Barker 05 - Black Hand

by Thomas, Will

“You make it sound as if we were trying to trick him,” he said, pulling his walking stick out of the hall stand. “We accomplished all he asked of us, though not necessarily in the manner he might have imagined.”

  We hailed a cab and rode to our office in Whitehall. I feel curiously deflated after a case is done.

  Barker chose a pipe from the cabinet, stuffed it full from the jar that bore the legend Tabac, and lit it with a match from the small ceramic striker. He hooked his ankles on a corner of his desk and looked out the window, which was flooding the chamber with light. There was nothing to see but a bare, brick wall opposite, unless one stepped to the window, but he continued staring, as he filled the chamber with his tobacco smoke. I gathered my notes from the case and began putting them in some semblance of order prior to typing a full report for our files.

  “Lad,” the Guv rumbled, “I wish to speak with you.”

  “Sir?” I asked, putting down my notes. I had no idea what he would say. He could have spoken with me in the cab but preferred the formality of our chambers.

  “Thomas, I wish to tell you that your apprenticeship is now over. As far as I am concerned, and my judgment is the only one required, you are now a journeyman in the field. I believe you’ve shown yourself knowledgeable and proficient in the skills of the profession.”

  I have to admit I was taken aback. I suppose I should have realized that my apprenticeship would not last forever, but I wasn’t expecting this.

  “Thank you, sir,” I said. “Is there some sort of test to take or license needed in order to become a journeyman?”

  “No, lad,” Barker said. “Her Majesty’s government does not recognize our profession. Even when you have become an enquiry agent, there will be no license, no letters after your name. If you wish, Mr. Jenkins could make up a diploma for you, but we both know it’s just a piece of paper. We among the enquiry profession regulate ourselves, and I am able to say that you have completed the first leg of your training successfully.”

  I wanted to say something brilliant and professional just then but couldn’t think of anything. It was just as well, for Barker went on.

  “You will still have the position of assistant, of course. When you’re completely trained, have some seasoning, and have accrued enough money in your account, we may discuss the subject of your buying into partnership with me, but that is still many years from now. However, I have a question for you.”

  What was he going to ask? He puffed a time or two on that dratted pipe of his. If I moved forward another half inch on my chair, I’d fall off.

  Barker cleared his throat. “Mr. Llewelyn, I understand fully the circumstances of your hire—that you were going to throw yourself into the Thames if you were not gainfully employed, that you considered yourself a failed scholar, and that this was the only position available to someone with a criminal background such as yours. In short, you came here out of desperation. Now you are desperate no longer. You have earned enough to move your late wife’s remains to a proper site; you could if you so chose send money to your family in Wales and still live well here. I provide your room and board and training. I would be content to continue training you as my assistant, Thomas, but I would not have you here against your will. If you wish to become a clerk or private secretary, or even a poet, now is the time to do so. I can offer a letter of recommendation that should offset your criminal record, in certain circles, at least. I could even get you an interview or two. Your skills in shorthand, typing, orthography, and organization are exemplary; and you don’t have to be prompted to do anything. If you wish to leave my employment, now is the time. Of course, if you go, I shall miss our conversations and training together, but we shall both move on. However, if you stay, I shall rely on you more fully; and were you to leave then, or grow dissatisfied with your work, you would throw this agency into turmoil. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” I said, though my tongue felt as if it were stuck in my mouth.

  “So, what’s it to be, then? Will you be signing on for another voyage?”

  I didn’t hesitate or even consider. “I will, sir. I’m afraid I’m ruined for any other kind of work now. I don’t want to sit in an office and fill out forms on a chancery case that has been going on for decades when I could be saving some person’s life or helping stop a crime from occurring. Two weeks with nothing but accounts in front of me and I would run mad.”

  Barker actually chuckled. “Very well. I’m giving you a raise of five pounds a month. Also, if we open this school of which you and Terry Poole are so enamored, I expect you to run the operations and act as junior instructor. That is, if we stay open very long. You shall be paid for that as well, but you must sacrifice some of that free time you cherish so. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. That’s settled. How are you coming along with the notes on the Sicilian case?”

  “I’m just getting started,” I said.

  Barker tsked me. Now that I was in his clutches completely, I could expect no more panegyrics on my exemplary performance.

  “Really, you had a full day of idleness yesterday to work on it.”

  “Sorry, sir. I don’t know what I was thinking. I won’t let it happen again.” One of the good points about working for Cyrus Barker is that sarcasm soars right over his head.

  “See that it doesn’t. I suggest you—Yes, Jeremy?”

  Jenkins came into the room.

  “A visitor for you, sir,” he said. “Rather impatient, too.”

  My employer and I looked at each other, and we both gave a short sigh. We no sooner finish a case than another one crops up. There is no peace for the wicked, as Spurgeon is fond of quoting.

  “Show him in,” Barker said, putting his pipe in the ashtray.

  And so it began again.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, I have been aided and abetted by my wife, Julia, and daughters, Caitlin and Heather. I also appreciate the staff of the Tulsa City-County Library who tracked down information on the early methods of the Sicilian Mafia.

  I owe a special debt to the late Pat Berry of the Seaford Historical Society, Sussex. She provided me with more information on the south coast than I could possibly use, and encouraged me, over a decade ago, to first attempt writing a novel. She will be sorely missed.

  TOUCHSTONE

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  The Black Hand

  1. The following quotation from Machiavelli is used as the book’s epigraph: “I’m not interested in the status quo; I want to overthrow it.” What is the significance of this statement? Why do you think the author chose a Machiavelli quote, and this one in particular?

