“So? Maybe George did have something to do with it. Maybe he didn’t. You believe in the man. You have good instincts. In that case, let’s clear him altogether by finding the truth, shall we?”

“Can we find it this many years later?”

“You’d be surprised. Where is George now, by the way?”

“I—I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“After the trial, he was a mess. First, he said something about heading to the least congested island out there and burrowing himself away in a hole. Then he decided that would make him crazy. All he would do would be to sit and remember. He wanted to plunge into something else that would keep him busy and send his mind in other directions. He loved the movies, too, and decided he would look for the least skilled, most legwork job he could find with any old movie-production company. I told him to call me when...when he wanted old friends in his life again.”

“But he never called you.”

“No.”

The dogs started to bark. Katie frowned.

Adam Harrison sat back. “That should be Dan Oliver now with one of my team, Special Agent Axel Tiger. They knew each other from Florida, so I sent Axel after Dan. Katie, please don’t just sit there. Let’s go introduce them to the dogs and let them in.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Dan wasn’t sure it was the right time for him to be arriving on Katie Delaney’s doorstep.

Yet, according to Ryder, he needed her help to keep him in the loop on everything that was happening with the case.

Axel’s arrival had been beneficial. Dan knew he’d comprehend just how beneficial once his head stopped reeling.

Katie came out of the pretty little Treme house along with Adam Harrison, calling to the dogs that it was all right. She reached the wooden fence ahead of Adam, talking to the dogs, telling them he and Axel were good.

Dan knew dogs. Most of the time, he thought they were far more honest and giving than people. But he knew he’d been jaded for a while now, and it was his own fault. He needed to get over the past, get over himself.

And this might be his chance.

He ducked down to pet the three giant shepherds that greeted him with slobbery excitement once they’d been assured he and Axel were friends.

He glanced up as Axel introduced himself to Katie and greeted Adam. He noted Katie was watching him. She looked wary, but at least he seemed to have gained her approval by being a dog person.

“Shall we go in? It’s getting late,” Adam said.

Katie didn’t say a word. She turned and led the way.