“Sir,” Dan calmly addressed him, “Katie has changed my mind. We’re here to see how we can help you, and I hope you can help us.”

George looked at Katie. His eyes were a light powdery blue. His hair was thinning. Once, he had been all bluster and fury.

Now, he just looked tired.

He stared at Dan distrustfully.

“George, it’s true. George, I saw her. Jennie. She’s here. In New Orleans.”

They were still just standing at the front of his house. “Let’s just go in,” he said.

It was a simple place, a single story, and there was a dining table just beyond the small parlor. George led them there. He’d made a pot of coffee. It was on the table along with containers of milk and sugar—and two cups.

He left them to sit, muttering that he’d get another cup.

He did, and they all sat.

George stared at Dan. His tone was dull and dry when he said, “You didn’t want to come and arrest me the minute you heard there were more axe murders and I was in the area?”

“Part of me did, yes,” Dan said. “But Katie asked me to have an open mind. And I’ll be honest, we all doubted the existence of the other couple on the boat with you. It wasn’t just me. My superiors believed Katie was young, you were all that was left, and she’d support anything you had to say in your defense. So I guess right now I’m going to ask you to forgive me. Because I need to know everything you remember.”

“You heard it all in court.”

“I need to hear it all again.”

George nodded and then shook his head. “Anita had just come back from her dive. I knew there was a boat next to ours when she came up, but I didn’t realize anyone else had boarded.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t know how I survived. There was just a shadow, a big shadow behind me. I turned, not expecting anything except maybe Lou, and instead...something smashed my head. I was by the hull, and I fell...and I vaguely remember feeling the water as I hit it again. I didn’t see who hit me. I didn’t know... I didn’t know what had happened to my wife and Katie’s folks until I was in the hospital. And I asked about Dr. Neil Browne and Jennie, and they all acted like I was crazy. Oh, they searched. And bodies have just disappeared out at sea like that. But...”