At 7:15 he called John, who gave him a telephone number and asked for ten minutes more. Devlin went back to the counter and ordered a wedge of apple pie to hold his place at the counter. He would be here after his conversation with John. The bank wouldn’t open for hours more.

Devlin had taken two forkfuls of pie when it was time to call John again.

“The guy behind the counter here has me made for a cop,” John said. “A candy store. My second trip in half an hour. I had to wait for the place to open so I could get the number of the pay phone.” He drew a breath. “Kevin called me last night to say he’d spent yesterday lying to me and wrecking your life and doing the same to Eileen’s. Not to mention lousing himself up with the rest of the department’s blue eyes in the process. He thought he saw an opportunity. I guess he was wrong. As of eight-thirty last night, he had you bagged and tagged. What happened? What did you do with him?”

“He’s waiting in the car.”

“Seriously?” John gave a short laugh in spite of himself. “On the other hand, it’s kidnapping now.”

“It’s been kidnapping—that’s what Kevin has done to Eileen. He says she’s going back to Ireland at midnight. I want to know she’s safe …”

“Frank, I can tell you what he told me last night. She’s in a hotel he’s used before to hide witnesses. I don’t know where that is—I’d certainly tell you. She’s with two guys he brought down from the Bronx for the job of getting you. He told me a long time ago that they’re good guys.”

“How can he tell?”

“No argument from me on that score,” John said. “Take it for what it’s worth. They’re cops.” He paused. “Assume that they’re not crazy. Can you do that?”

Devlin realized that they would be asking themselves the same thing about him. “All right,” he said. “There’re a couple of things you can do, if you’re willing.” Devlin pinpointed the location of Jack Brennan’s letter. “Get hold of Harry Levine. He’ll know what to do with it. I think it’s all the protection I need from the mayor and Torres.” He told John about talking with DiBennedetti last night. Devlin said, “I know he’s twisting my crank, and I know why—really. He knows where Maryellen is.”

“Let us handle it.” Devlin was ready with another idea. John listened, obviously unhappy, but not arguing. Devlin had thought it out very carefully. The only ass hanging out was Devlin’s own; what he did decided if he would live. When Devlin finished, John said, “I’ll be there. I’ll do everything I can.”

9:30 A.M. …

9:30 A.M. …