‘Ah.’ Ramona chose her words carefully. ‘In other words, you suspected that Diane or her son might have used the services of a third party to resolve the problem of an abusive husband.’

Cab’s eyebrows rose. ‘You know a lot.’

‘It’s an ongoing investigation, and I’m up to speed on all aspects of it. Our special agent friends have their flaws, but they did examine that angle in considerable detail back then and concluded there was nothing to it. It was kept out of the media out of deference to the family.’

‘I see.’

‘So that’s why I consider Frank Macy to be a non-issue.’

Cab shook his head. ‘There’s more. Justin Kiel had a newspaper article in his safe house about Macy’s manslaughter plea. So it appears that Justin was looking at Frank before he was killed. In addition, as of last night, Deacon Piper is missing. Someone broke into his house. He was talking to sources about Frank Macy earlier in the day.’

Ramona frowned. ‘You’re sure about Justin?’

‘Yes.’

‘That surprises me, but it’s still a big leap to think that Frank was involved in his death. Or in Deacon’s disappearance. What’s the connection?’

Cab hesitated. He was handing Ramona a political bombshell by saying anything. ‘Hypothetically?’

‘If you wish.’

‘Okay. Let’s assume that you and Macy were correct that fraudulent evidence was used to implicate him in that manslaughter case in Pass-a-Grille. Let’s also assume that if Diane was involved in planting evidence, she had help from someone inside Common Way. Someone like Deacon Piper. If Frank Macy suspected that Diane and Deacon stole eight years of his life, don’t you think he’d do something about it?’

Ramona’s eyes grew smoky. ‘I knew I was right about Diane. I can’t believe the arrogance of those people.’

‘I’m speaking hypothetically.’

She shrugged. ‘Yes, of course.’

‘You see why I’m trying to find Macy. If Deacon is gone, Diane is next. I’d like you to pull strings to help me locate him.’

‘Look, Cab, Frank is certainly capable of violence. I don’t wear rose-colored glasses about some of my old clients. However, I don’t see him targeting Diane or Deacon. He’s not that foolish. He likes his breezy life too much to put it in jeopardy over a crazy scheme for revenge. And the situation with Justin Kiel is much more complicated than you realize.’

Cab stared at her. ‘Why?’

‘I can’t say.’

‘If this is about politics—’

‘It’s not,’ she said. ‘I can’t discuss an ongoing criminal investigation.’

‘Ramona, I need your help. If I’m right, time is very short.’

She frowned. ‘This is extremely delicate. I need your assurance that nothing I say will make its way back to Common Way.’

‘You have it,’ Cab said.