‘He’s my uncle.’

Cab was surprised, but he could see the family resemblance when he looked at her face. ‘Did Rufus grow up around here?’

‘Yeah, but he got out, went to college. Mama always said Uncle Rufus was smart. Sly smart, somebody who knew the score. He did well for himself, writin’ stories that got politicians into trouble. ‘Least until he let those boys get the drop on him. They messed him up.’

‘He says he plays the piano now. Have you heard him?’

Gladiola smiled. ‘Yeah, he ain’t bad. Not as good as he thinks he is, but he ain’t bad.’

Cab wondered if people said the same thing about him. ‘Rufus told me he had a source who overheard Diane’s son Drew threatening Birch Fairmont. Was that you?’

‘Yeah, that was me.’

‘He said you took it back later.’

‘I did that, you’re right. I didn’t want to get anybody into trouble.’

‘So which is it?’ Cab asked. ‘Which story was true?’

‘Drew, he said it. Yes, he did. Big as life. Mr Birch weren’t there, though. It was just Drew and his mama and Mr Muscles.’

Cab cocked his head. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘The massage guy. He was always there.’

‘Oh, Garth Oakes.’

‘Yeah, that’s him. Not so bad to look at, I guess. I mean, you’re a lot easier on the eyes than him, but the man did fill out a T-shirt.’

‘Garth was always there?’

‘Oh, yeah. Some people like to rub shoulders with rich folks. Makes ’em feel special, I guess.’

‘What about you, Gladiola? Why were you there?’

‘That’s my job. Was. I came three times a week to clean the house. Started when I was sixteen.’

Gladiola lit a cigarette. The wind took the smoke as soon as it escaped her lips. She was younger than Cab had first thought – maybe thirty – but she had a tired face. Her body was bony and small. As they sat in the lawn chairs, she kicked off her flat shoes and stretched her toes. She’d ditched her overalls inside, and she now wore plain cotton shorts below her red T-shirt.

Cab heard juvenile shouting inside the small house. ‘You have kids?’ he asked.

‘Ya think? I got three.’ Gladiola reached back and pounded on the door. ‘Hey, knock it off! Don’t make me come in there!’

‘What do they do when you’re at work?’

‘They go to school, and that’s where their asses gonna stay. My sister watches ’em after. She’s got three of her own.’

‘How long have you worked at the landscaping company?’

‘A few years. When Ms Fairmont moved to Tampa, I decided I was sick of scrubbing toilets and figured I’d do something else.’