“Don’t give me that!” Brennan roared. “Do you think I was born yesterday? You set it up on the way to the table. When those bimbos came out of the ladies’ room higher than kites, their game plan was to zero in on Jack and Joe.”

“That’s right, and if your spies stuck around at the Commodore, they would have seen that I was the first one out the next morning. Everybody got carried away. The girls were out for a good time. I don’t even know if any of them have been in touch with your sons. They haven’t been in touch with me.”

Jim Brennan leaned forward. “I’ve been seeing young sons of bitches like you come and go all my life. You fuckers always burn yourselves out. In the meantime you learn how to get around a little, women go for you for a while, maybe you even get mentioned in the gossip columns. For every cop who’s ever married a rich young girl—actress, heiress, whatever—a thousand must have tried. Booze is going to get you first. You’ve got all the makings of a first-class lush. Who the hell are you? Never mind the badge—”

“Shield.”

“Oh, you fucking moron! Look at yourself! You’re boiling mad. As if you can even figure out what’s happening to you.” Brennan jabbed a finger at Devlin. “You’re a smart-assed, snot-nosed flash in the pan, a gutless punk! The booze gives you away. There’s nothing inside you. You’re not tough enough. You’re a loser. Do you think any of that poor-Irish-kid-from-Sunnyside shit cuts ice with me? Right now you have a certain influence around this house. People find you attractive. That will pass.”

He stood up and walked to the door, indicating that Devlin was to leave. “It will pass because of you.” Devlin rose. Brennan opened the door. He clapped Devlin on the back. “The older I get, kid, the more I realize how much patience really is a virtue. I don’t have to do anything to get you out of my life. You’ll fuck your own ass. Do you know how I know? Because of one question you can’t answer, Devlin, and that’s Who are you?” Brennan moved close enough for Devlin to feel the heat of his cigar breath as he whispered through wet lips, “Who are you?”