“So he was a pirate!” the other teen said.

“A hero and a pirate, I suppose,” Katie said.

“Did he have kids?” the mother asked.

“Sadly, a son who died in a yellow fever epidemic,” Katie said.

They passed the LaLaurie house, and she took care as to how she told the story of the woman and the doctor who had tortured slaves. The pair had escaped in their carriage after one of their victims had set the house ablaze rather than endure more. Rumors abounded about them as well.

Soon enough Katie came full circle, heading back to Decatur Street, pointing out shops, buildings and other points of interest along the way.

To her surprise, Dan was there, leaning against the fence again, waiting for her.

As he had promised.

She wondered how the hell he had gotten through the city so fast. But he’d likely been dropped off by an officer in a police car, so they might have taken a few shortcuts.

“Isn’t that the man from the press conference?” the woman whispered. “Damned good-looking fellow. Think they chose him for that reason?”

“He’s looking for the killer, but he’s going to take a carriage tour?” the husband wondered aloud.

“He’s a friend,” Katie said briefly.

“Oh,” the man said.

“Ohhh!” his wife echoed.

Katie sighed inwardly. “Don’t worry, he’ll be working,” she promised. “And thank you so much for riding with me.”

“Can I pet the horse?” the girl asked.

“Sarah is a mule, but yes, you may pet her,” Katie said.

The family stepped down. She still had a few carrots left and let the kids all feed Sarah, and then she took a picture of the family together with the mule and carriage.

Dan had waited patiently, but now he walked up.

The family looked at him somewhat warily, then one of the boys spoke up. “We just saw you on TV!”

“That wasn’t TV, that was Mom’s phone,” his brother said.

“Whatever. We saw you. You’re really going to catch him? The hatchet man?” the boy asked anxiously.

“We will be giving it every human effort, and yes, I believe we will find him in the end,” Dan told him solemnly.

“Yes, yes, leave the nice officer alone now, boys,” the mom said. “Come on now, we’re going to get some dinner and get back to the hotel.”

“This early?” the younger boy whined. “Mom.”

His brother laughed. “We’re not going to Bourbon Street, huh?”

“Nelson!” his mother chastised. “Excuse us. I’m so sorry.”

But Katie realized Dan was grinning, too.

“Do the best you can to be careful and enjoy New Orleans. It’s a beautiful city. And, young man, it’s so much more than Bourbon Street. There are amazing places to see and explore. Cool museums with neat things in them. You should see all the old planes in the World War II Museum.”