‘Did you know him?’

Peach shook her head. ‘Why are you asking about him?’

‘No reason.’

He let the silence linger. Staring at her, he thought she was telling the truth this time. She didn’t know Drew. Even so, something about Drew’s name had elicited a reaction, and she was obviously curious about why he’d brought it up. It was the same message as before: I could tell you things, but I won’t.

She didn’t trust him. Not yet.

Cab thought about Gladiola Croft’s story. Something had happened two weeks before Labor Day between Birch and Diane. An argument. A fight. Maybe it didn’t mean anything at all; maybe Drew’s threat to kill his stepfather was just twenty-something angst. Or maybe this was all a game by Rufus Twill – and the shadowy people pulling strings behind him – to create a scandal that would tarnish Diane’s campaign.

He would have been willing to believe the story was just a convenient lie, except for one thing.

Justin Kiel was dead. That was real.

‘Two weeks before Labor Day, something very ugly happened at Birch’s estate,’ Cab told Peach. ‘Do you know anything about that? It was a Saturday night.’

‘No, if it’s the weekend I’m thinking about, I was sick. Pneumonia. I don’t remember much. I’m sorry.’

‘I’m asking because of Justin,’ he told her.

‘How does this involve Justin?’

Definitely friends, Cab thought, watching her face. Probably lovers.

‘Justin was in Lake Wales shortly before he was killed. He was asking questions about the Labor Day murders.’

‘What? No, that can’t be right.’

‘You didn’t know? He didn’t tell you about it?’

‘No, he didn’t,’ Peach said. She looked dazed, as if a wave had washed her away. ‘He didn’t say anything like that.’

He lowered his voice, but he held her blue eyes with his own. ‘You understand why I’m worried, don’t you? Someone killed Justin. It happened two weeks ago. Maybe the police are right, and this was a drug-related murder, but I don’t like coincidences. I don’t like the fact that Justin was looking into Birch’s murder, only to wind up dead himself. I want to know what he found, because if it was enough to get him killed, then something is going on. Something is going on right here and now.’

Peach stood up. ‘Stop,’ she said. ‘Just stop. Please.’

‘Peach, if you know anything—’

‘I don’t,’ she insisted.

‘I need you to trust me.’

‘I don’t know you,’ she said.

‘Listen to me. Someone killed Lyle and Birch. Someone killed Justin. They may not be finished yet.’

‘I have to go. I’m sorry.’

Peach held up her hands and backed away from him. He may as well have been holding a gun. Like a spooked deer, she bolted from the office without another word, leaving him alone.