‘Actually, I talked to your lieutenant in Naples. He didn’t seem too upset to let me borrow you for a while.’

‘I don’t imagine he would be. He doesn’t think I look much like a detective, either. Unfortunately, talking to my lieutenant behind my back makes me inclined to say no to whatever you have in mind. I don’t like being manipulated, Ms Dean. That may be how things work at the Common Way Foundation, but it doesn’t work with me.’

‘Hear me out,’ Caprice said, with a soft grip on his arm as he turned to leave. Her fingers were warm.

Cab shrugged. ‘What do you want?’

‘Diane’s in jeopardy. I’m worried someone’s planning another assassination attempt.’

‘Hire a bodyguard.’

‘I have.’

‘So why do you need me?’

‘I want you to find out what really happened ten years ago,’ Caprice said, ‘and whether it could happen again.’

‘The FBI concluded that a right-wing militia group was behind the assassination. Its leader, Hamilton Brock, is in prison.’

‘For tax fraud,’ Caprice said, ‘not for murder. No one talked, and they never determined exactly who pulled the trigger. The militia is alive and well even with Brock behind bars. You think he can’t direct things from inside his cell?’

‘Talk to the police. The FBI.’

‘I’ve done that, and they’re looking into it. However, one thing I’ve learned at the foundation is that we get better results when we do things ourselves. I don’t want third parties I can’t control. I want my own man.’

‘You think you can control me?’ Cab asked.

‘I’d like to try,’ Caprice replied, with a double entendre that neither of them missed.

Cab felt heat on the back of his dress shirt. ‘I don’t do security.’

‘Security’s not what I want. I want to know who wore that hood and pulled the trigger. Who killed Birch and Lyle? That’s the only way we can stop them.’

‘You’re talking about digging into a ten-year-old crime after a massive investigation turned up nothing,’ Cab said. ‘There were no witnesses. There was no gun, no DNA. The militia stonewalled. This man was a ghost. I’m not sure why you think I’d be able to make inroads where the FBI failed. Besides, you’re making a big leap. If there really is a credible threat against Diane today, chances are it has nothing to do with the past.’

‘Sometimes it takes fresh eyes to see clearly, Cab. And I’m not wrong about the threat.’ Caprice carried a satin clutch that matched her dress. She undid the clasp and reached inside. She withdrew a folded piece of paper and handed it to Cab. ‘This arrived at the foundation last week.’