‘I figured Brent Reed’s mouth would trip him up sooner or later,’ Bush went on, his voice honey-smooth. ‘What about Walter Fleming? Did he say anything of interest?’

‘He talked about you,’ Peach said.

‘Oh?’

‘He was concerned about you figuring out what he was doing. I think he’s got a spy somewhere inside the campaign.’

‘Well, that would be Walter’s style,’ Bush said. ‘Don’t worry, he’s a crafty goat, but I know how he operates. Anyway, show Annalie the ropes, okay? I’m counting on you, Peach.’

Bush disappeared as his phone began to ring, and the musky cloud of his cologne went with him. Annalie gave Peach an apologetic smile. She looked uncomfortable. ‘Sorry to drop in on you like this.’

Peach shrugged. ‘Whatever.’

‘Um.’

‘What?’ Peach asked, but then she realized she was sitting in Justin’s chair and that Justin’s chair now belonged to this new woman. This stranger. ‘Sorry,’ she said, getting up.

‘No problem.’

Annalie didn’t sit down. They stood in the cramped space together, barely two feet apart, eye to eye. They were the same height. Peach was skinny, but Annalie had curves under her black T-shirt and jeans. She would have looked younger and hotter if she’d lost the glasses and untied her black hair from the severe bun that was pulled back behind her head. She was pretty, with mellow golden skin and smoky eyes, but she wasn’t trying to be attractive.

‘I know it’s hard when new people get dropped on you,’ Annalie said. ‘I’m lucky to be here. I need the job.’

‘Ogden said you had hotshot references,’ Peach said.

‘Well, my father works for a big foundation donor.’

‘You ever done oppo work before?’ Peach asked.

‘Sort of. I worked for a woman who did private detective work in Jacksonville. You know, cheating hubbies and stuff.’

‘On the street or in the office?’

‘A little of both.’

‘You must have guts to take this job,’ Peach said. ‘You’re not afraid that it’s cursed or something?’

Annalie cocked her head. ‘Cursed? I don’t get it.’

‘Ogden didn’t tell you about the guy you’re replacing?’

‘No, he just said a position opened up on the research team. I figured the last guy quit or was fired or something.’

‘He didn’t quit,’ Peach said. ‘He didn’t get fired. Justin was murdered two weeks ago.’

4

The sun sank into the Gulf waters, and Cab expected it to sizzle like an egg hitting a hot frying pan. The Florida sunsets never got old. The strips of clouds turned as pink as cut roses, and the sandbars took on rainbow colors. He cast his eyes down from the twentieth floor toward the white sand of Clearwater Beach. Swimmers and shell-hunters stood up to their ankles in the hot water, silhouetted by the sun. Around them, umbrellas dotted the beach like drips of bright paint.