" Catarella?" " Yes sir." "I'm going to Boccadasse this evening." " Am I coming too?" " No, you're not." " Why?" " Because you're not." "You can't go to Boccadasse!" "Why not?" " How could you forget?" " What?" "You died." "At 7.15 yesterday." "Me?" "You!" "Salvo Montalbano, son of Gioacchino..." "No, please, don't bust my balls with my obituary." "Am I really dead?" "Yes Inspector." "What happened?" "A stroke." " But where?" " Here at the station." "When?" "While you were on the phone with the police chief." "If you want to see, we've prepared a viewing room in your office." "Let's go!" "Morning." "Have you informed Livia?" "Yes, yes." "My deepest sympathies." "Thankyou." "Excuse me doctor, but how did I die?" "Even dead you have to bust my balls?" "Wait for the autopsy results!" "You can't give me a heads up?" "It would seem to be a massive stroke." "Excuse me Mimi..." "When's Livia arriving?" "No, she's busy, she doesn't know if she'll make it in time for the funeral." "Hello Livia?" "It's Salvo." "Oh, hi!" "How are you?" "Sorry, I didn't mean to..." "What's this I hear about you not making it to my funeral?" "Listen Salvo!" "If you'd lived, I would have done everything to stay with you..." "I might even have married you." "It's, it's also my age and, after wasting my life with you, what else could I do?" "And suddenly this chance of a lifetime presents itself, you understand that..." "She's not coming?" "I guess so." " Miss?" " Yes!" " Is this your car?" "Yes." "The road collapsed and I hit the brakes just in time," " but now I don't know what to do." " Where do you need to go?" " To the port." " Get your things and come with me." "I'm a police inspector." " May I?" " Yes." "Thank you." "I'm Salvo Montalbano." "That's where I've seen you, on TV!" "I'm Vanna Di Giulio." "Pleasure." "Listen, why don't you come to my place." "We can dry off, get changed and then get you to the port?" " OK." "Thanks Inspector." " Would you like some coffee?" " Yes, thanks." "Where did you put the wet clothes?" "On the heater in the bathroom to dry." " Good." "Sugar?" " Yes, thanks." " How many?" " Two." "Two!" "One... and two." "Here we are..." "Thanks." "I'm so sorry to bother you." "Are you kidding?" "What for, it's no bother!" "Now you need to get to the port don't you?" "Yes, I had an appointment to meet my aunt at 10." "But with this weather, it's better if she arrives in the afternoon." "Nothing arrives here in the morning, not the ferry..." " orthe mail." " I know but... my aunt is coming on her own boat." "My aunt likes being at sea." "If she can." "She's very rich." "When he died, my uncle Arturo left her a huge inheritance and a" "Tunisian valet called ZiZi." "And she spent this inheritance" " on a boat!" " No, Uncle Arthur already had the boat." "He never worked, but he was loaded." "It seems he was in partnership with a banker, a certain" "Ricca." " And what do you do?" " Me?" "I study" "What's your aunt's boat called?" "Vanna" " Like you." " Yes." " Nice." "My aunt's boat is arriving at 4 this afternoon." "And what will you do?" "I'll wait." "Thanks Inspector." "Why don't you come to the station?" "You'll be more comfortable." " Ok." " Please." "I'm sorry sir..." "What is it?" "The Capitaneria is on the phone." "Put the call through." "But sir, it's not a captain on the phone, it's a lieutenant!" "There aren't just captains at the harbour office." "Is that right sir?" "Then why is it called the capi... ta... ne?" "I'll explain later." "Now put me through!" "Straight away sir." "Sir, may I take the young lady to get her car." " Yes!" " Thank you Inspector." " Anything you need, we're here." " Ok." " Goodbye, have a good day." " Hello." " Hello Inspector." "I'm Lieutenant Garrufo." "Yes, hello." "Go ahead?" "We have a problem." "There's a yacht" " with a body on board." " One of the crew?" "No." "They'd just recovered it when they called." "It was in a dinghy that somehow hadn't sunk." "Are we sure this comes under my jurisdiction?" "Yes." "The dinghy was intercepted right at the mouth ofthe harbour, not in open waters." "So let's see it." "Where is it?" " Follow me." " Thank you." "I can't let you leave port tomorrow morning." "And why not?" "Because there are investigations to conduct and the magistrate will want to question you." "How long do we have to stay Inspector?" "Well... all being well, not less than a week." "A week?" "And what am I going to do in this hole for a week?" "I could recommend a tour of the temples." " But I don't have a car." " There's your niece's." "Yes..." "Vanna di Giulio isn't it?" "Unfortunately she left." " Catarella, Hello." " Good day sir." "You need to find me