They left the car in a parking station, walked down the wharf. It was too early for customers. A few crap and blackjack dealers, waiters, one floor man whom Kells knew slightly were lounging about the small waiting room, waiting for the first boat to leave. They all stopped talking when Kells and Rose went into the waiting room.
The floor man said, “Hello, boss,” to Rose, nodded to Kells.
Rose said: “Let’s go.”
The man who owned the launches came out of his little office. He said: “Mickey ain’t here yet. He makes the first trip.
Rose looked away from him, said: “Take us out yourself.” The man nodded doubtfully, locked the office door and went out toward the small float where the four boats that ran to the Joanna were tied up. The dealers and waiters got up and followed him. The floor man lagged behind. He acted as if he wanted to talk to Rose.
Kells took Rose’s arm. “Let’s go over here a minute, first,” he said.
They crossed the wharf to where one of the Eaglet launches was moored at the foot of a short gangway. A big red-faced man was working on the engine.
Kells called to him: “Has Fay gone aboard yet?”
The man straightened up, nodded. “He went out about six o’clock.”
Kells said: “You go out and tell Fay that Kells sent you. Tell him I’m going aboard the Joanna to collect some money. Tell him to send some of the boys with you, and you come back and circle around the Joanna until I hail you to pick me up. Got it?”