“We’re pulling out now. The only damned thing we found was the axe and a few drops of blood around it. We don’t how he got in. Just opened the gate, I imagine. And we do know whoever did it wore gloves. No fingerprints can be found anywhere near the door. And so far, though we have some techniques that might bring something up at the lab, no prints on the axe. No footprints. It’s as if this guy just beamed in or over or whatever. As far as the stables go...what a mess. Dozens of prints. Because normal people working don’t worry about their fingerprints. Anyway, we’ll be making comparisons, and though I doubt we’ll be lucky enough to find a match in the system, we will get DNA off the axe and at least find a victim,” Moliere said.
“Hopefully.”
Moliere was quiet for a minute and then said, “There’s more than blood on the axe. We have hair and brain matter, too. There is a victim out there. And I don’t believe there’s any chance of finding them alive.”
“Not to be pessimistic, but you’re probably right. Thank you.”
“Tell your folks they’re good to go,” he said and hesitated. “I wonder if that young woman knows how lucky she is.”
He waved and headed off.
Dan went on into the house.
Katie was still at the kitchen table with Monty and Lorna. She looked at him anxiously as he came back in.
“All is moving along,” he said.
“Thank God you were here!” Lorna told him.
“Thank God,” Monty murmured. “Well, I’ve got the dogs in while the forensic people are here. But we’re just sitting here. God forgive me, I know how serious this is, but...we’re just sitting here. Being nervous. Think the girls can take their carriages out soon? I’ll have to lock the boys back up at the house instead of in the stables, but...”
“You’re good to go,” Dan assured him. “By the time the mules are in harness and ready, they’ll be out.”
“Let’s do it!” Monty said. “Not that I’d put money ahead of a dire situation, but food for my sweeties doesn’t come free. I mean, the mules eat like crazy. And the boys! Yep, dog food is not cheap.”
Monty stood, looking a little worn with his wild hair and beard, and his usually easy smile wavered. Lorna and Katie rose as well, but Katie was looking at Dan.
“Nothing yet,” he told her.
Monty and Lorna had started for the front door.
“The blood on the axe... It was real blood, right?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “He brought it with him. I don’t own an axe. Well, I mean, obviously, he brought it with him if it...if it already had blood on it.”
“Don’t worry, Katie. I’m not leaving. And with your permission, I’m having security cameras installed at your place.”
“You’ve got my permission. What else, what else...”
“The right people are working on it, Katie. We just need to get out there. You know the streets.”
“New Orleans is a big city stretching far beyond the French Quarter,” she reminded him.
He nodded. “We’ll get up to the Garden District later.” He grimaced. “Visit my family.”
She smiled; she understood.
“All right, then. I’ll go start working with Sarah and the carriage—”
“I’m going to help.”
His phone buzzed. He grimaced when he saw it was his secretary-slash-assistant, Marleah.
He’d all but forgotten he had an office.
“Dan!” Her voice warbled through the phone.
He loved Marleah. She was about fifteen years his senior, competent and easy, with no hidden agenda. She liked working but also liked the fact he was flexible about her hours and she could take a few days for a vacation with her husband or friends when she chose.
“Marleah, hey, I’m sorry—”
“I know you’re working on that awful thing, but you have to do something about Wendy Lawrence. The woman is driving me insane. She calls on the hour to see if you’re back to work on her case.”
“I’m sorry, Marleah. I’ll call her. I’ll take care of things now. Oh, please tell me you didn’t deposit her last check.”
“You’re in luck. I didn’t. I was trying to catch you early. She must have called thirty times yesterday, and I kept telling her you hadn’t been in, and I didn’t expect you in. I wanted to see if you’d please do something, before she started calling again this morning.”
“Good! And thank you. I’m off her case.”
“Officially and really, truly officially?”
“Yes.”
“Thank the good Lord! Oh, you have pictures of Nathan Lawrence out and working and everywhere you saw him. Want me to ditch them?”
“Uh, no. Just leave them. I’ll file them when I’m back in the office,” Dan told her.
“In the trash?” Marleah asked.
He laughed. “No. I keep records and everything. Just in case.”
“Uh, Dan, you’re not going to work for her again, are you?”
“In case anything comes up about past work,” Dan assured her. “Just leave them. And if anyone comes in...”
“I know. You’re on a consultation case right now.”
“Right. And thank you.”
“Bye, boss. Get this guy, huh?”
“We’ve a good team working, Marleah, so I’m hoping. As far as Wendy Lawrence goes, I’ll call her now, and hopefully she won’t harass you anymore.” He bid her goodbye and ended the call, deciding he didn’t need to add that, while he was still at a distance from knowing the killer’s identity, the killer had certainly come close enough to him.
He hung up and quickly went through his phone’s contacts. Finding Wendy’s number, he gritted his teeth, swallowed hard and called it.
No answer. He spoke to her voice mail. “Wendy, I am sorry. We didn’t cash your check, and I’m afraid I can’t continue searching for dirt on your husband. I don’t believe there is any, but you should feel free to hire another private investigator. At this time, I can’t continue with your case.”
Dan ended the call and headed out of the house. Katie was waiting for him on