the phone number and address of a certain Vanna Di Giulio of Palermo." "Is Fazio here?" " Yes sir, Fazio is present." " Thank you." " Fazio?" " Yes!" " I need your expertise." " Yes Inspector." "You know there was a body on a yacht, the Vanna?" " Yes." "I need you to go aboard and get some information, personal and otherwise on the owner, the captain and the crew members." "But inspector, what do you mean personal and otherwise?" "Well... what's the atmosphere on board, the relationships between them." "When people are forced into close quarters for along time, they end up hating each other." "All it takes is one wrong word" " and it all goes to hell." "Ok?" " Ok." " Thank you." " Good morning." " Good morning." "Can I please speak with Lieutenant Garuffo." "No, I'm sorry, Lieutenant Garuffo's not here." "Excuse me, you can talk to me." "Lieutenant Laura Belladonna." " At your service." " Pleased to meet you." "I'm Inspector Montalbano." "Do you know about the discovery ofthe body?" "Yes." "I know everything." "Can I ask you some questions?" "I have to take these papers to one of the dock pilots." "If you want to come with me I can tell you what I know." "Certainly." "So aboat that wants to dock here in the port has to let you know it's coming?" "Certainly." "But does it also have to tell you the exact time it's arriving?" "Particularly the exact time." "Why?" "Lots of reasons... boats moving around the port, no free moorings, availability of pilots..." "And when did the Vanna let you know they would be arriving." "I looked at the reports this morning." "They weren't expected." "They contacted us at 6 a.m. And said that they were forced to set a course for the port because ofthe terrible weather." "At 6?" "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Absolutely." "So how far from the port did the" "Vanna come across the dinghy?" "A bit more than a mile." "Let's say... a bit less than two km." " So, near the port!" "?" " Yes" "I see, and in your experience can we be less formal?" "So in your experience, at that moment, was the current taking the dinghy out of the harbour or pushing it in?" "It's hard to say." "We have to take into account that there's always a current flowing outwards." "But the weather conditions were a bit particular" "Do you want to know what I think?" "The dinghy was being taken out by the current." "I see." "Do you have to go?" "Yes, I'm on duty." "Of course, I'm sorry." "But I haven't finished asking questions." "Could I call you maybe in the evening, at the office?" "Why don't I leave my number you can call me when it suits you," " even in the evening." " Perfect!" "I hope I've been useful." "Absolutely." "Thanks so much." "Bye." "Bye..." "May I?" "I bet my balls that semi-literate" "Inspector Montalbano has just arrived." "Your balls are safe doctor." "Momentarily." "Because I'm sure you're here to break them." "And you're still on a winner." "If only I could be on a winner when I play poker!" " What do you want?" " You know what I want!" "The corpse without a face?" "Around 40 years old" "Athletic build, in good shape..." "White skin, no sign of operations, perfect teeth, heart and lungs, no glasses or contact lenses." "Is that enough?" "Alive yes..." "dead no," "Whenthey found him he'd been dead for nearly 3 days." "Did they kill him smashing his face like that?" "Not quite." "Did they shoot him?" " Not quite!" " Side arms?" " Not quite!" " Strangulation?" " Not quite!" "Are we on a quiz show?" "Give me a clue?" "!" "Alright, poisoned my dear man." "Poisoned?" "With what?" "Common old rat poison." "That bothers you?" "Poison's something..." "Old fashioned?" "But I'd recommend it to aspiring murderers." "It doesn't make amess, or a noise... what do you think?" "And the face?" "That, they did post mortem." "Maybe to make it harder to identify him." "What about fingerprints?" "Intact, same condition as the body..." "So he's not in the system?" "Impeccable conclusion, extremely rigorous logic." "Thanks." "And now, if you've finished crushing my balls..." "No." "One last question Was he married?" "You're asking me?" "I can only tell you that there was no sign of a ring." "But that doesn't mean anything." " Can you tell me..." " No, no, no." "Montalbano, Montalbano!" "You said marital status was the last question." "Try to be exact at least once in your life." "Ok." "Thank you..." "But I do want to tell you this..." "He had such white skin that I don't think he could have been a sailor." "The commander is Nicola Sperli." "37 years old." "According to Alvarez, the engineer." "Sperli and the owner were lovers, since before the husband died." "And there's something