Tony worried about appearing ignorant and was therefore reluctant to reveal his thought processes, or his doubts, to more than a handful of people. If he did not understand something, he tried to find somebody to explain it to him, someone who would not laugh at his lack of cognizance. This was why Tony and his brother liked the Great Lost Bear: Dave Evans, when he was not busy, or not looking perturbed by the Fulcis’ continued presence in his bar, was always willing to listen and offer advice. So, too, was his wife, who reminded the Fulcis a little of their mother, but without the accompanying terror.

For very serious matters, Tony would cautiously approach Mr Parker. Tony felt uncomfortable calling him by his first name – it just didn’t sit right – and referring to him by his last name alone seemed rude. Tony respected Mr Parker more than any man he had ever met, even Louis, and he secretly and not-so-secretly worshipped Louis. Tony had never before encountered one so willing to risk his own life to end another’s pain as Mr Parker. As far as Tony was concerned, the private investigator had a moral authority that even God lacked. If you asked God for help, there was no guarantee it would arrive, or that God had even listened. But with Mr Parker, if you were a good person in distress, and you asked for his help, you got it.

That was why Tony and Paulie stood by him any chance they got. The brothers had messed up a lot in their lives, and Mr Parker represented an opportunity to put some of that right by redressing any existing imbalance in favor of the good. Tony thought Angel and Louis had allied themselves with Mr Parker for a similar reason: because they had messed up, too – Louis especially, although Tony wasn’t about to judge him for it, even if Louis frightened him at times – and siding with the detective was a way to make up for it. Tony also secretly suspected that it gave Louis an excuse to shoot people and not feel too bad about it.