Her father’s cousin had been only thirty when Katie’s parents had been killed, but he had been determined that Katie wasn’t going to foster care or anywhere else—she was his cousin’s child. He had been wonderful; he had done his best to ease the past, to make sure she was doing well in school, to encourage her involvement in activities. He was, at forty-two now, a tall and attractive man with sandy hair and hazel eyes, a well-structured, clean-shaven face, and a lean but solid build.

“You’re that FDLE officer,” Jeremy said. He didn’t seem displeased, but he didn’t wait for an answer. He turned back to Katie, and his distress was suddenly evident in his tone. “Katie, I have been calling you and calling you.”

“What?” she asked.

“I’ve been calling you.”

“I’m... Wow, I’m sorry. I didn’t see that you had called. I’ve...” She was going to say that she had been incredibly busy, but she knew that was no excuse.

Of course he would have been calling her.

And of course she should have called him.

“I have no excuse. I’m so sorry!” she said.

Their waiter stood a bit away from the table, refills for their iced tea in his hands.

“Please!” Dan said. “We’re at a table for four. Will you join us?”

“I...”

Jeremy paused, realizing he might be making a scene. He winced and sat.

“Katie Delaney!” he said firmly.

“I know!” she said sheepishly. “I can’t apologize enough, Jeremy.”

He turned then to look at Dan curiously. “I thought you were from Florida.”

“My mother’s family was from Florida. My dad’s family were longtime New Orleans people. I’m sorry to say that most are gone now, but I have a home here. I moved here six years ago.”

“Ah,” Jeremy said, looking as if that explained nothing at all.

“Are you meeting people? How did you find me?” Katie asked.

He pointed at his phone. “Family locator app,” he said briefly. “Remember? We share our locations? But you two are together. Here.”

“Yeah,” Dan said. It seemed like he didn’t really want to get into it with Jeremy.

“He isn’t after George anymore. He believes me about the other couple on the boat,” Katie said.

“Ah.” And still, Jeremy looked confused.

“I did sketches of them for the police and the FBI,” Katie offered.

“So...are you a NOLA cop now?” Jeremy asked Dan.

Dan shook his head. “Private investigator, but at the moment, I’m a consultant with the FBI.”

Jeremy nodded and looked at Katie again. “Maybe you should come home with me until this all blows over. I know that you’re right next to the carriage company, but this is serious. You know it’s serious.”