Back in the car, he said, “Those parents had to know their boy was involved in torching that house.”

I said, “Firefighter dad, too much to handle.”

“Backer does God-knows-what for ten years then decides to be an architect? What the hell’s that, I destroy, I build, the whole God thing?”

“Or a stab at atonement.”

“Fifty grand says he felt no guilt. Wonder if anything in San Luis got the vegan Jell-O treatment while Backer attended Cal Poly.”

“It’s Robin’s hometown, I’ll ask her.”

I instructed the voice-recognition system to “phone cutie.”

She said, “I’ve never heard of anything but I’ll ask Mom.”

Robin’s relationship with her mother is, to be kind, complicated. I said, “Selfless public service.”

She laughed. “If we keep it at serious crime, we’ll be fine.”

Milo said, “I’m in debt to you, kid.”

“Bring wine the next time I cook for you.”

“What did I give you the last time?”

“Orchid plant. Also lovely but don’t you want something you can share?”

“Find me a mansion arson in San Luis two to six years ago and I’ll bring you a case of the best Pinot I can find.”

“Back to you on that, Big Guy.”

She called back three minutes later: “Mom’s never heard of anything like that and neither has my friend Rosa, who’s lived there her entire life and knows everything. If you’d like, I can do a newspaper search.”

“I’d have to put you on regular payroll, kiddo.”

“Like you keep threatening to do with Alex?”

“Point taken,” he said. “Anyway, not necessary, I can push keys.”

“When’s my blue-eyed boy coming home?”

“Right now, if you want him.”

“I always want him, but don’t let me hinder your investigation.”

“If only there was one.”

“That bad?”

“Hey,” he said, “we’re walking, talking, breathing, I’m grateful.” Robin said, “I don’t like that kind of talk from you.”

“I shouldn’t get philosophical?”

“Not on my watch.”

Milo lapsed into that same morose silence. Back at his office, he flung his jacket atop a file cabinet and began the search for mansion arsons throughout the state. Any eco torch-jobs.