CHAPTER SIX
The sun was falling, and the colors of night were doing something spectacular. The mules and their carriages, the fence around the park, the trees, the streets, the historic buildings, all seemed to be bathed in a picture-perfect aura of soft mauves and pinks with an occasional streak of majestic gold.
But as Katie stared at Dan, disbelieving his words, just as quickly it seemed smoky shadows replaced the color all around. Darkness was coming.
“Katie, please, I’m keeping my promise to you. Just because he’s here, I’m not going to make any assumptions or accuse him again,” Dan told her earnestly.
She wasn’t sure if his being so determinedly fair helped her at the moment or not. If he’d said See? I told you. It’s George, she would have rushed to George’s defense.
As it was, she was simply stunned.
“He’s living across the river. In Gretna,” she managed to say.
He nodded solemnly.
“He...he never attempted to reach me. After the trial in Orlando, he said he was starting over somewhere new. That he had to establish a life somewhere. He’d learned to live with the fact his wife and his best friends had been murdered...and then it had happened all over again, and he couldn’t bear the way people looked at him. To live, he had to...change.”
“And that may be true, Katie. You ended up here in New Orleans, and I’m here, too. We didn’t plan that.”
She nodded and looked at him suspiciously. “But...”
“I’d like you to reach out to him. Let’s go with your theory, that George is innocent. He must be freaking out now, too, and he’s probably in disbelief, wondering how unlucky he could possibly be with what is happening here.”
She nodded woodenly.
“Hey, guys!”
Katie swallowed hard and turned around. Matt D’Arcy hopped out of his carriage and approached them. He was smiling curiously.
Katie hadn’t really spoken with him since all this had begun. Most probably, Lorna had. Therefore, he’d be curious about Dan Oliver.
Her head still seemed to be ringing. She felt as if she were in a cartoon, as if she needed a sound slap in the face to come around again.
Dan Oliver wasn’t going to slap her.
Reaching out a hand, Dan greeted Matt. “Hey. I heard you are part of an amazing trio of carriage drivers and guides extraordinaire for the Trudeau Carriage Company. I’m Dan Oliver. It’s nice to meet you.”
Matt beamed, taking Dan’s hand. “Matt D’Arcy,” he said. “And to be fair, in many years I’ve only come across a few lousy drivers and guides. We’re tested, you know, and required to know what we’re talking about. Most of us do this because we love it, and because of the city.”
“Well, it shows.” Dan shrugged. “When I learned Katie was here, I looked up the company. You all have glowing reviews.”
“Helps that Monty is a good guy. He loves his animals and takes good care of them. We all love them, too. People don’t realize just how affectionate a mule can be. They get bad raps, you know. Stubborn as a mule. Not that a mule can’t be stubborn, but...”
Matt was in his early thirties. He’d been a history and education major at LSU, and he’d told Katie once that while he’d probably never rule the world by being a carriage driver, he was truly happy. He was a night owl and slept in every morning, and he had a knack for dealing with the somewhat inebriated people he dealt with once darkness had descended. And he’d always step in to help either Katie or Lorna if they had unruly passengers. He was six feet with a full beard and mustache and looked like a man out of a Dickens novel. He was a great friend.
“You’re working now, right? Until late?” Katie asked him.
“You know me. Might have been some vampire in my blood,” he said lightly. Then he grew serious. “I admit, last night I was a bit creeped out. But I don’t think anyone would attack a carriage driver on a busy street.”
“I think you’ll be okay. I pray we’re all okay,” Katie said. “Lots of people in the city will be frightened, but we can hope people will be smart, getting off duty at bars, restaurants and other venues in the middle of the night. Anyway, I think Lorna is out with a tour now, and I was going to head in.”
He nodded. “You know me. Nothing like a graveyard shift. And I’m glad you’re with this guy here, Katie,” he added. “I saw your press conference. You were very cool, and I think you said things that made people aware, but not panicky. Panic is scary. But we’ve survived a lot. New Orleans is strong. And this time I believe you’ll get the guy.”
“I like to believe we will, too,” Dan told him. “And thanks, pleasure to meet you. Katie, let’s take care of Sarah and the carriage and maybe get that thing they call dinner.”
She smiled and gave Matt a kiss on the cheek. “You be careful, anyway.”
“See you,” he said with a wave.
A middle-aged woman approached her as she headed back to the carriage.
“You’re Katie, right? Are you available?”
Katie smiled. The lady was with a group of four women. Three of them were young and very attractive.
She thought she was about to make Matt’s day.
“I’m so sorry, I’m off now. But Matt is there, right on the curb. He’s majored in history, and he’s great!” Katie told her.
“Oh! Okay, you were recommended to us, but—”
“Trust me about Matt! And have a great night!”
Katie hopped into the carriage, quickly followed by Dan. She watched as the woman shrugged and approached Matt.
“It’s night again,” she said as she headed away from the river and toward Treme.
“Yes.” He shook his head. “Everyone is on edge now. But I hope people don’t grow weary of being vigilant as time goes
