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Everything seemed to be in perfect order; Ashley’s drea

Except, of course, that the reenactment always made her think about Jake

They were due to leave soon, within the next few days, but since Adaroup was still in New Orleans, they finished with the training they were doing there, and waiting for thearound the French Quarter with his fellolyto be sorry to leave New Orleans," Whitney said She stared out toward Jackson Square "There was so much paperwork after the Holloway case, it felt like ere picking up the pieces for days at first But it’s been nice to have this bit of ti up residence in the DC area Though, I’ to have offices, Jake Like really cool offices, in a building in Alexandria--with help! A forensics lab! State-of-the-art equipet settled in"

Whitney grinned back Her skin was like the café au lait that sat before theht wind up together, but what they had for

"But it was good, I think--just being thrown together as freelancers of a sort for our first case Don’t you think?" she asked "But federal positions…though I don’t think we really get to stay in those fancy buildings that often, do you?"

"We’re like any other team or unit for the FBI, I believe The cases co that Ada we should take on We’ll get to discuss the situation then And make the plans"

"Do you think that any of us could put a case forward?" she asked

"Sure" He smiled "Let’s face it, Whitney, we are an experiations We’re unique, and I’m sure there are those ill make fun of the ‘Krewe of Hunters’ unit"

"Not anymore Not after the Holloway case," she said proudly

"We have to keep proving that we’re good at e do," Jake said The naun as a joke, but they’d becoh their passion for the work

"H her straw in her iced café au lait "It’s here somewhere"

"Here? What’s here? Soh "Only so to be here Somewhere in Louisiana"

"We’re about to move to Alexandria," he pointed out

"I don’t know…I just have a feeling I don’t think we’ll be going yet You wait and see"

"What makes you think that?" Jake asked Whitney’s proith fil intuition Of course, they had all been gathered into the group because of their intuition, their ability to solve probleela Hawkins was quiet, finding what she found without much ado, and Jackson would always be the skeptic, Whitney went in wide-eyed, eager for whatever ic, that’s kind of the Krewe of Hunterswas knotting in the pit of his stos," he told her He gazed idly across the street Theto arrive in front of Jackson Square An early- on Decatur Street One of the history tours, he thought

"Well, of course, good old Jackson, he’s still swearing solving cases is all logic, and we all know that he knows best," Whitney said

Jake wasn’t really paying attention He had seen the tour-group leader come out--he wasn’t sure where she had come from Of course, there were a number of restaurants and bars in the area, and some had been open forever It was New Orleans No one frowned if you discovered you were dying for that 8:00 auide was a blonde woman dressed in Civil War attire Her bonnet hid her face, but she was tall and statuesque, and he had a feeling that she was going to be an attractive woman before he saw her face Assured, probably in hercrowd as they waited

She was co herself as she did so, but people didn’t seeh theroup, since she earing a respectable day dress with large hoops

She paused when she reached the sidewalk

Jake started She was staring straight at him, and she smiled, but her smile seemed to be very sad Herlips, but it was al, we need you Hurry," he thought she said

"Jake?"

"Huh?" He turned back to look at Whitney

"Want to reed He stood and left a tip on the table, having already paid the waiter

When he glanced up again, the tour had moved on doard the cathedral He didn’t see the wo in the same direction

"Whitney," he asked as they did so, "did you understand what that wouide for that group that’s ahead of us She looked right over at us and said so," Jake told her

Whitney arched a delicately for And second, if she’d spoken fro, how could I have heard anything she had to say?"

He shrugged "Good point"

They walked up St Ann Street, took a pedestrian thruway as they passed by the square, then turned in right in front of the cathedral, where the tour group had now paused

The woman wasn’t with the the tour

Jake stopped short

"Hey! Hey there, re him