She loved Antoine’s. It had a great reputation for a reason. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was charming. The service was customarily great.

“Oysters?” Dan asked, looking at the menu as they sat at their table with its snowy-white cloth.

“I know they’re a specialty here, but I don’t care for oysters.”

“I don’t, either.”

“Oh? But you suggested—”

He grinned. “I wouldn’t have stopped you,” he told her. “Would you like the escargots à la Bordelaise?”

She laughed. “Don’t care for snails, either.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I do love their pommes de terres soufflées,” she told him.

“Yes, potatoes! I’m in!”

They ordered iced tea and the appetizer, smiling as the waiter assured them a little sadly just what they were missing out on. They redeemed themselves somewhat by deciding that one would get the special shrimp dish and the other the filet de Gulf poisson amandine, as suggested by the waiter.

Katie was thoughtful. “The number six on cards around the city. Six dead goats. So far, six years between the killings.”

“Well, at least you didn’t suggest voodoo.”

“I wouldn’t. I live in this city. I know a lot of people who own shops and practice voodoo. They’re good people. They wouldn’t hack you to death because in their minds, they’d be hacked to death in a manner three times worse.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I got friends who practice, too. I mean, in Florida, I had tons of friends who practiced Santeria. They kept chickens, ate chickens, used chicken-feet talismans. But they wouldn’t have hurt a human being in any way, shape or form. And dead goats years ago might have nothing at all to do with this.”

“But the number six...”

“Six-six-six is a sign of the devil, but we’re talking just six. I’m sure that there are other meanings, but you can find meanings in anything if you want. According to the Bible, God made man on the sixth day. That could be taken in a good or bad way!”

“Excuse me!” a voice interrupted.

Katie looked up startled, certain the waiter wouldn’t have addressed them so.

She was so startled that she stood, rattling the glassware and dishes on their table.

It was Jeremy. He looked fierce, but then he looked at Dan, who was standing as well.

“Ah, you’re here!” Jeremy Delaney said.