The captain emerged with three glasses and a bottle of wine. "I don't drink much, but today's the exception. You'll want some while you hear all we have to tell you." He sat at his usual seat at the head of the table, began to pour, and offered a glass to me.

I shook my head and ticked my gaze to Josh again.

Josh took a glass and drank deep. "About a week after all of you left the Black, I received a message from a man named Parker Donatrough."

The captain ...