Disclaimer- I do not own The Thief Lord.

Everything After

Maria, Mosca, Scipio and Riccio all lived on Isola Segretta until the shock of Scipio and Maria's disappearance died down (again). Then Scipio and Maria went back to the city. Mosca and Riccio, however, decided to stay.

Scipio was back to working behind the scenes for Victor. One day a client came into Victor's office. Victor had posted a going out of business sign on his door. He and Scipio had fallen too far behind on rent payments. They were going to lose the apartment.

"I'm sorry Signora Ricci. We're out of business," Victor replied glumly.

"Let me explain," Carmela Ricci said. "I'm not here because I need your help. Actually I'm here because of Scipio Massimo. I know he's here."

"Of course he isn't, whatever gave you that idea?"

"I saw him when I came here the first time. I knew it was him that time too."

"That was my assistant. He just looks a little like the Massimo boy."

"And he also has the same first name," Carmela said dryly. "Let me explain. I had never seen Scipio in person until I came into your office. But I am, in fact his aunt."

"Then you would have turned him into the police."

"No. I knew my sister and my ex- brother-in-law weren't being good parents. My sister was always traveling and Dottore Massimo was so busy. I had fought with my sister before Scipio was born so I wasn't allowed to see him."

"And now you want to take him so you can raise him."



Carmela laughed. "Of course not, Mr. Getz. I am not in the position to take care of Scipio. Plus he'd hate me. I, too, am busy. I noticed you are going out of business?"

"Yes."

"I am, after all, Scipio's aunt. I should take care of him a little, even if it's only financially. You see, I can't let Scipio be let out on the streets. So I have a proposition for you. What if I pay all the money you are in debt, and in return you start your detective business again and take care of my nephew?"

Victor didn't think it was right to except the money. But when she put it that way… And of course, she had to make sure Scipio was properly taken care of… "Deal," he agreed.

"Excellent."

Scipio and Maria were sitting in Ida's garden. "Did you see the article in the paper?" Maria asked Scipio.

"Yeah. The one where it said that my father was marrying a poor widow with two little kids? Maybe he's finally doing something right with his life."

"That's more than I can say for Carlo. I can't believe he's finally going to prison for stealing money from the government. I didn't even know he did that."

"You should have told the police he beat you while you were still living with him."

"I know. I guess I was just so scared. When he first started hitting me he told me he would kill me if he told. I was so little I didn't know that it was against the law. When I learned I already had so much fear built up. I should have, I know."

"You're safe now."



"I know." Maria smiled. "Ida said I should dye my hair so I can go to school and no one will recognize me."

"Victor said the same thing to me. He thinks I should finish my education. He wants me to get a detective's license."

"I'm sort of embarrassed to admit it, but I'm going to miss my black hair when I dye it. But after a year or so I should be able to dye it back. After all, I'll probably grow up enough by then that no one will recognize me. But then again, who knows what they'll look like when they grow up?"