Cab knew how it went from there.

She told Birch that weekend. That Saturday night.

It was bad.

‘That was when he assaulted her,’ Cab murmured.

‘Yes. The man cheated on her constantly, but let her have one affair and he couldn’t handle it. She didn’t want a divorce – that was the last thing she wanted. She told Birch the real father didn’t know and never would. She said no one would ever think that the baby wasn’t his. They could announce it. It would be a boost to his campaign. A little late-in-life miracle. Voters would love the idea.’ Tarla carefully brushed a tear from each of her eyes. ‘Well, you know how Birch reacted.’

Cab wanted to cry, but he felt empty. He had nothing inside.

‘I’m so sorry, darling,’ Tarla said. ‘Really I am. If I had known, I would have told you. You deserved the truth.’

‘It wouldn’t have changed anything.’

‘I suppose not.’ His mother studied his sunken face and said: ‘Does Diane know that you’ve found out about this?’

‘No.’

‘Are you going to tell her?’

‘Do you think I should?’ Cab asked.

‘Yes, I do. I’m going over to Diane’s place tomorrow to ride out Chayla with her. I could talk to her myself, but I think it’s something you need to do. You have questions, and she’s the only one who can answer them.’

‘I have questions, but she won’t like them,’ Cab said.

‘What do you mean?’

‘She kept the story hidden. I need to know why.’

‘Can you blame her?’ Tarla asked. ‘The media would have been incredibly hurtful. She deserved to grieve in her own way, not have her life blown up by scandal. That’s still true today, Cab. Common Way is her life. Regardless of whether you’re angry at her, you have no right to expose what happened and put everything she’s worked for in jeopardy.’

‘I’m not sure the secret is about politics. I’m not sure it ever was.’

‘What on earth are you talking about?’

‘Drew,’ Cab said.

Tarla sprang to her feet. ‘Oh, honestly, Cab, this again?’

The silk of her night clothes swished as she padded to the windows and stared out at the rain. The Gulf was invisible. He came up behind her and put a hand gently on his mother’s shoulder.

‘Drew threatened to kill Birch,’ he said. ‘Now I know he had a very powerful motive to do so.’

‘I told you, he didn’t do it. Leave it alone. What do you hope to accomplish?’

‘Sometimes the truth is enough,’ Cab said.

Tarla spun around, and strands of golden hair flew across her eyes. Her face was flushed as she shouted at him. ‘Do you always have to be a fucking policeman?’