Dan stood outside with Axel and Ryder.
“We already got the axe into the lab,” Ryder told Dan. “We’re calling precedent on this with everything. The wig is already being tested, and I believe we will get DNA, but if it’s not in the system...”
“I know,” Dan told him. “And even if it is...we have to find this woman and prove she’s involved.”
“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.
“Not yet,” Ryder said, shaking his head. “We’ve got the info out to our officers. They are doing their best.”
“Agents, too,” Axel said. “I’m going to head back in.” He hesitated. “It was a good thing you were here last night,” he told Dan.
“Yeah.”
“Katie should be in a safe house,” Axel said.
“This is a safe house if Monty remembers to leave the dogs out, Dan stays and you and I keep our people on it,” Ryder said.
“I wish she was somewhere else,” Dan said, shaking his head.
“Well, I don’t think he’ll come back to a place where he can’t just slip in and surprise an unarmed woman,” Ryder said.
“There’s no telling,” Axel said. He turned to Dan. “So I guess you’re going to stay close with Katie. What’s your plan?”
Dan smiled. “She’s a tour guide. We’ll tour.”
Axel nodded. “And look for the woman.”
“All right. I’m heading back to talk to the troops,” Ryder said. He lifted a hand as he left them and they nodded.
When he was gone, Dan added, “We’re going to be looking for two women. One living, and one dead. That was rude of Mabel to appear and say she was going to help and then disappear. Are ghosts always that rude?”
Axel grinned. “See if you can find her, too. She’s been prowling around, I’m sure. She has the luxury of not fearing for her life.”
Dan looked at the man he had worked with before and called a friend. He’d never known or suspected there was anything out of the ordinary about him. He knew they had often been referred to as the ghostbusters unit, but he’d assumed that was because they dealt with cases having to do with supposedly haunted houses and crimes where the bizarre came into play.
He’d never thought that...that they were ghostbusters. Except it didn’t sound as if the ghosts needed busting—their role was to help the living prevent more death.
“How do you just...deal with dead people?” Dan asked.
“Ah, well, I grew up knowing there was more,” Axel told him. “Maybe that makes it easier. It may not seem like it, but...well, it makes it easier to help sometimes. Hopefully you’ll find Mabel, and maybe she’ll have some insight.”
“One can only hope. It looks like the forensic team is wrapping up. I’m going to see if it’s all right to take the carriages and the mules out,” Dan said.
“I’ll be in touch, and I’m only ever a phone call away.”
Axel headed out. Dan found the head of the forensic team. His name was Randy Moliere, and he appeared to be in his midthirties and was lean, energetic and determined. He was the kind of man who had authority and wielded it well with his own determination in getting a job done.
“Find anything?” Dan inquired. “And the folks are asking if they can go
