The Unforgiven

by Heather Graham

  “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 the porch ready to lock up.

  “You have someone installing cameras for me today?” she asked.

  He nodded. “They’ll cover the entire outside of the house, Katie. And they’ll go directly to a guard station at the local office. This guy knows old houses and how to remove panels or find basement windows. We’ll have it all covered.”

  She nodded. “I guess it’s good to know you.”

  “I wish. Special Agent Axel Tiger and Assistant Director Adam Harrison are the ones with the power. Well, Ryder, too, but the FBI was made lead on this, so... Anyway, you’re the connection they have. They need to look after you.”

  She cast a dry smile and an inquiring look in his direction, and he was struck by something about her. She was very attractive, but it was more than that. There was something about the energy and life within, maybe even something that spoke about the passion and care in her personality. He wasn’t sure.

  And now...

  Now she meant so much. They were almost friends.

  Well, at least she didn’t seem to hate, loathe and despise him anymore.

  “Do you really think we can do anything by driving the carriage around?” she asked him.

  He smiled. “You never know.”

  They headed over to Monty’s. The boys were out, greeting them eagerly with swishing tails and happy barks.

  Monty and Lorna had rigged the carriages.

  “Hey, wow, thanks. You all didn’t have to do that,” Katie told them. “But thank you.”

  “Hey, get out there and bring home the mule and dog food,” Monty said.

  “Will do,” Katie promised.

  “Monty,” Lorna called, climbing into her rig, “I’m not going off the beaten track for anyone today or until the monster is caught. My people get French Quarter tours today, and that’s it. I’m not even going to take them by St. Louis No. 1 or 2 or 3, for that matter. Canal to Esplanade and the river to Rampart Street. That is it.”

  “I think that’s where you go most of the time,” Monty said.

  Lorna made a face at him. “We usually strive to please,” she said. “Anyway...today I will strive to please—in the French Quarter.”

  She waved and headed out. Monty watched as Katie climbed into her own rig and Dan followed.

  “You’re going with her?” Monty asked.

  “She had a traumatic morning
,” Dan said cheerfully. “Company is a good thing. And I kind-of-almost grew up here. I’ve got some stories in me, too.”

  “But that’s not why you’re going with her,” Monty said. “I saw you on the news. You’re with the cops.”

  “Officially, a consultant to the FBI. And I’m working for Katie.”

  “For Katie?”

  “Of course. She wants this solved.”

  “Right. Naturally,” Monty said, and he gave them a solemn wave. “I’ll make sure the boys stay out at night from here on out.”

  “Thanks, Monty,” Katie said.

  Monty shook his head. “Katie...that axe. He was close. So close. But the dogs would die for you. I wasn’t thinking, I...”

  “Monty, it’s okay. And I adore the dogs and don’t want them dying for me. We’re going to make it all safe. And get the guy,” Katie said.

  Dan nudged Katie so they’d get going. She waved to Monty, released the brake and made a clicking sound for Sarah.

  When they were headed out of Treme and toward Rampart, Katie turned to him. “So do I really head down in front of Jackson Square and find some tourists?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Let’s see what we get through your usual haunts. The practical things are being done. Forensic tests will be completed, and every cop in the city will know that we’re looking for another victim via our new Axeman. Jennie was running through the French Quarter last night. She might be there again, just in a different guise. But I think we’ll know her when we see her now.”

  But they saw nothing passing through the French Quarter down to Decatur Street and Katie’s position in front of Jackson Square.

  Lorna had evidently arrived just before them. She was standing on the sidewalk with Benny, now in silver, clean-shaven and evidently doing a personification of Andrew Jackson that day. Beneath his silver coloring, his attire was the same as that worn by Jackson as he sat on his steed in the famous statue in the square.

  “Beignets!” Benny said, greeting them both. “I saw all the commotion at Katie’s place and all the police and forensic vehicles that pulled up in front of Monty’s. I figured something had happened and that...” He paused and shrugged. “That you might need beignets. And café au lait.” He frowned. “I got plenty of beignets. I, uh, didn’t know you’d be here, too, Mr. Oliver, so I’m short a café au lait. I can run back over—”

  “Benny, we can share, thank you,” Katie told him. “That was so sweet of you.”

  Benny grinned. “Beignets, yeah, they’re sweet.”

  “Nice, kind, thoughtful,” Katie said.

  “Dan can have my café au lait—” Lorna began.

  “Katie and I can share just fine,” Dan assured her, agreeing with Katie. Did she really want to share with him? Swap DNA through a paper cup?

  He kind of liked the idea.

  “Please!” Benny said, passing the box of the powdery doughnutlike creations that were the specialty of Café du Monde.

  Dan accepted the box just as Lorna enthusiastically grabbed a pastry, throwing a dusting of powdered sugar over the four of them.

  “Oh, Lord! I’m so sorry!” Lorna said, appearing horrified.

  “It’s powdered sugar.” Dan assured her. “It will all blow off soon enough.”

  Katie was looking at him. She reached out and touched his face, wiping away at the substance that must have gotten all over his nose and cheeks.

  He liked her touch. The way her eyes touched his, even the amusement she was allowing herself to feel.

