“Yes and no,” John said. He was in front. Now Brennan wanted to see the identification cards, too. He looked up at Devlin and slowly, perhaps too slowly to be really convincing, he allowed himself a small grin.

“That’s some nose you’ve got there …”

“Frank Devlin, Jim. We know each other.”

Brennan rubbed his chin with his knuckle, staring.

“Fifteen years,” Devlin said.

The old man looked away, his lip curling. Now Devlin saw that his jaw trembled. “I hate the sight of you.”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

Brennan tried to give a bit of a crooked grin. Somebody had tipped him. He’d expected them. He looked gaunt, with vertical lines in his face and neck Devlin hadn’t seen that last night in the library. The hair was white, the little that was left, unkempt, and his eyes were older, angrier, quicker, more impatient than ever. Devlin was remembering that Brennan had spat in his face and gotten away with it.

“You piece of shit,” Brennan said. He rotated toward John. “Well, now. Given your partner’s business, and the play he’s been getting in the papers the last couple of days, there isn’t much reason for you to be here, except as a witness. Maybe you’re even wearing a wire. Either way, you’re out. I’ve always cooperated with the police and I’m cooperating now, but you don’t have a warrant or probable cause and until you do, I’m boss here. So get the fuck out. The galley’s behind the bridge. Fill your face there. Get a drink. Have a good time! I’m only sorry that my hospitality is so limited, that I can’t offer you a woman to go with the food and the booze. But it isn’t that kind of a cruise, if you know what I mean.”

John looked pained. For Devlin, the old man’s behavior seemed studied, thought out in advance.

“On the other hand, we do have an Indonesian crew, all very pretty boys, if you care for that sort of thing.”

John hesitated. Devlin would tell him later that Brennan was playing a game with them.

“This is one of his better moods,” Devlin said.

“All right.” John backed away. “I’m going to look for a spot to watch the fireworks.”

“Get a drink!” Brennan yelled. “Go on!”

John waved him off as he went through the door.

“I didn’t think you’d have the nerve,” Brennan said to Devlin. He bit his lip again.

“The hell you didn’t.”

“Well, you haven’t got much goddamned time,” Brennan said. “The show goes on in fifteen minutes, and Charlotte expects me out there with her at the start, at least. Maybe the finish, too. I can’t get chilled anymore.”

The air was warmer outside, who was he kidding? “You were expecting us.”