else..." "I don't know if it's relevant..." "maybe..." " No, tell me." "Still according to Alvarez, the lady was, how can I put it..." " the sporting type." " Sporting?" "Yes, she took turns with all the crew." "The husband knew about it but didn't say anything about her screwing around." "In fact some nights he kept out of the way and went to sleep in a cabin by himself." " He was sporting too!" " Exactly." "And the rest ofthe crew?" "Well, the Spanish engineer, like Sperli, was withthe" "Vanna, when the husband bought it." "The others are new." "They were hired after Sperli sacked the old crew, because they reminded him of his lover's exploits." "Wait a second." "Sperli' got rid of all the crew except Alvarez?" " Exactly." " Why?" " Because Alvarez is protected." " By what?" " The husband's will." " Which says?" "He can stay on the Vanna as long as he pleases." " And the other sailors?" " There are three ofthem." "One is Ahmed Chaikri, 28 years old, North African." "Stefano Ricca, 32 years old from Viareggio..." "And Mario Di Giulio of Palermo." "Wait up, Mario Di Giulio?" " Yes, Mario Di Giulio." "Bring him to the station tomorrow." " What's he done?" " No, nothing" "I just want to make sure I'm covered with port protocol." " As you wish!" "Come in!" "Sir, forgive me, but I can't find any Vanna di Giulio in the Palermo directory." "No... don't worry, it's ok." "Sir, excuse me, but there's a lady here, but she has a man's name." "She's called Giovannino!" "She wants to speak with you personally." " Show her in" " Straight away." " Please go in madam." " Thank you." " Hello!" " Hello." " Please, sit down." "Thank you." "Inspector..." "I was a bit frazzled yesterday and I forgot to ask you a question:" "How do you know my niece?" "Because yesterday..." "I went to the rescue of a car that had broken down and your niece was inside." "I brought her here to Vigata and she stayed at the station while she waited for you to arrive." "That's it!" "And what did she say about me?" "She told me your husband's name, that you're very rich and that you love travelling around on the sea." "Oh that's good!" "Why?" "Because, poor thing, sometimes she loses her head and tells strange stories, so I was very worried." "No, no, nothing to worry about." "Really!" " Hello?" "!" " I called a while ago but" "Oh I'm sorry..." "I was stuck in the office." "Where shall we meet?" "Well, at this hour, there's a" " bar open in Marinella." " I don't like bars." "No." "Me either." "So, we could..." "Tell me how to get to your house, we'll have a drink there and then decide where to go for dinner." "Great idea." "Let's do that, do you know the seafront at Marinella?" " Go all the way." " OK." "You'll get to a small harbour with rocks going down to the sea, go past that drive two more km." "Did you find it okay?" " Yes thanks." " Come in." "It's so beautiful here!" "What would you like?" "White wine if you have it." "Of course." "So where are you taking me?" "We can either go to my friend's restaurant in Montoreale." "It's great but it takes about 20 minutes to drive there." "Orwe could just stay here." "What do you think?" "I know you don't know me well, but..." "No, I wasn't thinking anything." "I'm just starving because I had to skip lunch." "Perfect excuse to stay here." "Adelina will have prepared something wonderful." "She always leaves it in the oven." "Ok, let's stay here." " Good." "Who's Adelina?" "The lady who looks after everything here and she cooks for me too." "She's a fantastic cook." "You won't regret it." "My boyfriend is a Deputy Commander on a cruiser." "Right now he's in the Atlantic Ocean and sometimes we don't see each other for months." "Why are you laughing?" "Because my girlfriend lives in Boccadasse, in Genoa" " Have you been together long?" " Yes" "So did you identify the body?" "No." "I think it will be a long, hard task." "I heard they killed him by smashing his face in." "No, they did that later." "He was poisoned." "Well, I had an idea but..." "Tell me." " No, it's silly to tell you." " Why?" "Because I found out about you." "I hear you're exceptional at your job" "Oh, how wonderful!" "A man who can still blush." "Stop that." "Now tell me your idea." "I thought it might have been a robbery gone wrong." "He was walking along the wharf, someone tried to grab his wallet, he reacted and the other man hit him with a rock." "Then he put him in the dinghy because there are plenty around." "No, that doesn't work because the dinghy was new." "Did you meet Livia Giovannini?" "Yes." "Last time her yacht came to Vigata was about amonth ago." "I'd been working for three days and to get in some practice," "I