‘Just trying to point out your mistake,’ I said, keeping my voice even. ‘As soon as those people in New York and Chicago figure out what’s happened – and it won’t take them long – you’ll be judged and condemned. You know how they work. They’ll put out a contract on you, a price on your head. So there’ll be a whole lot of people on the lookout hoping to collect on you, and the way they collect is with a bullet. You’ll be targeted by everyone from a Syndicate hitman to a doped-up kid with a mail-order pistol. And there are plenty of those around.’

‘Shut up!’ she yelled. ‘You know what I think? You’re conning me. That guy out there is no more Mr Black than grandad, here.’ She pointed a shaky finger at John.

I shrugged and settled back. ‘He’ll carry identification, of course. Credit cards, things like that.’

I watched the indecision in her face. She struggled with the problem for a moment, then said sharply, ‘Johnny, go out there and get the guy’s wallet.’

John stood up and began to move, and then she saw the flaw in it. Once he was out there he was out of her control. ‘Forget it,’ she said. ‘Sit down.’

He sat down again and Bette thought it over. Her thumb was in her mouth and I heard the faint sound as she clicked the nail against her teeth. All she had to do was to wait until Steve or Terry came across the lagoon, but I had given it to her too fast and she was confused – too confused, I hoped, to think straight.

She jerked the pistol at me. ‘Kemp, if this is a con then you’re dead for sure. Hear me?’

‘I’ve told you the simple truth.’

‘Okay.’ Bette looked at Leotta. ‘Tomkins, Tomsson, whatever the hell your name is, if you make one move out of place then Kemp gets it. Because I’ll be right behind him. That goes for Salton, too. Tell them, Kemp: you’d better tell them good.’

‘She means it,’ I said. ‘And I’d hate to get my head blown off. I still have a need for it. Don’t do a bloody thing. That goes for you too, John.’

‘Yes, sir,’ he said.

‘Leotta?’

She nodded. ‘I won’t move.’

‘Jill?’ She was silent. ‘Jill, I want to hear it.’

‘All right,’ she said.

‘She won’t do anything,’ Leotta said. ‘I’ll see to it.’

I looked at Bette and she nodded in satisfaction. ‘Okay. Stand up and walk to the door. Don’t break into a run.’

It was good to stand up again after sitting for so long. I creaked a little as I walked to the door and Bette moved behind me. ‘Slow,’ she said. ‘Make it slow. No sudden movements. I get nervous about those.’