The men walked toward them, stopping just short of the picnic area so that the water from their suits dripped into the sand. The first, a stout man with very red hair and a matching beard, greeted them with, “Ben Ransome, you dirty son of a bitch. What’s this favor you wanted to ask me about?” He turned to his companion, a short, thin man with salt-and-pepper hair and a scar that crossed diagonally through both upper and lower lips in a thin white line. “Ben here left a message for me saying he needs something from me,” he told him. “This after he’s skipped out on poker night for three months straight.”

“Bastard,” the second man said jovially to Ben, shaking his head.

“Now, Al,” Ben said to the red-haired man. “I think I’ve left enough of my money on your table that you can do me one little favor.”

“Well, what is it?” Al demanded. “Might as well ask so I can say no.”

Ben indicated Hudson. “Al, meet Hudson Jones. Hudson, these dive rats are Al Blackmore and Ollie Kipperling. No bigger thieves and liars in Monterey than these two.”

“Then I definitely want to know you,” said Hudson, nodding at the men as they erupted in laughter.

“Hudson here is doing some research on Ed Ricketts,” Ben explained.

“And you’re wondering if I can get you into the lab,” said Al before Ben could continue. He glowered at Ben. “What do I look like, the goddamn Visitors’ Bureau?”

“I’d say you’re just about the same color as their hut on the Row,” said Ben calmly, and Al and Ollie laughed some more.

“I’ll see what I can do,” said Al. “No promises,” he added, looking at Hudson.

“I won’t hold you to any,” Hudson assured him.

Al smiled. “I like this one,” he said to Ben. “Bring him to poker night. We’re getting together next Tuesday.” He looked at Hudson. “You play poker?”

“Badly,” Hudson told him.

“That’s the best way,” said Al. “Bring cash. We’ll be gentle.”

The two men said their good-byes and retreated to a beat-up pickup at the lot’s far end. “They seem nice,” Hudson said to Ben when they were gone.

“Al’s a good guy,” Ben said. “Ollie too. Al’s the one who first took me diving here. He’s been coming since he was a kid.”

“What’s his connection to the Ricketts lab?” Hudson asked.