She slipped off her right shoe and pulled her foot up beneath her in the chair. "Jodi Taylor was relinquished to the state for adoption on an unknown date thirty-six years ago. Under the laws of the state at that time, all details of that surrender and all information pertaining to Jodi's biological parents were sealed. When Mr. and Mrs. Taylor adopted her, their names were entered as parents of record, and Jodi's birth name, whatever that might have been, was changed to Judith Marie Taylor. All records of that name change were also sealed by the state."

"Okay." Maybe I should take notes. If I took notes, she might think me professional.

"Louisiana maintains what we call a voluntary registry of birth parents and adopted children. If birth parents or adopted children wish to contact each other, they register with the state. If both the parent and the child are registered, then, by mutual consent, the records are unsealed and an intermediary working for the state arranges a meeting between the two."

"Did Jodi enter the registry?"

"Yes. That was the first thing we did. Neither of her birth parents are registered. I filed a request for special leave with the state to open the records, but we were turned down."

"So, legally speaking, that was the end of the road and now it's up to me."

"That's right. You'll conduct the actual investigation to try to identify Jodi's birth parents or locate a bio-family member who can supply the information she seeks, but you won't make contact with them. If contact has to be made, that will be my job. Do you understand?"

"Sure." Strong back, weak mind.

She took a folder from the larger file and passed it to me. "These are local maps with directions to Ville Platte, as well as some tourist information. I'm afraid there isn't much. It's a small town in a rural area."

"How far away?" I opened the folder and glanced at it. There was a Triple-A map of the state, a Chamber of Commerce map of Ville Platte, and a typed sheet listing recommended restaurants and motels. Everything the visiting private eye needs in order to swing into action.

"A little over an hour." She closed the larger file and placed it in her lap. "Our firm is very well established, so if there's any way that we can help with research or access to state agencies, don't hesitate to call."

"I won't."

"May I ask how you'll proceed?"

"The only way to ask about a child who was given up for adoption is to ask about a child who was given up for adoption. I'll have to identify people with a possible knowledge of the event, and then I'll have to question them."

She shifted in the chair, not liking it. "What do you mean, question them?"

I smiled at her. "Questions. You know. 'Where were you on the night of the fourth?' Like that."