  “Well,” Benny said, “I, um, well... I mean, wow. At least...at least people aren’t leaving the city in droves. I mean, I’m making out okay, moneywise. And it seems you guys are still doing okay on the carriage tours.”

  “So far,” Lorna said. “But...well, I at least am leaving it to Matt to do the night shift. Hey, speaking of which, Benny, do you want a ride later? Your house is right by the stables. Let’s go back together. Katie has Dan. Want to come with me?”

  “Sure. I’ll be ready when you are. Well, guess I’m off to be Old Hickory for a while.”

  They all called out a thank-you to him for the beignets, and Benny headed to the corner and the little stump he used for his podium.

  Katie finished off a beignet and sipped the café au lait, then handed the cup to him.

  “Thanks. You don’t mind?”

  She shook her head. He sipped. He tried to tell himself there was nothing all that intimate about sharing a café au lait.

  A large group of tourists was headed their way. One woman stepped toward them and said they were part of a convention and obviously they wouldn’t fit in one carriage.

  Katie and Lorna assured her they could divide up however they chose, and the carriages would follow one another.

  She also wondered if they would be so kind as to leave them—for an extra fee, of course—at the World War II Museum.

  Katie looked at Lorna, and Lorna grinned. They’d be following one another. It wasn’t far out of the French Quarter.

  They assured the group they could do as they chose.

  Dan sat back, listening to Katie as they drove. She knew her history; she loved the city. She talked about all aspects with ease. The tour group was good: people asked the right questions. None seemed to be into sensationalism, blood, guts, ghosts or the current murders.

  While the carriage was moving down Bourbon Street again, almost at Lafitte’s, he looked out around casually—and saw her.

  At first, he just noted the woman. And then he noted her swinging haircut and her clothing and the way she moved...

  Pausing with a sigh of disgust as a staggering man ran through her rather than around her.

  “Katie, I’ve got to hop out!” Dan said.

  She wasn’t moving fast; it was easy for him just to balance on the carriage and hop off. He caught her eyes and promised, “I’ll meet you back at Jackson Square.”

  He hurried across the street in pursuit, hoping his ghost would have something that just might help in some way.

  CHAPTER NINE

  At least he had left her with what remained of the café au lait.

  Katie watched Dan leap down with an easy agility. He looked back at her, and she knew he had seen someone on the streets who had drawn his attention.

  Living or dead?

  She didn’t know, but she decided she was going to have to find one of her friends in the city who had also departed the physical plane long ago. She glanced out the way he had gone, but the only people she saw on the streets were those hurrying about on regular, living-person errands. “Is everything all right?” one of the women asked her.

  “Oh, yes. The Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 destroyed eight hundred and fifty-six of eleven hundred buildings, and another fire, in 1794, destroyed another two hundred and twelve. Because it was a religious holiday, Good Friday, in 1788 priests felt they couldn’t ring the bells in warning. But as you see, the city rebuilt. And a lot of the rebuilding was done while the Spanish flag waved over the city.”

  She went on; she answered questions.

  Ahead of her, Lorna was moving her carriage around; they were ready to cross Canal Street and drop their convention guests off at the National World War II Museum.

  When they reached the museum, Lorna hopped out of her carriage and hurried over to Katie.

  “Where did Dan go?”

  “I’m not sure, Lorna. I think he saw a friend when we were on Bourbon Street in front of Lafitte’s. But he’ll meet us at Jackson Square.”

  “Good, good,” Lorna said. “Katie, I don’t like this. The more I think about it... Maybe we should head to Las Vegas for a girls’ weekend or something. Aren’t you scared? Terrified? Shouldn’t you be the hell out of your house?”

  “I’m going to be okay.”

  “He was there. At your house. A kil
ler. And after what you went through as a kid... Oh, my God, Katie! Could it be the same guy? Could it be that he thinks you might know who he is or that he needs to finish what he started and... Oh, my God.”

  “Let’s get back, Lorna, okay? Of course I’m scared. Everyone here is scared. But we need to behave in a sensible manner. And the cops or the FBI are going to rig my place with cameras. They’ll have people around it all the time.” She hesitated, not wanting to tell her Dan Oliver was staying with her, but then he had been at her house at the crack of dawn, so...

  “Dan is staying over?” Lorna asked.

  Katie nodded.

  Lorna smiled. “Just don’t get so carried away that you’re not listening for danger.”

  “Lorna, it’s nothing like that—”

  “Sure, it is. Look at the two of you.”

  “Lorna, it’s an arrangement.”

  Lorna laughed at that. “Arrangement. I like that.”

  “He’s working for me.”

  “He works for me, too.”

  “Lorna!”

  “Okay, whatever you say.” Lorna gave her a look that said she absolutely did not believe Katie. “Listen, when you two go in for the night, Benny and I will come, too. All right? Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  “I still think a Vegas vacation would be a good idea. With me...or Dan.”

  “Lorna!”

  “Okay!”

  With a grin, Lorna returned to her rig, and they headed back to Jackson Square.

  Dan hadn’t yet returned. But seeing her, Benny came over to the rig as Katie jumped down.

  “The fortune-teller was out again,” he told her. “She told me the number six was coming around again. And you know what else she told me?” he asked.

  Lorna had joined Katie on the sidewalk then. “What?” she asked anxiously.