Jeremy nodded gravely. “How could he have known? This killer...how could he have known Katie would move here? Is he targeting Katie? Katie! You need to relocate to Europe or Australia. Somewhere far, far from here.”
Katie shook her head. “Jeremy, if we’re right, this killer has money. He sent henchmen to do the deeds he wanted done in Florida. He would have done his research. You’re my closest relative. He probably knows about you as well as all about me.”
“And now Dan?” Jeremey asked.
“Probably,” Dan said. “Maybe we’re part of the end game, and maybe we’re not. But we know this isn’t random. And now we’re prepared.”
“And I can’t spend my life running. I just can’t,” Katie said and hesitated. “Jeremy, you have to be careful. You could be in danger, too, if this does have anything to do with what you and my dad did here after the storm. You have to be careful.”
“I have an alarm system on the house, remember,” Jeremy told her. “And I have a gun and a permit,” he assured Dan.
“Here is what we have going for us. He wants to make these killings as much like those done by the Axeman as possible. The Axeman always struck late at night or early in the morning. He used the cover of darkness. It would have been easier back then as people didn’t have sophisticated alarm systems. They barely had lighting. Most didn’t expect any kind of an attack. Now, the city is on edge. People will be prepared.”
“Except for those who can’t be,” Jeremy said quietly. “Those who are older and on fixed incomes. Those who have jobs and little children and must choose between feeding and clothing their families and shoring up their homes. The couple he killed here and their caretaker...they were on a fixed income, right? They wouldn’t have expected anyone to come after them. They didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Jeremy, I can tell you this from many years in law enforcement. It’s often the good and the innocent who suffer. But there may be connections. We need to find out if there are, and if so, what they are.”
Jeremy shook his head. “It’s not that bad things don’t happen here,” he said. “It’s a big city. Things happen. A lot of the bad has to do with the drug trade. But this killer, he isn’t after money. You think that he has money. And I doubt he’s into drugs. He’s just...”
“Probably a narcissist with psychotic traits. I don’t think that our missing Dr. Neil Browne is the leader. Though, I do think he could be the one who killed whoever Jennie was. I think he was ordered to kill her, and that it wasn’t easy, and that’s why his first blow was lethal. He wanted to make her death merciful. Remember, too, we’re working on a theory. But having spoken with you, I think it’s a very plausible theory.”
“George Calabria is here in the city,” Katie said.
Jeremy started, staring at Katie with surprise. “What?”
“We found out he is living here now, and we went to see him. He’s in a hotel to be safe,” Katie told him.
Jeremy’s gaze jerked from Katie to Dan. “Then...were you right...back in Orlando? I mean, he’s been close to the crimes in three places. I think he has money. I—”
Dan shook his head. “No. I think I was wrong. I think whoever is pulling the strings would love to see George go down for the crimes. We’re going to talk to him again.”
“I don’t know... Why is he here?” Jeremy demanded. “I thought he was going to go off and live on a far, far away island.”
“He decided he wanted to do behind-the-scenes work for the movies,” Katie said. “Embroil himself in fantasy and get away from reality. I understand that.”
“Watch out for him,” Jeremy warned.
Dan nodded. “We’re watching out at all times.”
“But you’re going back to Katie’s house—”
“With cameras and three large dogs and me,” Dan said firmly.
“You have to sleep...dogs can be poisoned,” Jeremy said. “Katie should be—”
“Jeremy, please! The FBI is watching us. Police are watching us.”
“And you think it’s a chance to catch him. At Katie’s expense,” Jeremy said.
Katie shook her head firmly. “Not at my expense. At my insistence. I told you, I can’t spend my life looking over my shoulder. This must be solved. Here and now,” she added softly.
Jeremy sighed. “You’d better text me twice a day.”
“Yes, and you’re to text back!” Katie told him firmly.
He smiled. “Okay. And please keep in close contact. Please, please.” He wasn’t looking at Katie; he was looking at Dan.
Dan nodded.
“Okay,” Jeremy said awkwardly. “So we’re...set. Except the news about another letter to the papers and the guy being an immortal demon is out on the streets. We may all need to be worried about people doing nutty things, dangerous things, because they’re so worried.”
“Maybe,” Dan admitted. “But we’ll get through it.”
Jeremy nodded and almost smiled. “Yes, we will get through it. NOLA strong,” he said.
They were silent for a minute.
“Hey, uh, what did I tell you about the avocado toast?” he asked.
“Best I’ve ever had,” Dan assured him.
“What now?” Jeremy asked. “We sit and wait for him to strike again?”
“No. We’re going to see George again, and...a man who just might have had a meeting with Jennie and the man we know as Neil Browne,” Katie said.
Dan felt his phone vibrating in his jacket pocket and reached for it. He excused himself and rose to take the call from Axel.
“Can you
