‘It sounds callous, but I don’t really care about your girlfriend. If she can’t keep you, that’s her problem. I’d like to see more of you.’

‘Believe me, I’m tempted,’ he said, ‘but it will have to wait until this business is done.’

‘Because you work for me?’ she asked, her eyes gleaming. ‘Are you afraid of sexual harassment?’

‘Not at all.’

‘Maybe you should be.’

‘I’m not worried,’ Cab explained, ‘because I don’t work for you anymore.’

He watched Caprice inhale sharply, her nostrils flaring with anger. ‘Is this a joke, Cab? Because it’s not funny.’

‘It’s not a joke. I have a new client.’

‘Who?’ she demanded. ‘So help me, if Ramona Cortes—’

‘It’s not Ramona.’

‘Then what is this about?’

‘I guess you could say my client is Justin Kiel.’

Caprice leaned across the table, pointing a blood-red fingernail in his direction. ‘Oh, come on, Cab, what kind of nonsense is this? I asked you to help Diane. She’s your mother’s best friend. Do you care so little about her?’

‘On the contrary. I care about her a great deal. If Justin Kiel was killed because he was asking questions about the Labor Day murders, then I need to know exactly what he found, because I want to protect Diane. But I can’t do that if I have to be concerned with how my investigation fits into your political calculations.’

‘I said I was sorry,’ Caprice snapped.

‘I know you did, but you’re not sorry in the least. That’s okay. You have your priorities. I have mine.’

Caprice frowned. ‘So what does this mean? You keep working on the case, but I don’t have to pay you for it?’

‘Pretty much. Think of it as a sound business deal.’

‘How can I argue with that?’ she asked.

‘You can’t.’

‘Then I guess we’re done,’ she concluded.

‘Not quite. Now you’re a witness.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Justin wanted to know what happened ten years ago. So do I. Let’s start with a fight between Birch and Diane a couple weeks before Labor Day. It was a Saturday night. It was so bad that Drew ended up threatening Birch’s life, and he wound up in rehab. He got out of rehab just days before the murders. I’d like to know exactly what went on in that house.’

‘I don’t know,’ Caprice replied.

‘I think you do. Peach said you were there.’

She was silent for a moment. ‘Diane would not want you looking into this, Cab,’ she said softly.

‘Maybe not, but I have no choice. I’m heading back to Lake Wales right now. I’m going to find out what’s going on sooner or later. You might as well tell me.’

‘I’m asking you to drop it. Please. As a friend, not as an employer.’