She looks surprised.
‘Don’t answer now. Vito Carvalho tells me I’d be lucky if you worked with us, and I believe him.’ Lorenzo checks his watch and gets up from his chair. ‘I’m afraid I must ask you to go now. I have some pressing matters.’
Tom and Valentina scrape their chairs back and head towards the door.
‘Grazie,’ says Valentina. ‘I’m grateful for your help with my personal problem.’
‘You’re very welcome.’ He opens the door. ‘Let me walk you out.’
Lorenzo walks alongside Valentina and makes small talk until they reach the end of the corridor.
‘This could be your office,’ he teases, pointing at a closed door with an empty nameplate.
She treats him to a warm smile.
He can see she’s interested in the job. ‘I’m serious. Go on, take a look inside.’
She feels foolish. ‘Let me think about it, molto grazie.’
Lorenzo won’t take no for an answer. He turns the brass knob and pushes the door open.
The room is full.
‘Sorpreso!’ choruses a crowd of familiar faces.
Party poppers and streamers explode and fill the air.
Valentina almost cries as she spots her parents — and Vito Carvalho — clapping her. Alongside them is Louisa Verdetti.
Finally she recognises half of the team from her own office at Carabinieri headquarters.
The day couldn’t get better.
Except it could.
From out of the forest of legs, a small girl appears.
Sweetheart is wearing a new bright blue dress and a smile that melts every heart in the room.
Valentina picks her up and kisses her.
Tom Shaman stands back a pace.
He’s never loved anyone as much as he loves Valentina.
He just hopes she understands why, when their holiday’s over, he is going to have to move on.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Big thanks to Luigi Bonomi for all his advice, tireless support and encouragement — there’s good reason why he’s regarded as the best in the business.
I’m hugely indebted to Guy Rutty, Professor of Forensic Pathology, East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester and Dr Tom Rasmussen, Senior Lecturer and Head of Art History at the University of Manchester. Both gentlemen strived to keep me on the roads of realism and accuracy, any short cuts and inaccuracy are down to me and the pursuit of a good story rather than them.
I’m grateful to all the wonderful team at Little, Brown but especially to Daniel Mallory and Thalia Proctor — I’d have been lost without their professionalism, smart observations and generous contributions. Thanks also to Jane Selley for the copy editing.
Last but not least, immense thanks to my wife Donna who gives so unreservedly and bountifully of her time, patience, love and inspiration. I’d still be on page one without her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SAM CHRISTER is the pseudonym of an award winning documentary filmmaker. Educated in England, his first job was as a messenger for a newspaper, and he has since worked for several major television studios as a director, producer, host, and reporter. His documentaries have covered scientific discoveries, kidnapping cases, and murder prosecutions, among other topics. Rights to his breakout first novel, The Stonehenge Legacy, have been sold in thirty-five countries, and both The Stonehenge Legacy and Christer’s first Tom Shaman novel, The Venice Conspiracy, are available from The Overlook Press.