Page 47 of Marcello

But that was all just a cover.

I wasn’t there to be a model employee; I was there for something else.

Every morning and afternoon – even on breaks – I would go up to the street level and watch for the Camorra drug dealer.

It took another week for him to reappear.

On my sixth day of work, they had me co-lead a tour with Pasquale. Basically, I did a couple of five-minute sections of the script, and then Pasquale would take back over.

It went flawlessly.

I remembered every single line and recited them with enthusiasm.

I made the dumb jokes from the guidebook and got groans and laughter in all the right places.

I projected my voice so even the people in the back could hear me –

And I was super-friendly.

The entire time, I wasn’t nervous at all.

Ice water in the veins, baby.

“You did awesome!” Pasquale said afterward. He’d become a lot more chill after Federica stopped texting him. “If you do this well on the afternoon tours, I think you should try the entire thing by yourself tomorrow.”

“That’d be awesome – thanks.”

“Hey, let’s get a drink after work to celebrate! But, uh… maybe don’t tell Federica.”

I thought about the Camorra dealer and how I hung out after work waiting for him.

Eh… fuck him.

And fuck Fausto, too. I’m taking a day off.

“Sure thing, man,” I told Pasquale. “Thanks.”

I went out to the street for my break.

I’d gotten a soft drink from the vending machine, and as I popped the top –

I froze.

There he was.

The Camorra drug dealer.

He was leaning against one of the pillars, smoking a cigarette.

It was the first time I’d seen him in over a week.

I knew if I didn’t seize this opportunity, it might be another week before I saw him again.

Do it for Gemma and Mama and Edoardo.

Tick-tock, Marcello.

Tick-tock.