Chapter 15: The Interview with Claudio Aggiunta

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Milo and Alex meet Claudio Aggiunta, Gio's older brother, outside the police station. Claudio is a senior vice president of the family's shoe company, in charge of European and Asian sales. He has flown from Florence after learning of Gio's death. During the interview, Claudio explains that Gio's preference for older women began seven years ago when a younger woman he planned to marry rejected him. Gio attempted suicide, recovered, and afterward only dated mature women. He struggled with learning difficulties, dropped out of architecture school, traveled for three years, and failed to find a role in the family business. The family paid off three previously married older women's husbands to avoid scandal. Gio was sent to Los Angeles as West Coast sales manager. Claudio is grieving but cooperative, though he initially resists providing the name of the family of Gio's former fiancée. Milo gently guides him through the process of body retrieval.

Key Events

Milo and Alex interview Claudio Aggiunta in a small, stark interview room.
Claudio reveals that Gio's pattern of dating older women started after a rejection by Donatella Barone when Gio was 22.
Gio attempted suicide after Donatella ended their relationship; he later claimed to only be attracted to mature women.
Claudio describes Gio's learning difficulties, his brief architecture studies (facilitated by family connections), and his aimless travels.
Gio tried working for the shoe company but lacked genuine interest; the family gave him the title of West Coast sales manager and sent him to Los Angeles.
Claudio admits there were three prior incidents involving older married women; the family paid the husbands to protect their reputation.
Milo explains the logistics of retrieving Gio's body and provides a list of county contacts.
Claudio chooses to ride the elevator alone, asking to be left to his thoughts.

Character Development

Claudio Aggiunta emerges as a dutiful, burdened family man. He is articulate and strategic, yet visibly grieving. His guardedness about the Barone family and his careful phrasing about Gio's "work" suggest a lifetime of managing family crises. His emotional breakdown in the hallway reveals deep affection for his brother beneath the corporate facade.
Milo Sturgis displays empathy and patience, guiding Claudio through procedural details without pressure. He respects Claudio's need for solitude while still pressing for necessary information.
Alex Delaware acts as an observant interpreter, noting contradictions in Claudio's narrative (the "claimed" understanding of Gio's feelings) and asking clarifying questions about Gio's failed business role.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Family honor and reputation drive the Aggiunta family's actions, including paying off husbands and sending Gio abroad. Claudio's reluctance to name the Barone family shows a reflexive protection of social ties.
Trauma and coping mechanisms: Gio's suicide attempt and subsequent emotional shift toward older women illustrate how unresolved pain can alter life patterns. Claudio's need to "be busy" after the interview reflects his own coping strategy.
Class and privilege: The family uses money and connections to solve problems—bribes, prestigious jobs, expensive cars. Yet wealth cannot prevent tragedy or ease grief.
Deception and self-deception: Claudio admits that Gio's official job title and the phrase "allowed him time to develop" are euphemisms for the family's inability to find a real role for Gio.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 15 provides crucial backstory on Gio Aggiunta, transforming him from a murder victim into a complex figure shaped by heartbreak and failure. Claudio's testimony establishes a clear motive for the murders—a jealous husband from Gio's past—while also introducing the possibility that the killer is someone connected to the three previously paid-off husbands. The chapter deepens the mystery by highlighting that Gio's pattern of risky relationships with married women did not end with Meagin March. It also underscores the family's wealth and willingness to use payoffs, suggesting that other secrets may remain hidden.

Study Questions and Answers

Why did Gio Aggiunta begin dating older women?
After his childhood sweetheart Donatella Barone rejected him at age 22, Gio attempted suicide. Following his recovery, he declared he would only be attracted to mature women, a pattern he maintained for the next seven years.
How did the Aggiunta family handle Gio's previous entanglements with married women?
The family paid off three husbands to preserve their reputation. Claudio describes these as "civilized discussions" and "reparations" that kept matters from escalating to violence.
What does Claudio's description of Gio's job in Los Angeles reveal about the family's true intentions?
Claudio admits that Gio had no real interest in shoes or business. The official title of West Coast sales manager was a face-saving measure; the family essentially supported Gio financially while letting him live in California to keep him away from further scandal in Italy.