Роберт Паркер - Robert B. Parker’s Blackjack

“Look at that one,” Allie said. “Who would have thought?”

“The Chinese,” Valentine said. “Hell, all the way back to the Tang dynasty.”

“Well, it’s remarkable,” she said. “Don’t know how on earth they do it.”

“Gunpowder,” Virgil said.

“Yep... Some Chinaman mixed charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter together and... boom,” Valentine said. “Gunpowder. First invented to scare off evil spirits... now it is more commonly used in one form or another to kill people.”

I glanced over at Virgil, and he was staring at Valentine as he watched the fireworks. He remained looking at his big brother for a moment, then Virgil looked over to me as I looked back up. I could feel Virgil looking at me, but I continued to watch the dazzling display that was taking place for the grand opening of the Maison de Daphne.

As always, “much obliged” goes out to G. P. Putnam’s Sons’ president, Ivan Held; my editor extraordinaire, Chris Pepe; and Helen Brann for shuffling and dealing up this newest adventure with Hitch and Cole. Like Virgil says, “This sort of work we do is always a gamble.” So I appreciate those who have pulled up a chair, put their chips on the table, and anted up. Without that ante there is simply nothing to win or lose, and for this go-round I have to say muchas gracias to gifted mountain guide Rob Wood of Rancho Roberto, Jamie “Whatnot” Whitcomb, Rex “Double Down” Linn, Jared Moses, Genevieve Negrete, Jayne Amalia Larson, Kevin Meyer, and the shifty-eyed Mike Rose. My apologies to Alice DiGregorio, Claudia, Pete, Ingrid, and Lucy Crosen for putting up with my sequestering during our retreat. And to Julie Rose for putting up with me, period. A big hand for Ed Harris, the great and talented man who so expertly brought Virgil Cole to life on the silver screen, and the incomparable Viggo Mortensen for his voice of Everett Hitch that keeps coming around throughout. And I’d like to raise you a thousand for my riverboat steam crew: Josh Kesselman, Allison Binder, agent Steve Fisher, and the rest of the crafty card sharps at APA. A rousing toast to my sisters — the Clogging Castanets — Sandra and Karen, for dancing around the table. And in memory of Robert and Joan Parker, a tip of the hat for reminding me of the most significant of all gambler’s creeds: never sit with your back to the door.