went on board." "That time she'd come from Tangiers, but she'd left a little port called Alexanderbai a months earlier." "Where 's she come from now?" "Retimo, on the island of Crete." "She was goingto Orano, but she changed course because ofthe weather." "How can we find out how many ports they've visited in the past year?" "It should be on board inthe ship's log." "And how can I get alook at it?" "Only the military police can do that." "I'm wondering why the Vanna interests you so much?" "They just happened upon the dinghy with the body in it." "I know, but there's something that doesn't fit." " Are you happy?" " About what?" "That we've only discussed work tonight." "The night is young... we can always talk about something else!" "Well..." "I might have another bottle." "So, public official, are you sure you can drive home?" "Yes, I can manage." "What car do you have?" "A Fiat 500." "Ok, but slowly, stay alert." "OK" " I trust you..." " See you later." "See you later." " Goodnight." " Goodnight." " Catarella." " Yes sir." " Why is the door shut?" " It was too breezy." " Leave it open." "Call Fazio and tell him to come to my office, alone." "Is that clear?" "Alone." "So what's Di Giulio like?" "You know." "A sailor..." "No, I mean is he nervous?" "Did he get anxious when you asked him to come to the station?" "No." "Fine, calm." "He actually said he'd been waiting for it." "Waiting for it?" " That's what he said." " Bring him in then." " Can I help?" " No." "May I?" "Come in." "Hello Inspector." "Good morning, please sit down." "So you got the complaint?" "But come on." "For a little thing like that?" "Tell me your side of the story." "I was in Retimo, with my friend Zizi'." "We stopped for a beer." "There were two Greeks who... provoked you." "Exactly." "Unfortunately Zizi' overreacted and I went in after him..." "And you trashed the place." "No inspector, hardly trashed it, Zizi' might have broken a couple of chairs..." "So is Zizi' from there?" "No." "No, he's one of the crew." "We call him Zizi', but his name's Ahmed Chaikri." "He's North African." "He was the old boss' personal assistant?" " No way." "He came aboard 3 months ago." "Can you tell me the names ofthe other crew members?" "But they weren't in the fight!" "Tell me anyway." "Maurilio Alvarez, the engineer." "Alvarez..." "Stefano Ricca" "Ricca?" " Ricca." " Ricca..." "Now, do you have a sister called Vanna?" "No." "I've got a brother called Antonio." "Ok." "You can go." "And the complaint?" " Which one?" " The bar owner?" "I haven't had one." "Then why did you make me come here?" "For another one." "AVanna Di Giulio has made a complaint against her brother." "But since you maintain you don't have" " a sister..." " I'm not maintaining it, I don't have one!" "Then you can go." "It's just a coincidence." "Thankyou." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Marshall, do you remember a girl who came to ask about a" " yacht, the Vanna?" " Yes, I remember, but she didn't ask about a yacht." "What did she ask?" "Just whether there was a sailor named Angelo Spidaleri here." " Was there?" " No." "Does this sailor exist?" "Not that I know!" "I've realised that as soon as I've introduced myself as an inspector, that girl started telling me a pack of lies." " How does that matter?" " It matters!" "She told me lies to give herself time to decide whether to tell me what she wanted to tell me." "Can you be a bit clearer?" "She put me right on board the yacht for future reference." "She gave me enough information on who I should interrogate in case something bad happened." "But no-one on the yacht saw her." "True, but she wasn't to know the yacht would come into port with a corpse on board, which meant police, tax guards, harbour officers." "She thought it was better to disappear." "Make sense?" "Sure." "But the fact remains, we don't know what she was here for." "It's important to find out who she was in contact with." "Someone from the harbour office?" "Di Giulio?" "I don't think so." "I need your help." "What?" "We can use the same tactic we used with Di Giulio, right?" "We need to find some way to get close to the North African," " what's his name?" " Chaikri." " Chaikri." "Chaikri!" "Zizi' to his friends, no?" " Yes." "Try and find out something." "Do they come on shore?" "Sure." "They're always coming and going." "So find the best way to get close to them." "Come in!" "May I?" "Oh Mimi'!" "Where have you been?" " Catarella didn't tell you?" " No." "See this well-rested face?" "Yesterday I took the little one and Beba to my in-laws and I finally had a good night's sleep!" "What is it?" "Mimi, I've had a thought!" "About