She also wondered if they would be so kind as to leave them—for an extra fee, of course—at the World War II Museum.

Katie looked at Lorna, and Lorna grinned. They’d be following one another. It wasn’t far out of the French Quarter.

They assured the group they could do as they chose.

Dan sat back, listening to Katie as they drove. She knew her history; she loved the city. She talked about all aspects with ease. The tour group was good: people asked the right questions. None seemed to be into sensationalism, blood, guts, ghosts or the current murders.

While the carriage was moving down Bourbon Street again, almost at Lafitte’s, he looked out around casually—and saw her.

At first, he just noted the woman. And then he noted her swinging haircut and her clothing and the way she moved...

Pausing with a sigh of disgust as a staggering man ran through her rather than around her.

“Katie, I’ve got to hop out!” Dan said.

She wasn’t moving fast; it was easy for him just to balance on the carriage and hop off. He caught her eyes and promised, “I’ll meet you back at Jackson Square.”

He hurried across the street in pursuit, hoping his ghost would have something that just might help in some way.

CHAPTER NINE

At least he had left her with what remained of the café au lait.

Katie watched Dan leap down with an easy agility. He looked back at her, and she knew he had seen someone on the streets who had drawn his attention.

Living or dead?

She didn’t know, but she decided she was going to have to find one of her friends in the city who had also departed the physical plane long ago. She glanced out the way he had gone, but the only people she saw on the streets were those hurrying about on regular, living-person errands. “Is everything all right?” one of the women asked her.

“Oh, yes. The Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 destroyed eight hundred and fifty-six of eleven hundred buildings, and another fire, in 1794, destroyed another two hundred and twelve. Because it was a religious holiday, Good Friday, in 1788 priests felt they couldn’t ring the bells in warning. But as you see, the city rebuilt. And a lot of the rebuilding was done while the Spanish flag waved over the city.”

She went on; she answered questions.

Ahead of her, Lorna was moving her carriage around; they were ready to cross Canal Street and drop their convention guests off at the National World War II Museum.

When they reached the museum, Lorna hopped out of her carriage and hurried over to Katie.

“Where did Dan go?”

“I’m not sure, Lorna. I think he saw a friend when we were on Bourbon Street in front of Lafitte’s. But he’ll meet us at Jackson Square.”