“She would’ve died in 1997,” Quinn said. He had no proof the body was Skylar Cole or even that it was from 1997. But he had enough to ask the question. “She was a regular at some of those house parties y’all liked to throw. Skeet shooting and whole hog barbecue. Whiskey and underage girls. Good ole times.”

Vardaman’s cocky smile dropped. He didn’t look to either his adviser or press secretary. He reached up and loosened his knotted tie and stared hard at Quinn. His nostrils flared as he nodded, understanding now exactly why Quinn was here and what he wanted.

“Skylar Cole brought the girls,” Quinn said. “They all came from Stagg’s place. You know the Booby Trap?”

The blonde woman started to laugh and shake her head. “I think this is all over,” she said. “Thank you for stopping by, Sheriff, but we have to be in Greenwood by tonight. He’s got a donor dinner at Lusco’s. They’re serving steak and pompano from the Gulf. I’ll walk you back to your truck.”

Quinn didn’t move, noting a nasty welt under Vardaman’s silver hairline.

“Looks like someone already tried to set you straight, Senator,” Quinn said. “Want to tell me where you got that bruise?”

Vardaman didn’t answer as Quinn kept on staring at him, his misshapen head and waxy-looking face folding into his true self, hard gaze and grinding jaw looking like he was chewing on something with his back teeth. He didn’t stop staring until Quinn said the name of the old state trooper that used to work for him and took care of their special business in Tibbehah County. The trooper had been famously shot out in the Big Woods, disgraced and exposed as being a longtime bad seed in the highway patrol. A notorious bagman who was finally found out.

“I don’t know that name,” Vardaman said.

“You should,” Quinn said. “He served as your bodyguard for years, as well as being the go-to guard for two Ole Miss football coaches. I’ve seen a lot of pictures of y’all together. Even a trip down to Louisiana to catch redfish.”

Tudhope gripped Vardaman’s arm and whispered into his ear. Quinn stood back, watching them and the blonde woman, who was playing with the tight pearl choker around her neck.

“I know Brandon Taylor blackmailed some of your guests,” Quinn said. “I know that Skylar Cole helped set them up. Both were killed. Y’all wanted it to seem like that Taylor kid killed himself. I know who was at those parties. All about the history of Stagg and the Booby Trap. And I know you were the one who ultimately made the call to kill those kids.”