‘Maybe Macy didn’t kill Birch. Or maybe we’re simply missing something. Either way, Macy is in the middle of whatever’s going on right now. Justin was looking at him, and now Justin’s dead. Deacon Piper is missing. The question is why.’

‘Deacon?’ Her face turned ashen. ‘Deacon is missing? When? What happened?’

‘Caprice says someone took him from his house last night.’

Diane’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh, my God.’

She leaned forward and put her arms tightly around him. He could feel the curves of her body pressing on him through the thin robe. It was awkward; they felt like strangers. Strangers who had slept together. Who had conceived a child.

‘What’s going on, Diane?’ he asked.

She took a deep breath. He had to remind himself who she was and what this meant to her. She was a candidate for the most powerful office in the state. There were people who would do anything to bring her down. And here he was, asking for her worst secrets.

‘I did something illegal,’ she murmured, as if speaking softly would make her innocent. As if the truth would still be hidden.

He gently eased her away from him. ‘What did you do?’

‘You have to understand my situation,’ she said. ‘After Drew died, I went crazy. I’d lost everything. I needed to blame someone. I became obsessed with Frank Macy. I wanted him punished, but nobody could stop him. I worked with the police to get drug charges filed, but he walked away with probation. All I could think about was getting him behind bars. It was like I couldn’t go on with my life until I’d avenged Drew’s death. I was willing to do anything in my power to put Macy away. And you know – by then – I had a lot of power. A lot of money. It made me think I could do whatever I wanted, and there would be no consequences.’

‘What happened?’ Cab asked quietly.

‘There was a killing in the town of Pass-a-Grille. A bartender was assaulted and died of his injuries. There were no witnesses. It was in a bar that Frank Macy frequented. Macy knew the bartender. Don’t you see, this was my chance. Finally, I had him. So I arranged to have DNA evidence planted in the alley and in Macy’s apartment. Macy had no alibi. He was selling drugs that night. You have to love the irony, don’t you? He must have suspected I was behind it. Ramona called me, and she didn’t say it outright, but she made it clear that she thought I’d paid someone on the police to make sure Macy was framed. However, even she couldn’t make this one go away. Macy took a plea and did eight years. Less than he deserved for what he did to Drew, but at least I had a measure of justice.’