Since she came from Miami, where Latin American powerhouse coffee was the norm, and now lived in Louisiana where they liked it just as strong, she considered anything less than very bold coffee to be nothing more than colored water.

He smiled.

She thought he approved of her choice.

Adam and Axel opted for tea but noted their tea tasted like coffee.

The offices were quiet; the only noise was from them puttering around the break room. She was afraid it was going to grow awkward, but Barry came for them, and she gratefully followed him back.

His images in the computer were amazing. She gave him only a few more changes in the way they had worn their hair and in the shape of Jennie’s mouth. He accomplished all easily.

“Now,” he told her, “we’ll add twelve years to them.”

He hit a few keys on his computer. When he was done, she could easily see she was staring at the couple she had met all those years ago as they might appear now.

“If they’re guilty, they’ve changed everything about themselves. Hair will be different. They may even wear colored contact lenses. But unless you undergo serious surgery, there are things you can’t change. These could be extremely helpful,” Adam assured her.

Again, they all thanked Barry. He nodded gravely.

“I wasn’t at the crime scene this morning. I understand you were,” he said to Dan.

Dan nodded. “Yeah.”

“If this helps catch those bastards in any way, I’m grateful,” Barry said.

“We don’t know, but we can’t leave any stone unturned, as the saying goes,” Adam told him.

They were ready to head out. It was midnight, Katie saw.

After midnight. But while many residents of the city would be in bed—ready to wake for school or jobs in the morning as in any other place—Bourbon Street would still be blaring out music.

Lorna and Matt might still be at Jackson Square getting ready to call it a night.

Or maybe Monty had headed on out to work the late shift.

Katie’s mind was whirling. The day had started out so...normally.

And now she was back a thousand miles away and twelve years ago.

Axel drove to her house first, but it was Dan who got out of the car to see her inside.

“I’m okay once I’m through the gates,” she told him. “The boys will be out in the yard. Really, you’d have to be one brave criminal to try to get past the boys.”

He smiled. She was right, the three dogs were already at the gate, barking away. But they greeted Dan with wagging tails and sloppy licks on his hands.

“If they’re here, no one has broken into my house,” she said.

“Hey, I was taught to walk a lady to her door,” he said lightly.