by Karen Dodd
Nico had brought out some cold beer for their guests who had come back to the house for lunch. As they stood side by side watching Max play and Francesca and Testa’s wife bring out the food, Roberto looked at Nico. “He looks like you.”
Nico didn’t see it. All he saw was Ariana in Max’s deeply soulful eyes and radiant smile. He saw the brightness and natural curiosity he’d first admired in her at university. The open, unguarded expression that, in the early days, drew people to her like a moth to a flame. The way she was before her dogged determination and fierceness made her the target of the multitude of threats that led up to her death.
“Ariana was an extraordinary woman,” Roberto said. “And she loved you, yes?”
Nico swallowed the ache in his throat. So much had gone unsaid between him and Ariana. And, as a consequence, he’d missed seeing his little boy grow up. He’d wondered if he could ever forgive her for that, even though Francesca had told him that she’d kept Max from him out of love.
“She was so afraid something would happen to you,” Francesca had said. “And Max would have no living blood-relative.”
Nico saw an Ariana-style grin light up his son’s face. “Yes, I believe she did,” he answered Roberto. He cleared his throat. “Now, what about you? What will you do now?”
“After a little time off, I’ll go back to my position with the Guardia di Finanza. There is still so much to do. I know you’re unsure of our new prime minister, but he’s a good man. I believe he wants the same thing we all do: to take back our beautiful country. I think that’s all Ariana wanted.”
A worthy goal, Nico thought, but he had doubts that it would happen in his lifetime. “Do you ever think about giving up, Roberto?”
“In my head? Si, a thousand times.” He thumped his chest. “But in my heart? Never.”
“I admire you. With everything you’ve been through. Losing your family . . .” It didn’t seem fair that Nico had his son, and Roberto had no one.
“Ah, that is precisely why we must continue our important work, my friend.” He pointed toward Sergio’s little girl, who had shyly approached Max and asked to play with him. They watched as Max not only nodded but hugged her and gave her some of his toys. Nico felt the sting of tears as he bit his lip.
“If we give up,” Roberto said, “what does that mean for the extraordinary women in our lives? We must not allow them to have died in vain.” He turned to look at Nico. “You’re a good prosecutor, Nico. You—me—we can do this.”
Nico touched the neck of his bottle to Roberto’s. “Ad maiora semper, amico mio. Towards greater things.”
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THE ST. JULIAN’S KILLINGS
St. Julian’s, Malta 2018. A shocking car bombing. Three widows in three countries. What did their husbands have in common?
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THE ST. JULIAN’S KILLINGS
St. Julian’s, Malta 2018. A shocking car bombing. Three widows in three countries. What did their husbands have in common?
Get your free prequel to the Nicoló Moretti Crime Thriller series
at
www.karendodd.com
and join my VIP Readers Club.
Acknowledgments
In the spring of 2016, I had the good fortune of visiting the archipelago of Malta. I was enchanted with the entire area, but most particularly, the tiny historic island known to the locals as Għawdex. The people were warm and welcoming; the beauty of its geography nothing short of spectacular. It remains one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to and fervently hope to go there again.
Within six months of returning to Canada, I was shocked and saddened to hear of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination near her home in Malta. As of the writing of this book, her family still has not received justice. I desperately wanted to write her story, but out of respect for her family—and because writers so much more qualified than I have done an exceptional job—I decided to write an altogether different story, but one built on many of the same premises.
The places in the book I take you to are real, except for the names of businesses which have been changed for obvious reasons. While I strived to bring verisimilitude to the settings, I have taken great liberties with the story. So, while I was thrilled to have a former Maltese citizen as a beta (early) reader, any remaining errors are mine. Or they just came from somewhere in my vast imagination.
For all my books, I’m blessed to have a dedicated team of beta readers, as well as those who read the final copy before it goes to print—and who invariably catch embarrassing errors before the release date. These loyal fans read my work purely out of the goodness of their hearts and without them—well, I just can’t imagine!
I would especially like to thank Anna Axerio, Peter Axerio-Cilies, Rod Baker, Briar Ballou, Amber Cowie, Ian Grant, Eric Lidemark, John Busswood, Diana Stevan, Ena Fevurly, Lucy Traini, Francine Legault, Lyn Smith and Rachel Wetton (my Maltese connection) and Linda LeQuesne, my beta-reader and proofreader extraordinaire.
I offer a very special thanks to Sergeant J.G. (Gord) Reid of the RCMP. He was always willing to peruse bits and pieces of my writing on a moment’s notice (hopefully no criminals went free as a result) and verify its authenticity. Thank you, Gord, for being an invaluable resource. Any errors regarding police procedures are solely mine.
Everybody Knows has, without a doubt, been the most difficult book I have written. It took two-and-a-half years and for reasons I won’t bore you with, went through several iterations. I would especially like to thank my early editor, fellow Canadian Christine Lagone. She did an amazing job and without saying so, helped me see that the manuscript still needed more work.
Through a successful, multi-published author, I was fortunate enough to find my UK developmental and copy editor, Rebecca Millar. Part coach, part weaver of magic, she brandished her editor’s pen firmly but kindly—without taking my voice. Thank you, Rebecca, for seeing the potential in this story and helping me make it infinitely better. Any remaining lack of “zing” lies with me.
And finally, to the members of my Author Mastermind, I offer my profound thanks. For nearly two years now, each of these five successful authors in multi-genres has gelled and together we have become one powerful mastermind. We’ve supported each other by reading each other’s work, overcoming mind-bending writing obstacles, and some difficult personal situations. We’ve celebrated each other’s wins and helped soften the blow of seemingly unsurmountable challenges. I simply cannot imagine being on this journey without you. Amber Cowie, Sonia Garrett, Rae Knightly, Diana Stevan and Mahtab Narsimhan—thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are my idols and I’m so honored to be in this circle.
Every writer hopes her next book will be better than the last. That’s why we toil in a lonely room, often for hours or days at a time. Whether or not the muse visits, we think of you, dear reader, as we try to create the best story we’re capable of. I hope you enjoy Everybody Knows and look forward to the next one.
~ Karen Dodd
June 2021
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Dodd is the author of the Stone Suspense novels. The second book in the series, Scare Away the Dark, won the 2018 Chanticleer CLUE award. Everybody Knows, is the first book in her
new Nicoló Moretti Crime Thriller series. Karen lives in a small village on Canada's West Coast.
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Visit her at www.karendodd.com