  2. The prologue to The Black Hand is set at the seaside estate of Barker’s lady love, though “the Widow” herself is not actually introduced until midway through the story. What effect did this opening setting have on your reading experience, especially if you have read previous novels in the Barker & Llewelyn series? Do you think that introducing the novel at Philippa’s home emphasizes an element of romance? If the story had begun with a scene involving the battle at the docks, how would that change the tone of this novel?

  3. Barker relates the history of the Mafia to Llewelyn as they become more involved in their investigation. Were you surprised to discover that the Mafia was actually conceived in London by a member of the Freemason society (p. 55) as a movement to overthrow the French occupation in Sicily? Did you find that the historical references throughout the novel enriched your reading experience? Are there any particular historical elements in the book that you might further explore and research?

  4. Inspector Pettigrilli remarks to Barker, “You make it very easy for criminals in this country. They come and go quite freely, if I may say it. England is very indulgent” (p. 66). Consider what you may know about modern immigration laws in England. How different do you think the situation is today from the way it is portrayed in the Victorian London of The Black Hand? How do Barker and Llewelyn
regard the various immigrant communities featured in this story? Do these immigrants consider themselves true Londoners? Do you think that crime is a result of illegal immigration, or are the two primarily unrelated? Discuss your feelings with the group.

  5. Barker explains to Llewelyn, “There is nothing more dangerous than a mercenary, trained in the art of war, who is cunning enough to use the political situation to his own economic advantage” (p. 118). As Llewelyn points out, Barker, too, can be defined as a mercenary of sorts. How does Barker regard his occupation?

  6. Were you surprised by Llewelyn’s decision to continue working with Barker after he was given the option to find new employment? Or did you expect it? Do you think his decision was affected by the fact that so much of Barker’s personal life was revealed to him while the two worked on this case? How did your feelings about Barker evolve after you learned about his life as a pirate, his relationship with Philippa, and his atypical praise for Llewelyn?

  7. As Barker and Llewelyn wrap up the details of the case, Barker reveals that at some point throughout the investigation he suspected almost everyone involved (p. 272). As the reader, who did you believe was guilty? Did you guess that Hooligan would defect and help the Sicilians during the dock battle? Did you think that Marco Faldo was actually masquerading as another character? What methods did Will Thomas employ to maintain the mystery in The Black Hand?

  8. How does The Black Hand compare to other mob and Mafia stories that you’re familiar with? If this book were to become a movie, whom would you cast as its characters?

  Enhance Your Book club

  Research the secret societies or organizations mentioned in the book, such as the Camorra, the Mafia, and the Freemasons. Find a surprising fact, such as an unexpected member of such societies or an episode in which such societies were involved. Share your research with the group.

  Play a game using the L’occhio skills (p. 75) that Llewelyn learned from Mr. Gallenga. Have one member of the group create a setting with various target objects. Pass out flyers with the target objects listed, and allow the group members to have thirty seconds to survey the room and record where the objects are located. The person who successfully spies the most objects from the list should win a prize.

  Host your book club meeting at an Italian restaurant or, if possible, one serving Sicilian-style dishes.

  A Conversation with Will Thomas

  What was your inspiration for the plot of The Black Hand?

  My inspiration came from various books I’ve read about the founding of the Mafia and the methods they used during the nineteenth century, before getaway cars and tommy guns were invented. Secret societies always fascinate us, don’t you think?

  What kind of research did you do in advance of writing the novel? Are any of your characters based on historical figures?

  I did research on the Mafia and Sicily back to the days of the Crusades, and on the Camorra back to the time of Cervantes, mostly through books long out of print. It is amazing what horrible deeds are recorded in old tomes buried in college libraries. Antonio Gallenga was a historical person, but the others have come from my overactive imagination.

  Do Italian organized crime groups still exist in modern England? Has the Black Hand technique been employed by such groups since the nineteenth century?

  Like Some Danger Involved, The Black Hand is a what-if novel. In this case, what if the Mafia had tried to set up shop in the British Empire’s capital city? Instead, they went to New Orleans and eventually to Chicago and New York. As for Black Hand notes, yes, they were used often, and are more historically accurate than the “kiss of death” shown in many movies.

  You’ve integrated martial arts and stick fighting into previous Barker & Llewelyn novels. The Black Hand features Sicilian dagger fighting. Did you know anything about this form of combat prior to writing this novel?

  Writing gives me the opportunity to study various historical arts under private tutors, and The Black Hand is no exception. At the same time, there’s something very unsettling about knife fighting. That’s why I have Barker and Llewelyn discussing the question “Is it worse to be shot or stabbed?”

  Are you a fan of The Sopranos or of contemporary mob movies such as The Godfather and Goodfellas?

  The Godfather is a classic. Like most men, I have to see it once a year. When watching a movie like that, however, I always ask myself, “What would this have been like in 1885?”

  Now that you’ve written five novels in a series, how do you come up with new adventures for Barker and Llewelyn?

  Sometimes I focus on particular people in London. Other times I follow historical events that still resonate today. Or I will simply ask my characters, “What comes next?” Before I know it, Llewelyn is spinning me another tale.

  Every novel in the Barker & Llewelyn series thus far has been told from Llewelyn’s perspective. Would you ever consider writing from Barker’s point of view?

  Never! Cyrus Barker keeps his secrets and hasn’t the ego to set down his own cases. It is Llewelyn, the frustrated storyteller, who cannot help but pick up the pen and try to make sense of the world.

  Your books are all set in Victorian London; are there any other time periods that particularly interest you? Would you want to explore those periods through historical fiction?

  I’m more interested in exploring the Victorian era around the world—in Japan, perhaps, or colonial Hawaii, even the Old West. But I’d like to write a contemporary novel with a protagonist who has Victorian sensibilities. That idea has prospects.