“The problem with finding her is that she changes with the wind,” Axel added. “She could have a fine supply of wigs, different-colored contact lenses, sunglasses, scarves... We did have an army on the street last night, and we didn’t find her. But even with that many police going venue to venue, it’s easy to slip outside of the French Quarter with a crowd, get to the backstreets, to wherever she’s staying. Also we know a man is doing the killing—or a big, tall woman—and that isn’t Katie’s Jennie. So she has an accomplice here. I imagine they thought they could go around the city without being noticed. They’d think a girl—as Katie was twelve years ago—wouldn’t remember them that clearly. She’d only met them that day.”

“We’ve made a number of different images based off of the one Katie created,” Ryder said. “The woman with different hair and eyes. If she’s here and part of this, we will find her.”

“Great,” Dan said.

The other men were silent for a minute, watching as the forensic teams went through the yards, seeking the tiniest piece of evidence.

Then Axel asked, “Do you think that she targeted Katie because Katie saw her? Or was she on the agenda already?”

“I don’t know,” Dan said. He had already told them he’d seen George Calabria/Calhoun. “There are many possibilities. Was it just chance that Jennie was outside the restaurant? Or was she trying to watch Katie? We know there were two of them. The killing, however, does seem to be done by one man. Still, it may be a joint effort. What I don’t understand is the geography with what went on here. Florida, Florida, Louisiana. And the number six that keeps coming up. Speaking of which, anything on the goats?”

“It was three years ago,” Ryder replied. “The goats were found with their throats slit. Drained of blood. They were found right off the road. At the time, there was an outcry, of course. But we know people here. We know the key people who really practice voodoo, and they’re damned honest. Love spells, good spells...and it wasn’t witches or anyone who thinks they’re vampires. We have had a lot of groups who are wannabe vampires. Some of them are so-called spiritual vampires. They suck good vibes out of the air. Other groups drink blood, but they don’t kill for it, they donate to one another. It’s all a bit bizarre. But we investigated and couldn’t find out who was responsible. This is a city that has gone through a lot. We still have major crime. The goats...well, it was a single incident, and it wasn’t high on the list of what we needed to be investigating,” Ryder said.

“Right. Like now. The blood on the axe. Nothing has been reported?” Dan asked.