me?" "How would youfeel about courting a young looking fifty year old?" "I cantry!" "Excellent." " Thanks for coming." " No problem." "What is it?" "So here are the details of that body we found in the harbour, height, weight, hair and eye colour." "I got them from Pasquano." "You need to identify the body?" "Okay, They'll go to air at 8pm" " and midnight." " Thank you." "They're the most watched." "Then I'll tell them to call the police station?" "Yes." "No!" "Tell them to call your office and you can pass on the most interesting ones." "Montalbano." "I knew you were joking!" "Niccolo!" "What are friends for?" " Thanks, see you later." " Bye." " Inspector?" " Oh!" " We're fucked." " In what way?" "The carabinieri have arrested Zizi." "Why?" "It seemsthat last night while he was going back on board, he saw a police car stopped near the port... he was drunk, went over, unbuttoned his pants and pissed on the car." "Is he crazy?" "Were there officers in the car?" "Yes sir." "What happened?" "One of the arresting officers whacked him." "What are we going to do?" "Shall I call and ask them to let him go because we need him?" "You try and get close to Ricca and get him to talk." " Hello." " Laura?" "It's Salvo." "I recognised your voice." "How's it going?" "Well." "Much work?" "You didn't call me?" "I decided not to." " Hello?" " I'm here." "Why did you decide not to call me?" "Not on the phone." " Try." " I said no." "I need to see you to ask something about the Vanna." " Do you want to go out for dinner?" " Yes." " But not at your house." " Fine." "Wherever you want." "Let's go to that restaurant in Montoreale you told me about." "Il Cafaro." "Why don't you come to the station and we can take my car." " No." "Let's meet there." "In about an hour." "I have to get changed." "Sure." "See you." " Come in." " Inspector." " Come in." "Since I have agood friend who's a carabiniere, I gave him a call." " What did you say?" "I just asked what their intentions were with Chaikri." " How did you explain your interest?" "I told him he was a friend of mine." "I explained that he's stupid when he's drunk and I asked them to forgive him." " Good, what did he say?" " They released him with charges for aggression and resisting arrest." " Go now." " Yes." "Laura I'm sorry, I left late and then I ran out of petrol," " I had to walk for 6 kilometres." " Really?" "If you'd been three minutes later I would have left." "No, I'll go." "I'm sorry." "Looks like we had a fight." "Come here." "I'm the one who needs to apologise." "Enough apologising." "I owe you an explanation." " You don't have to." " No." "I think it's necessary." "What is it?" "I wasn't going to call you, and I told myself that if you called me, I was going to tell you I couldn't see you." "Why?" "Let me speak." "If I said or did something to offend you the other night" "No, you didn't offend me." "In fact I didn't want to see you because... nothing like this has ever happened to me." "I decided that it would be a mistake to keep seeing you." "It's so humiliating, there's nothing you can do." "Willpower counts for nothing." "When you called me, I couldn't resist." "You have to help me." "Some wine?" "I'll go and get the bottle." "I need a favour." "What is it?" "My deputy, Augello is an excellent police officer and a good man." "He also has a way with the ladies." "I thought you could somehow help him to meet the owner of the yacht, so he can get some information." "What is it with this yacht?" "It's been checked over several times, even by the revenue guards" " and nothing's been found." " That could also mean nothing." "Explain." "I don't know, call it intuition..." "So tell me, how I can help." "Arranging for my Augello to meet Giovannini." "If you don't want to, it doesn't matter." "No, I really, really want to." "But are you sure they don't know who he is onthe yacht?" "They don't know him." "I'm sure of it." "It's not easy." "I'll have to get him onto the yacht but first I need to find an excuse to board." "I was thinking that maybe you could introduce him as someone who has to do some checks on the yacht." "Uh..." "That seems a crystal clear reason." "I'm just saying that because I don't know how these things work." "Let me think about it." "We'll find something." "Aren't you drinking too much on an empty stomach?" "Do youwant to eat something?" "Yes." " Actually, no." " Go on..." "Alright, No, I'm going." "Please." "I'm sure Adelinahas prepared something delicious." "It'll only take a second." "Wait here." "Forgive me." " Did you register the guest?" " Yes sir." " What did he look like?" " Exactly like they said on television." "I think he'd