‘The police took everything. You’d have to talk to them.’

‘Is there anyone else in the office who would know something?’

‘Ogden Bush is the liaison to the campaign. You could talk to him.’

‘Is he here?’

‘No.’

‘Then I guess I’m talking to you,’ Cab said.

‘I already said I can’t help you.’

Peach gathered her files around her, as if the conversation was over. Cab thought about who this girl was. Peach Piper, sister of Lyle Piper. A decade earlier, she would have been a child, grieving the loss of her brother. The summer when Birch Fairmont was assassinated had changed her life profoundly. It had to be in her consciousness every day.

‘One more question,’ he said. ‘This one’s not about Justin.’

She was suspicious. ‘Okay.’

‘Who killed your brother?’ Cab asked.

Peach stared at him. ‘What kind of question is that?’

‘I imagine it’s a question you think about all the time. Who do you think murdered Birch Fairmont and Lyle Piper?’

‘I don’t know who pulled the trigger. It was some right-wing fanatic from the Liberty Empire Alliance. Maybe it was Ham Brock himself.’

‘You believe that’s what happened?’ Cab said.

‘Of course. That’s why I’m here.’

‘That’s very noble.’

‘Don’t patronize me,’ Peach snapped. ‘You wouldn’t be sarcastic if someone from your family had been murdered.’

‘I wasn’t being sarcastic, I was being sincere. And I nearly did lose a family member that day, although I know that isn’t the same thing.’

Peach’s eyes narrowed with recognition. ‘Bolton? You’re related to Tarla Bolton?’

‘I’m her son.’

Her face softened. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.’

‘That’s okay. I usually don’t advertise it.’

‘Everybody says your mother saved Ms Fairmont that day. She was very brave.’

‘Well, my mother rarely thinks before she acts,’ Cab said. ‘Sometimes the results are better than others.’

‘It was a terrible day,’ Peach said.

‘Were you there?’

‘No. Thank God. I couldn’t have handled seeing it happen.’

Cab leaned across the conference table, which meant he was almost in Peach’s face. She looked very young. ‘Did you spend a lot of time at Birch Fairmont’s estate that summer?’

‘Sure. Lyle was there all the time because of the campaign.’

‘What do you remember?’

‘Not much. Deacon and I spent a lot of time in the pool. I read a lot. I was just a kid.’

‘You strike me as a kid who would notice things,’ Cab said.

‘Like what?’

‘Like something bad happening.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Peach replied.

‘Do you remember anything about Birch and Diane?’

‘No. They weren’t together a lot. Birch was on the road. Ms Fairmont was alone.’

‘Did you talk to her much?’

‘Oh, no, hardly ever.’

‘What about Diane’s son? Drew?’

He saw a slight tic in Peach’s face. ‘What about him?’