The Mark of a Bloody Hand

Introduction

“The Mark of a Bloody Hand” is a tale that intertwines the gritty realism of the boxing world with the supernatural, set against the backdrop of the vibrant and dangerous streets of early 20th-century Chicago. It captures the essence of human passions, vendettas, and the unexplainable phenomena that sometimes intersect our lives.

“The Mark of a Bloody Hand” was first published in WRITER OF THE DARK by Dark Carneval Press. 

Through a blend of crime drama and ghostly apparitions, “The Mark of a Bloody Hand” explores themes of love, revenge, and the afterlife’s intervention in the mortal world, presenting a haunting and thought-provoking narrative that leaves an indelible mark on the reader.

Cross Plains Library has an original draft of this story.

Summary

The story is set during a boxing match at the Hopi A.C. between Jack Maloney, an Irish-American fighter, and Tony Azerello, an experienced Italian boxer, witnessed by the narrator and police inspector Hanlon. The atmosphere is charged with tension, partly due to the presence of Malissa di Gigisetti, Azerello’s passionate and fiery Sicilian girlfriend, who vocally supports him and curses Maloney.

Maloney, despite being outclassed and heavily battered throughout the fight, manages to land a devastating punch on Azerello in the tenth round, seemingly knocking him into the ropes. At that exact moment, the lights go out. When they come back on, Azerello is found fatally injured, having died from a blow to the head that occurred when he supposedly fell against the thinly padded edge of the ring.

Malissa’s grief at Azerello’s death is profound, and she vows revenge against Maloney, who is later acquitted of any wrongdoing due to the death being declared an accident. However, Maloney is subsequently attacked and severely wounded by an unknown assailant, believed to be acting on behalf of Malissa’s father, a man with Mafia ties.

The narrative takes a mysterious turn with the introduction of William J. Karney, the new caretaker at the Hopi Athletic Club, who reports an eerie encounter with the ghost of Tony Azerello. The ghost leads Karney to discover a blood-stained seat in the arena, marking the spot where Azerello’s true killer, Luigi Savonari, sat during the fight. Savonari, driven by jealousy and rage over Malissa’s affection for Azerello, confesses on his deathbed to murdering Azerello in the darkness when the lights went out, using a slung shot to deliver the fatal blow.

Characters

  • Jack Maloney: The young Irish-American boxer who unintentionally becomes entangled in a tragic and supernatural series of events following his fight with Tony Azerello.
  • Tony Azerello: An experienced Italian boxer, the victim of a fatal attack during his match with Maloney. His death sparks a series of vengeful acts and unveils a chilling supernatural occurrence.
  • Malissa di Gigisetti: Azerello’s girlfriend, whose love for him and subsequent vow of vengeance against Maloney underscore the passionate and sometimes violent nature of human emotions.
  • Inspector Hanlon: A police inspector and friend of the narrator, providing insights into the backgrounds of the characters and the criminal underworld of Chicago.
  • Luigi Savonari: The true murderer of Tony Azerello, driven by jealousy and a desire for revenge. His confession from the brink of death brings closure to the mystery of Azerello’s death.
  • William J. Karney: The caretaker who experiences a supernatural encounter with the ghost of Tony Azerello, leading to the revelation of the true circumstances surrounding Azerello’s death.

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