I looked at Bledsoe. ‘Someone might be threatening to tell your secret, Martin.’
Bledsoe’s face turned white. ‘How dare you!’
‘Do you have secrets in your past?’
Bledsoe banged the table. ‘If I had a secret, who told it to you?’
Grafalk had told me the truth, Bledsoe’s anger told me that. ‘I’m only guessing,’ I said. ‘I just wondered why you smashed a wine glass because Grafalk talked about where you went to school.’
‘I see.’ Bledsoe gave a short laugh.
‘Did you tell Sheridan to damage my car while we were at dinner?’
Bledsoe pushed back his chair. ‘Ask yourself!’ He left the bridge, banging the door behind him.
Bemis looked at me coldly. ‘I won’t allow you to disturb my ship.’
My head ached. ‘Very well,’ I said tightly. ‘I won’t disturb your ship. I would like to the chief engineer, however.’
Bemis nodded. ‘You may question the chief at dinner.’
I went down to the main deck and breathed the afternoon air thankfully. We were well away from the shore and it was quite cold. I collected my bag from behind the oil drums, and pulled out my coat. I walked down the deck and found a little bench. I sat down and looked at the sun shining on the green-black water.
I reached inside my bag for the Smith and Wesson as Bledsoe came up beside me. He looked surprised when he saw the gun. ‘Put that away. I came out here to talk to you.’ He sat down beside me. ‘Did Grafalk tell you about my crime?’
‘Yes.’