come from the airport, from Arraisi." "A flight from Rome arrives at 7." "Did he make any calls?" "Not through the switchboard." "Then what happened?" "When he came back down he seemed to be in a different mood." "In what way?" "He was more cheerful." "He was humming." " As if he'd had some good news?" " Something like that." "Did he speak Italian?" "He could make himself understood." "Then he left and I never saw him again." "Since then you've had no word from him?" "Not even a phone call." "Mr Toscano, how do you think he found this hotel?" "We advertise a lot." "Even overseas." "So you're sure he'd never been a guest here before then." "I'd never seen him before." "Look how well you can see the Vanna from here..." "Come in!" "Inspector." " What's happened to you?" " Just a punch." " Who did it?" " Ourfriend Zizi'." "Last night." "Sit down." "Tell me about it." "Last night, about 9, I was hanging around outside" "Giacomino's tavern." "Waiting for the crew ofthe Vanna." "They arrived around 11." "I waited half an hour and then went in." "They were already eating, laughing and most of all drinking." "Especially Zizi." "At some point he noticed me and came towards me." "Di Giulio tried to stop him and got shoved." "I just watched." "Then he came up to my table and said to me" ""What the fuck are you looking at you cop shit"." "He speaks beautiful Italian." "What did you do?" " What could I do?" "I couldn't let him get away with it." " Everyone heard him." " Of course." "Before I could get up, he hit me in the face and knocked me against the wall." "Ricca tried to stop him and he got punched too." "While he was busy with his friend, I took the chance to get into position and give him a kick in the balls he won't forget in a hurry." "He collapsed in pain and I cuffed him." "Well done." "What have you done with him?" "I brought him to the station and locked him up." "What's he doing?" "He's blind drunk." "He's sleeping." "Let him sleep." "When he wakes up, bring him here." "I wanted to show you something." "Lannec, who's that?" "Almost certainly the body in the row boat." "Do you remember if we've ever had anything to do with this" "Lannec before?" "Not that I can think of, why do you ask?" "Because the name Lannec seems familiar." "You could have met him anywhere, but I'm sure it wasn't here." "What is it Catare'?" "There's a Lieutenant Sferlazza" "On the phone?" "No sir!" "Here, present, in person!" "What does he want?" "Sir he wants to speak to you sir." "But be careful!" " Why?" " He's not in uniform." "He's dressed as a civilian." " So?" " You know what they say, when a carabiniere is out of uniform." "Don't worry, let him in." "Yes sir." "Lieutenant sir." " Come in." " Montalbano!" " Hello." " Sorry to disturb you." "Not at all." "What is it?" "I've heard you have a certain Chaikri from the crew of the" "Vanna." "He attacked one of your men and was arrested." "Is that right?" "Yes." "You also arrested him and released him didn't you?" "Yes." "That'sthe point." "While we had him, I received a call from Regional Command about Chaikri." "And what did they want?" "They wanted to know if we had him." "How did they know about it in Palermo?" "It doesn't seem like something that would interest Regional Command does it?" " Right." " Go on." "I confirmed it and they told me to keep him at the barracks because someone was coming from Palermo the following morning to interrogate him." "Sferla', just for a piss?" "I was surprised too." "But I followed orders." " Did this person arrive?" " Not then." "They called me back to tell me that there was a hitch with the person who was coming." "So Chakri was charged and released." "So why have you come here today?" "That person has arrived and wants to talk to Chaikri." "Sferlazza!" "Are you really" " asking me to hand him over to you?" " Exactly." "I'm not even going to talk about it." "The person who has come..." "Excuse me, but who is this person?" "Not sure, but I think they're from anti-terrorism." "As soon as this person heard of the arrest, they guessed that you would refuse to hand him over." "That's not hard to work out!" "So what will they do?" "If you refuse, they'll call the police chief." "I don't think you'll be able to say no to him." "Did you hearthat Fazio, they'll call the Chief." " Let's make a deal." " Go on." "I'll give him to you today and you bring him back to" " me tomorrow morning." " Agreed." "Good!" "Fazio, hand Chaikri over to the lieutenant." "Straight away." "Thank you." " And thank you." " Pleasure." " Hello!" " Salvo!" "Oh, Mimi" "I got a call this morning from a certain someone..." " Yes, I know" " Eh, that girl..." " What do