Deacon sat down. He was wearing an under-sized gray T-shirt, jeans, and dusty boots. He slipped sunglasses over his face and scratched his rust-colored stubble. ‘Okay, you want to tell me what this is all about?’

‘I want to know what really happened to Justin.’

‘I get that, but why? I know you guys worked together, but I don’t understand what you’re doing.’

She took a breath. She was a private person, even around her brother, but she decided to tell him the truth. ‘It was more than that.’

‘What was?’ Then Deacon tilted his head back and sighed. ‘Oh, man. Really? You and Justin?’

‘We were in love.’

‘Hell’s bells, why didn’t you tell me, Fruity? No wonder you’ve been so upset.’

‘It was something just for us,’ Peach said. ‘We didn’t tell anyone.’

‘Look, I’m sorry. I really am. I get it now, but I don’t want you putting yourself in jeopardy over this. A murder investigation is for the police, not us.’

‘I can’t stop.’ Peach felt her eyes welling with tears. She crumpled into her brother’s shoulder and clung to his arm. The wind blew heat into her face like the open door of an oven. ‘It’s just one more thing, you know? One more thing they took away from me.’

He kissed the top of her head. ‘Yeah, I know.’

‘I loved Mom and Dad, and they died. I loved Lyle, and he died. I loved Justin, and he died. Maybe it’s me.’

‘It’s not you.’

‘Don’t you get lonely without them?’ she asked.

‘Of course I do.’

‘I miss Lyle,’ she said. ‘With everything going on, all the talk about Labor Day, I’ve been thinking about him a lot.’

‘Me too.’ Deacon chuckled. ‘Except I also remember what an asshole he was.’

‘Don’t say that!’ Peach exclaimed.

‘Hey, he’s gone, and I’m really sorry, but I’m not going to pretend that he was something other than what he was. He didn’t treat us well. Everything else in the world was more important than we were.’

‘He was responsible for us. That wasn’t easy.’

‘I’m not saying it was, but you didn’t see what he was like. You were a kid then, but I wasn’t.’

Peach frowned. In her heart of hearts, she knew Deacon was right, but she didn’t like feeling that way. ‘No, I saw it,’ she said softly. ‘I just don’t like to remember him like that.’

‘I get it. Remember him however you like. Believe me, I think about him every time I get into the Mercedes, but then I think: That car probably meant more to him than either of us did. I know that’s harsh.’

‘Yeah.’ Peach sniffled.

‘Now, you want to tell me what’s going on? What have you been up to?’