The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

Author:Chris Bohjalian
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Suspense
ISBN: 0385534817
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 2013-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

“I knew I was going to make my life here eleven years ago. It was June 4, 1944,” Milton was saying on Saturday night to the group of American and Italian bankers and their girlfriends and wives gathered at the private room in the back of the restaurant. There were sixteen people, eight women and eight bankers, including the bank president from New York City. Serafina had heard Milton tell this story before—the liberation of Rome by the Americans and the wondrous, welcoming response of the Italians—but tonight he was using it because the American and Italian banks together were financing the massive Kariba hydroelectric dam in Africa. And the tale, she knew, allowed him both to praise his European host nation and to celebrate the friendship that now existed between the two countries. He was standing at the head of the table, holding a glass of prosecco.

“The irony, of course, is that two days after we entered Rome, my compatriots—as well as a great many Brits and Canadians—landed in Normandy, and so the liberation of the Eternal City very soon was eclipsed and relegated to the inside pages of most newspapers,” he said. “But, my God, was it exciting for us—and for me personally. Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And while I didn’t get to spend long there that June, I spent enough time for my fondness for your country—and, of course, for your wine—to grow even deeper. So it is with that small introduction that tonight I will, as I have hundreds of times this past decade, raise a glass to our friendship. To the United States, and to Italy!”

They toasted, and as Milton sat down, the fellow on Serafina’s right, an Italian named Vincenzo with an impressive mop of barely groomed silver hair, an equally hoary mustache, and weathered, deeply brown Sicilian skin, said, “Milton tells me you’re a detective.”

“That’s right.”

“Not easy work for a beautiful young lady.”

“Or, I would imagine, a handsome young man.”

“Excellent—well put.” He chuckled. “I must admit, I have never met a female detective.”

“I’m the only one.”

He nodded, digesting this information. Then: “How long have you and Milton been dating?”

“Two and a half years.”

A pair of waiters began placing on the settings before each of them a small plate with delicately fried squash blossoms filled with goat cheese.

“What does he think of your … work?”

“He doesn’t mind.”

“And why are two such delightful young adults not married? You should be.”

“Someday.”

“I probably sound like your father. Forgive me,” he said, and he cut into the first of his squash blossoms.

“No forgiveness is necessary.”

“We like Milton very much. That’s all.”

“I do, too.”

“What kind of detective are you?”

“A very good one.”

Again he laughed. She glanced at Milton’s end of the table and saw that he was charming the women to both sides of him.

“Seriously,” the banker went on, “what do you investigate? I have a feeling you do more than find stray kittens and bring home lost babies.”

“Murder.”

His face went grave. “You’re joking.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.