The Bastards of Pizzofalcone (38 page)

At last they arrived, just as the rain began to fall harder. Laura said: “I'll walk you to the front door, you don't have an umbrella,” putting off for a few seconds Lojacono's worries. They crossed the street together, laughing and jumping over puddles.

They walked through the street door, still laughing for no good reason; they failed to notice a dark figure standing in the atrium.

The figure stepped out of the shadows and took a step forward, finally illuminated by the fluorescent light.

The girl leveled her almond-shaped eyes at Lojacono's own, sniffed loudly, and said: “
Ciao
, Papi.”

Certain stories have many eyes; it is by bringing all these eyes together that it is possible to build and so tell the story. The eyes of this story are all here.

Ed McBain, unparalleled master.

The angels of the city, Fabiola Mancone, Valeria Moffa, Luigi Bonagura, and Luigi Merolla, who told me about good and evil.

Giulio Di Mizio, who told me about death.

Dino Falconio, my brother, who told me about a firm, and what happens there. And Anna Giulia, she knows why.

Laura Pace and Annamaria Torroncelli, who told me about autism.

Eliana and Chiara, who told me about love.

My Roberto, who told me about grief.

Francesco Colombo, who met my words halfway.

Severino Cesari, who recognized my story out of all the others.

Paolo Repetti, who believed in it and defended it against everything and everyone.

Maria Paola Romeo, who brings it out into the world.

The Corpi Freddi, who were there at its birth, and who will keep it safe for me.

My eyes, my encounter, and every word of mine for my Paola.

Maurizio de Giovanni is the author of the “Commissario Ricciardi” books, hardboiled historical noirs set in 1930s Naples whose sales exceed one million copies. He is also the author of the contemporary Neapolitan thriller,
The Crocodile
. He lives in Naples with his family.

The Crocodile

 

I Will Have Vengeance:
The Winter of Commissario Ricciardi

 

Blood Curse:
The Springtime of Commissario Ricciardi

 

Everyone in Their Place:
The Summer of Commissario Ricciardi

 

The Day of the Dead:
The Autumn of Commissario Ricciardi

 

By My Hand
The Christmas of Commissario Ricciardi

 

Viper
No Resurrection for Commissario Ricciardi

 

The Bottom of Your Heart
Inferno for Commissario Ricciardi