“You were great with that kid,” she said to Katie. “And you know what? I’m grateful his dad asked us not to talk about gruesome murders. First, I was thinking he should have hired a small, individual carriage. Then I was grateful. Oh, my God, that’s all anyone is talking about. And some nut this morning at our hotel was talking about six dead goats that had been found not long ago. How do you compare goats to people? Not that I have anything against goats, and I don’t want any animal suffering, but...the goats, to this dude, were a forewarning. Anyway, thank you. We were happy to hear about pirates and Mardi Gras and even storms—anything other than lunatic killers.” She was a pretty blond woman in her late twenties. She looked at Katie anxiously. “We’re in a big chain hotel on Canal, and they have security. We’re okay, right?”

“I would think you’d be okay. Just don’t open your door unless you’re absolutely positive about whoever is outside. I think, however, the killer—if he tries to strike again—will find a house. On a dark and quiet street. Canal... Well, there are people coming and going from clubs and Harrah’s around the clock. At a big chain hotel...too many people around all the time. Just be careful,” Katie warned.

The girl hugged her and gave her a nice-size bill. As she walked off, Katie saw Dan Oliver was there, casually leaned against the high fence that surrounded Jackson Square. She wondered how long he’d been watching her and if he’d been waiting for her last tour to return.

He was smiling, leaning back, one foot back up against the fence, his arms casually crossed over his chest. He was in a navy windbreaker, jeans, sneakers and sunglasses.

He did cut a striking picture.

“You’re a people person,” he told her.

She shrugged. “I, uh, guess?”

He pulled his sunglasses off, and his eyes met hers. “I imagine even the dead people wandering around like you.”

“Who knows? Who can explain any of it?”

“Not me. I’m already beginning to doubt what I saw yesterday.”

“I imagine it’s a...hard thing to accept, especially when you’re older.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean, well, I wasn’t that young, but I was fifteen and was dealing with so much already. Then, of course, I realized that my privateer had saved me. I was grateful.”

He glanced at his watch. “I just wanted to check on you. I need to meet Ryder and the team at the police station. We’re doing a press meeting from there. Are you going to be out here tonight? What are your plans?”