God,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean the horror you discovered coming up from your dive. I don’t want to subject you to that again. I mean, what do you remember about going out?”

“Well, my dad had the boat at a private wharf. He rented the space. The couple who owned the property could have five boats docked there. The wife kept a little shop with bait, sodas, snacks, life vests...some diving equipment. But when we out...”

She paused, remembering the day.

“We came in separate cars. I mean, my folks and I were in one, and the Calabrias and their friends came in George’s car. We met on the dock. You said you know my dad, so you know he welcomed them. And my mom, too. She liked people... She was happy to look for the best in them. And friends of George and Anita were, naturally, welcome.”

“I interviewed Mrs. Jennings, who owned the dock. Mr. Jennings wasn’t home when you went out that day. She did think she saw more people than just you, your parents, and Mr. and Mrs. Calabria. But she couldn’t be sure. And she couldn’t identify anyone.”

“I know.”

“So we need to find this couple.”

“You said yourself law-enforcement officials from all over tried. They’re nonexistent. What makes you think we’ll have any luck this time?”

“I think they’re here. In Louisiana. In New Orleans.”

Katie inhaled. “And you think they...that they murdered the people this morning?”

“I do. Otherwise, I’d never cause you distress again. But desperate times call for desperate measures, as they say. And I know you’d go the distance to find justice for your parents. To that end, I’ve come to you. And to another individual who was in on the second investigation.”

“Oh, no, no, no!” Katie said. “You don’t mean Dan Oliver. Look, he’s not even a cop anymore. I didn’t know he was living in New Orleans. Go figure on that, of all the cities in all the world... But no! He was obsessed with skewering George.”