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Believe it or not, even ex MET detective Chase Williams has surrendered to some interview requests. So he gave an interview to Italian crime writer Francesco Zampa, author of the lucky Maresciallo Maggio detective series.

Since Chase doesn’t want to look like a “Twitstar” kind of guy on his website/blog, I post his interview here on my Daily Pinner. It’s another cool way to celebrate my 30th birthday (CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED SCHEDULE), as Chase has still to pay some credit to me :P

Hello, Chase. First thing first, who is Chase Williams?
Oh, that’s a goof question, Francesco. Who am I? My name is Chase Thomas Williams and all the male members of my family are policemen or something similar. My great-grandfather was an aviator during World War II, my father is a Scotland Yard bigwig and my brother Scott is a RAF pilot. I’m the black sheep, I became it. I was a Scotland Yard detective and I ended up in Tursenia, working at Ceccarelli’s cachemire. Thanks to my English I work in the import/export office, it’s not so bad after all. I had to leave London because I messed some thing up. To be totally honest with you, they kicked me out of Scotland Yard, but that’s a silly question, isn’t it?

Anyway, troubles follow me in Tursenia as well. My best friend, Tursenia police Inspector Angelo Alunni, drags me into his business, murder cases and mystery to solve. Old habits die hard.

I love running, eating Italian food and I’m a Gunner. I never miss an Arsenal match also here in Italy, I thought of everything. I’m after a pretty Italian girl. I’m done with British ladies since my ex (about to be) fiancée cheated me with – guess what? – my partner at work. Not funny at all.

What’s the most difficult case you’ve ever faced?

I got into all kinds of mischief when I was in London, from serial killers to drug and people smuggling that didn’t end up happily. What concerns me, generally speaking, is the corruption ruling everywhere.

I am seeing incredible things also here in Italy. It’s crazy how little everyday things or apparently innocuous events, like a domestic accident, for instance, may hide unresolved crimes or acts that can kill someone.
The most complicated case I faced so far here in Italy is about a double murders, two young sportsmen shot at cold blood who apparently don’t have anything in common. That didn’t square to Angelo, so he asked my cooperation. At the very end we managed to bring to justice who deserved to pay for it… or something like that.

Which character of the crime/mystery literature do you think you look similar the most? Which want would you like to be, if you could?

I don’t know actually. Someone told me I’ve go the same Sherlock Holmes’ nose. I mean, what’s wrong with you Italians with my nose? You all say I’ve got a “foreigner” kind of nose, what does it mean?

I’d like to look like George Simenon’s Maigret, although my neighbour Giulia keeps saying I look like Jane Marple because I always nose into stuff when I should not do it. You see, Francesco? It’s always about my nose!

Do you think that the good guys always win or you are disenchanted? Have you ever met any bad guy who was… good at the very end?

No. Good guys try to win, but I believe that bad guys win too much often. Otherwise the police (and the corruption) wouldn’t exist.

Yes, I met some “good” bad guys. They are people who often are accused of being mean. At the end they are just doing the good (and better) thing to the people they love, even if that might cause pain. Ethic matters are often hard to figure as good or bad, right or wrong. It’s personal most of the times.

Are you more keen on legality or do you think that laws should be overcome sometimes to get justice?

I was kicked out from Scotland Yard also because of it. Some laws and regulations were created to, in their opinion, keep the society quiet, controlled and balanced. However, they work at the contrary quite often.

I believe you’ve got to overcome these rules if you want to sort things out, sometimes. If they catch you, you will be in trouble. Justice is like a needle that holds the balance of power and moves according to the circumstances. Sometimes you’ve got to use the force to put the needle in the right position… to sort things out. Not everyone likes my idea of justice, sometimes I argue also with Angelo about that. It’s normal, he wears a police uniform, he cannot accept my idea at 100%. At the end I’m very happy to not serve and protect anymore, although my family will never forgive me.

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Francesco Zampa ce l’ha fatta. Da scrittore di gialli non poteva che essere lui il primo a strappare un’intervista a Chase Williams, che da quando è stato trasferito a Tursenia ha sempre tenuto un profilo basso, per non dare nell’occhio.

Eppure, Francesco è riuscito a far parlare anche Chase, che ovviamente non ha voluto rendere pubblica la cosa pubblicando sul suo blog.
Ci ho pensato io, a spargere la voce, cogliendo l’occasione per celebrare i miei 30 anni di vita sulla Terra (CLICCA QUI PER IL PROGRAMMA AGGIORNATO).

Clicca qui per leggere tutta l’intervista a Chase Williams in italiano, pubblicata sul blog di Francesco. E buona lettura!