The Good Suicides (39 page)

She was going, but beforehand, out of pure compulsion, she checked the taps in the bathroom and kitchen, and since she was there she put away the breakfast plates she had already washed. This is the behavior of an old woman, she scolded herself as she did it. Then she grabbed her minimal luggage and made sure she put everything required in the bag: the keys of the house in Sitges, her cell phone, the charger … She took out her sunglasses; that day she couldn’t drive without them.

She was making toward the door when the bell rang and an annoyed
expression crossed her face. She had no intention of being held up by anyone, but she was surprised to see who it was.

“Hello, Ruth. Forgive me for coming without calling. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course …” She tried to conceal her irritation as best she could and let him in, because she guessed that this temporary setback to her plans arose from something important.

Lluís Savall didn’t usually make courtesy visits.

It’s been about a year since
The Summer of Dead Toys
was published, and it would be impossible to thank everyone who helped inspire the novel. From the commercial and publicity teams at Random House Mondadori to the booksellers who go on recommending titles to a faithful clientele, from the press to bloggers, everyone contributed an important grain of sand. I can’t leave out the foreign editors who dared to bet on an unknown name and are now publishing Héctor Salgado’s first case in their respective countries, nor Justina Rzewuska, who made it possible.

Now, finishing my second novel, I’m absolutely aware that this wouldn’t have come about without the contributions of many people who have put affection, intelligence and goodwill into it. I want to start by highlighting my editor, Jaume Bonfill: his patience and dedication have been vital in making
The Good Suicides
what it is. Neither can I forget María Casas and Gabriela Ellena, and they know perfectly well why; nor Juan Díaz, editorial director of Debolsillo, who continues to believe in me and Inspector Héctor Salgado.

Apart from them, and although I’m sure I’ll leave someone out, I want to give thanks to: my family, always there; Pedro and Jorge, Carlos, Yolanda and Guillermo, Sara, Carmen (and Leo), Jose, Hiro, Edu, Carmen Moreno (excellent poet), Anna, Xavi, Rebecca and her skulls, Sílvia and her spaghetti. And Ana Liarás for her understanding throughout this whole process.

To all and many more, thanks again.

Antonio Hill
studied psychology and lives in Barcelona. He is a professional translator of English-language fiction into Spanish.
The Good Suicides
, set over a cold winter, is the second in the series of Barcelona-set detective stories and was a bestseller in Spain. The first,
The Summer of Dead Toys
, set in the blistering heat, was also a major bestseller in Spain, and was translated into fifteen languages.