“Jeremy, I’m safe. I’m good,” she promised. “Come on, you’ve seen the dogs. Those guys would take a man down, even a big man.”

Jeremy didn’t appear to be pleased. “I just want you...safe.”

“We all want Katie safe,” Dan said.

“Should I take you home?” Jeremy asked.

Their main courses arrived. Katie gave him a half smile and arched a brow. “Um, we were going to eat this stuff we’ve ordered.”

“And, Jeremy, please join us. What would you like?” Dan asked.

Jeremy let out a sigh. “Thank you, but I have a business meeting down the street. Katie, I have just been so worried!”

“And I can’t apologize enough,” Katie said. “I was wrong and careless and selfish. And I am truly, truly sorry.”

“Please, keep in touch. I want to hear from you at least once a day,” Jeremy said, rising. He stopped, looking down at Dan.

“You’re watching over her?” he asked.

“I am,” Dan confirmed.

Jeremy dipped down, kissing Katie on the cheek. “Once a day!” he said firmly.

“I swear!” she promised.

He looked at Dan. “You were the enemy,” he said quietly. “Now I’m counting on you.”

He turned and walked out of the restaurant.

For a moment, Katie and Dan were both silent.

“I’m so...ashamed!” she said. “He was—is—the best. He saw to it that I had counseling. He has always been so caring. I was horrible! How did I not think to let him know right away that I was doing okay?”

“We all get caught up,” Dan said, glancing at his watch. “Have some fish, and I’ll take some shrimp. And don’t worry, I’ll ask you every day if you’ve called him.”

Katie grinned. “Thanks.”

Antoine’s was legendary for its sauces—they were delicious. But as they shared food, Katie grinned, thinking they might have asked for the dishes to be shared in the kitchen. Sauce was falling on the white tablecloth.

She met Dan’s gaze. He grinned. “Hey, don’t worry. They really do wash these things every night.”

The food was excellent. They discussed it, other restaurants, the last Mardi Gras, shops and places they loved...and then Katie found herself pausing.

“Mardi Gras was supposed to be low-key in 1918,” she told Dan. “World War I was in swing, and with US troops overseas, too much of a celebration seemed wrong. And in 1919. But while the paper announced that the holiday would be calmer, people just didn’t get it. So revelers were everywhere. I wonder if the killer walked around at Mardi Gras. If he followed people, knew who they were.”