Three people were already seated at the spacious round table: a middle-aged couple who offered a big welcome, and a rail-thin fashionably dressed frosted blonde who could have been anywhere between fifty and sixty. She was situated opposite the couple. Good move, Regan thought. No doubt the single woman had left plenty of empty seats around her hoping they’d be filled by that rare commodity on cruise ships, single men.

The maître d’ seated Veronica and pulled out the chair to her left for Regan.

General introductions followed. Mario and Immaculata Buttacavola announced they were taking their first cruise ever, and had decided to go all out by travelling first class. “The way I see it,” Mario explained, “I work for a swank hotel in Atlantic City and figured it’s high time me and the missus got a taste of the good life. Besides, being I’m in the banquet office, maybe I can earn some Brownie points by bringing back new ideas about ship-style food and beverage service. Everyone tells me all you do on a cruise is eat.” He patted his generous girth. “I’m ready.”

Immaculata gazed at him with an adoring look that made Nancy Reagan’s swoonlike gaze at Ron seem surly. “This is like a second honeymoon for us,” she bubbled.

Sylvie Arden was from Palm Springs. “I love to travel,” she sighed, “but I hate packing and unpacking. That’s why cruising is the perfect solution for me. You unpack once and then just enjoy yourself.”

“Good evening.”

Regan and the others turned to see a sophisticated-looking dark-haired man in his late thirties approach. Sylvie’s eyes brightened as he chose the seat between her and Veronica. “May I?” he asked.

“Please do!” Veronica and Sylvie chorused.

A moment later the seat to the left of Regan was filled. A man about her father’s age wearing a lemon jacket introduced himself as Gavin Gray and greeted the frosted blonde with the familiarity of old friends.

“So good to see you, Sylvie,” he said.

“You two know each other?” Veronica cried as she waved the cigarette holder, whipping it past Regan’s nose.

“Oh yes,” Gavin replied. “We’ve been on many of these sea adventures together. You see, I am originally from Manhattan. For many years I was the host of “Gavin’s Guests,” a popular radio program in New York. I interviewed literally thousands of celebrities. Now that I am retired, I have taken my interest in people into an affiliation with the cruise line. I am one of your hosts.”

Gavin Gray, Regan thought. Gavin Gray. I’ve heard his name. Of course! She’d been in New York when Nora was on that program. Nora called him Gabby Gavin and said she doubted he ever read a book before he interviewed the author. Regan’s heart sank. If he spotted Nora and talked about her to Veronica, that would be it.