Darkest Journey

“A couple of hours,” Franklin said.

Ethan turned to Randy. “Is there a reason why they would have been in their uniforms?”

Randy shrugged. “There’s been a photographer in town paying people to pose. He said he hadn’t asked either of them, though. He was at the reenactment, though, and took some shots there. As I’m sure you know, Brad Thornton and his brother, Mike, are making that movie with Charlie Moreau. Maybe they wanted to be extras. Hickory told his housekeeper he would be going out for a meeting, and she didn’t need to leave him dinner. His people closed up the public part of the plantation right at five. The housekeeper was the last person to see him, right about that time, and he wasn’t in uniform then. As far as Corley goes, no one seems to know anything definitive. He was on a research sabbatical, so he wasn’t expected in class. He called a friend and asked her to feed his cats for the next few days, and that’s the last we know of his whereabouts. His home is just this side of Baton Rouge, where he taught.”

“He didn’t happen to tell the friend what he was up to, did he?” Ethan asked.

“Said he had some meetings in St. Francisville. That was it,” Randy told him.

“Well,” Dr. Franklin said, pulling the sheets fully over both bodies, “I’ll let these gentlemen get back to rest. Any more questions, Ethan?”

Ethan shook his head. “Not now, Doc. But—”

“You can call me anytime. You know that. I’m here.”

“Thank you.”

Ethan and Randy didn’t speak again until they were back out on the street.

“You coming in to the office?” Randy asked. “You want to see what else we’ve got?”

“What else do you have?” Ethan asked.

“Nothing except a pretty damned good crime board with times and pictures and everything laid out in one place. I’m going to start interviewing the rest of the people involved in that Journey reenactment, and, after that, everyone else who was on board. Is that what the Feds would do?”

“Yep. It is.”

“So...you coming?”

“Give me an hour?” Ethan asked. “There are a few things I’d like to do. Haven’t even opened up my folks’ old house yet.”

“You all still own the place?”

“Yep. My folks rent it out, but they’re looking for new tenants now, so it’s empty. Worked out nicely for me.”

“An hour, then. I’ll make some phone calls while I wait for you, get some of the St. Francisville police going door to door to see if anyone heard or saw anything. It’s always quieter and easier to call when the night shift’s on,” Randy told him.

“See you soon,” Ethan said.

Just then Randy’s phone rang, and he motioned to Ethan to wait while he answered. After a one-sided conversation consisting mostly of “Uh-huh” and “You’re sure?” he thanked the caller. His expression serious, he turned to Ethan and said, “Ethan, I just got some news, and it’s something you need to know.”