The fog had not cleared in Piero's head. He heard people talking but they were only making sounds without meaning. The glass in his hand remained full, the floating ice cubes in it tinkling with every nervous movement. When Al Doro approached him, Piero turned with a jerk, spilling a little of his gin and tonic. Al had almost never gone to Piero to talk frivolities. This time was no different. Al looked down over his belly and then up to Piero's face.

"It seems you're a man of courage," Al growled as he quickly glanced to his left and to his right. "I needed that kind of affirmation from you. Stewart will keep us clean."

Piero shook his head. "If I know what you mean, you got that wrong. I haven't done it," he said, but Al had already touched Piero at the elbow in a sign of approval and now he was walking away, seemingly satisfied that he had chosen Piero with strong guts.