Viola walked up the path in the growing darkness, looking down at the small scrap of paper in her hand. She continued walking until a cottage became visible through the trees, its general appearance one of neglect and desertion. Undismayed, she tucked the paper into her pocket and turned down the overgrown track that led toward it.

She rapped on the door and waited. Nearly a minute passed before she heard the sound of someone on the other side.

The lock scraped and a dark patch appeared, opening into an interior even more gloomy than the dusk outside. “Why, Viola!” The man glanced past her into the darkness, then turned his attention back to her and smiled, swinging the door wide. A glint of red flickered in his good eye. “I see you received my note. Do come in; I hardly imagined you would respond to a second invitation from me — but here you are, as clever a little monkey as ever. May I take your wrap?”

“Yes, thank you, Diogenes. And I'll have something to drink if you you've got it.”

Diogenes raised an amused eyebrow. “Of course you will,” he said smoothly. “Do make...   read more »

Their position had been overrun during the early morning hours. First Lieutenant Eli Glinn manned the bridge as American troops fell back, fighting and straggling their way over the sturdy wooden frame.

He had waited for nearly twenty minutes, a virtual lifetime as their tiny force had held, broken, held again. He’d been anticipating this moment for two days. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him as five men broke from the heavy cover and ran for the bridge as though Lucifer Himself was on their heels. The tall one bringing up the rear, Garza, signaled to him and Glinn took a breath to steady his nerves.

This was it, then. Just a matter of seconds, now... He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. “Get clear! Get clear!” he yelled as Garza shepherded the last soldier over the bridge. All accounted for. Glinn didn’t know all of the men but he knew the number in both special ops teams scheduled to be in the area give or take a few for casualties, and recognized the rearguard as they came up behind the last of the stragglers. Only thirteen men left? Jesus. He put the thought away....   read more »

I had watched cats play with their prey before, and the languid, deceptive grace with which he turned my own strength against me reminded me of nothing so much as a cat getting ready to take its time. I tried to move again and he chuckled quietly, so close it was almost more felt than heard.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of something lying next to us and recognized with a start that it was a small pile of weapons—my weapons, in fact—taken from various concealed places on my body. Some of them I had thought well-hidden but apparently he had found them, even removed them, without my being aware of it.

“What the hell...?” I panted, outraged in spite of my predicament.

His eyes were on mine now, glittering faintly, his tones measured, honeyed steel that conveyed a pleasant yet tactical menace. He glanced briefly at the incriminating pile.

“Anything else you would like to declare before we proceed?” he asked, almost idly. “I do confess to a certain fondness for my own life. A strange affection, but there it is.”

He smiled and returned his gaze to me. I was reminded again of a mouse, pinned...   read more »

Woke up in Pisa with a headache. Nurse was a very tall man in drag with mismatched eyes who kept poking me. V. gentle hands, though.

Got out of the hospital today. Yay! Sun very bright. Vincent ditched me and just realized nurse was my evil little brother. Bummer.

Arrived back in America today. Don’t think anyone saw through my disguise tho’ the Customs Agent made a pass at me. Spent an hour being strip searched. Not sure if it was legal but got his phone number when we were done. Guess I am hot no matter what I do.

Found Vinnie shacked up with Laura. WTF? After all we’ve been through... Laura outranks him so maybe he is being coerced. Have obtained a position as a doorman in his building and will observe. He looked weepy this morning so maybe a good sign.

‘Eau de Armpit’ is working wonders for me. Have only been hit on twice since taking this job. Think Laura pinched my bottom the other day but cannot be sure as elevator was v. full at the time. Vinnie hasn’t made a move on me yet but maybe he is pining for his Pendergast?!? Can’t wait to tell him I’m...   read more »

Poor frater. Have obtained all the samples I need, but like poking him so took some more just for fun today. He called me Viola in his sleep and made kissy faces at me. Always hated when he did that... Now... who is this Viola person? At least I hope it is a person. Cannot bear to think about the physical contortions involved in loving a musical instrument. He is bendy but that is just sick.

Have located the ‘Viola’ frater referred to. And yes, it is a woman. (Will wonders never cease?) Apparently he met her for three hours the other day and is now in love. Please. Frater is more hard up than I imagined; Vinnie must be v. stingy with his favors. Will drop the English wench a line and see if she really is that easy.

Back in America. Customs Agent came on to me. He is now on his way to Costa Rica; wish I could be there when the unclaimed baggage area begins to stink. Don’t mess with Frater Minor, A-holes.

Delightful news! Viola responded to my letter and will be arriving tomorrow. She is obviously not v. bright so maybe that is why she likes frater....   read more »

Made cookies for the orderlies today. Such a flurry of flashing lights and frantic bustling out of doors a short time later — oh, dear! I do like flashing lights.

Orderly Watkins was taken to the hospital by ambulance yesterday. They think he will regain control of his bowels after surgery and intensive rehabilitation. Such a nice man, Mr. Watkins, though he didn’t like my cookies. Saw him drop his in the trash when he thought I wasn’t looking. But then he was ever so kind to hold my needlepoint pillow for me while I passed out the rest of the cookies. Why do bad things happen to such nice people?

My dear brother Ambergris visited me today! After all these years. Thought he’d put on weight but he looked much better than the last time I saw him. Didn’t think much of the woman he was with, but was too polite to say. He said she was his wife, but I know a lady of the night when I see one! She looked like the sort who would not bother to shut the door while...well, you know. I’m too polite to say. I do believe Ambergris is getting forgetful in his...   read more »

Have just arrived at Capraia. Ernesto and I called it quits yesterday and I want to gather my wits together before moving on to Cecil. Thinking of ringing him tonight, tho’ may wait until tomorrow.

Had the most interesting visit from a Count Fosco this afternoon. What a wonderful, charming man! He gave me an envelope to deliver to an American man with a side-kick who he said would be coming by for it. Oooh! I wonder if C.F. is psychic?!? I’ve never dated a psychic before...it bears thinking about.

If I married a Count would that make me ‘Lady Countess Viola’, or ‘Countess Lady Viola’? They both have a certain ring to them...

Was mucking about in the garden today when two American gentlemen came wandering over the hill. Such a delightful surprise! I could tell they were taken with me immediately. The old ‘pull the hair out from under the hat and shake it loose’ trick never fails. Though at first they both seemed strangely disappointed to find out I was not in fact a man. (?) I think sometimes my attractiveness is so overwhelming it intimidates men. It’s the only explanation.

The pale one, Aloysius, looks promising; good breeding there for...   read more »

Went to Capraia today with Pendergast to track down a lead. Turns out this Lady Viola’s great-grandfather was a famous violin player who shagged some Duke’s wife in England. Now there’s something to be proud of. Still, the great-grandfather was Italian so how bad can she be?

Good Grief. Saw P.’s eyes glazing over early on. Not much makes him speechless but I guess there’s a first time for everything. You’d think she’d won ’Best of Breed’ at Westminster the way V. went on about her pedigree. “Being ‘up front’”, she called it. Thought she was going to pull out ribbons and trophies for a minute there. And ‘Don’t call me Lady’? Yeah. Right. I didn’t — just to piss her off.

V. said she found Fosco charming, which pretty much sums up how much sense she’s got.

Imprisoned by Fosco and threatened with gruesome death. Would be upset but got to spend the night with A. Neither of us slept much.

Got searched by F.’s men today. The Fat F. made them search P. in front of me. I was outraged to see their hands on him but in the end found it pretty hot. Admit I was rather turned on which was...   read more »