you mean?" " Salvo!" "You've seen her." "She's a wonder!" " You think so!" " Don't tell me you haven't" "No, no question she's pretty, but a wonder?" "Anyway, get to the point Mimi'!" "I'd get to the point with her..." "Mimi?" "Tell me what you've come up with?" "Since the Vannare fuelled yesterday, Laura thinks..." "I could go on board with her to do a fuel check." " I don't understand." " I'd go as a representative of the import company." "We'll have noticed residues in the fuel which could compromise the motor." "This is our excuse." "What if you have to talk to the engineer?" "Laura won't let that happen." "As soon as the owner hears about the motor, she'll intervene." "Do you know anything about fuel?" "Not a thing until this morning." "Laura explained a few things over lunch." "After lunch we talked to someone who does know about it." "Tonight Laura's coming to my place and we'll finalise everything." "Listen to me Mimi'." "She's a good girl." "Don't you try anything." "Is that clear?" "What do you think I am?" "What are you getting so upset about?" "Keep me in the loop." "Yes but just over the phone." "It's best if I don't set foot in the station for a few days." "Don't you be a bastard!" "All these countries Lannec visited." "Lannec, why do I know that name?" "Simenon!" "Simenon!" ""Salpati:" "Lightning in the sky, Commander Lannec,"" "let's see, let's see..." ""there were 4 ofthem at the table..." "Emile Lannec."" "So, they let Lannec know that when he arrives in Vigatahe has to get aroom at the Hotel Bellavista that can be seen from aboard the Asso di Cuori." "They knew when the Frenchman was arriving and had someone watching with binoculars." "And when Lannec goes to the balcony, the men on the" "Asso di Cuori make contact with him." "Exactly!" "They invite him on board andthey kill him." "They throw the body in a dinghy, hoping that the currents will take him out to sea." "Here they were unlucky and the Vanna crossed paths with the dinghy on her way into port." "What do we do now?" "Try and find out everything about the Asso di Cuori and the crew." "First I want to ask this officer to forgive me for hitting him." "Unfortunately when I drink wine..." "Sicilian wine." "Pardon?" "So, it's Sicilian and maybe Greek" "Wine that has this effect on you." "I don't understand..." "Mr Chaikri, you're not telling me the wine you drink in every port has the same effect." "You said it." "You misunderstand." "Let me be clearer." "Wine that has this effect on you" "Alexanderbaai in South Africa, that makes you assault the local police and carabinieri?" "No?" "Very good, you can go." " You're not charging me?" " No." "But I started a fight." "This time, we'll let it go." "The carabinieri have already charged you?" "Yes." "Yesterday you were interrogated at the barracks weren't you?" "Yes." "By the way, if you see or hear from her, and" "I'm sure you will, please say hello from me." "Who?" "That lady, the person who questioned you yesterday." "I don't understand anything." "You don't understand?" "That lady who questioned ...you at the barracks." "It doesn't matter." "Let him go Fazio." "Goodbye." "Please." "Inspector?" "Do you want to fill me in?" "After talking to Lieutenant Sferlazza," "I realised that the person who was informing Vanna of what was happening on the yacht was Chaikri." "He was the one who told her that the yacht had set a course for" "Vigata because of the weather." " How?" " How?" "Maybe a satellite phone." "So, VannaDi Giulio goes to meet him, but the boat with the body putsthe meeting off." "So what did Chaikri do?" "He got himself arrested, told the carabinieri his name, they contacted Vanna Di Giulio and the two ofthem could finally talk." "And me?" "Why did he have ago at me?" "Because he's a clever bugger." "He wanted to show his pals that the wine here has the same effect and makes him try it on with cops, carabinieri or not." "Inspector, but who is this Vanna?" "Sferlazza mentioned anti-terrorism, but I think that's rubbish." "I think there's something suspicious on that yacht and Vanna's involved." "Now, tell me about the Asso di Cuori." "The Asso di Cuori seems to belong to a French-ltalian import-exporter." " Of what?" " A bit of everything." "Why do they need that crappy motorboat?" "The lieutenant told me that the company operates all over the Mediterranean." "Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Greece and Turkey." "He also told me that it's the first time they've stayed on in Vigata" "Usually they only stay a day or so." "This time they're waiting for someone to come here and fix the motor." "They couldn't get a plane?" "That's their business Inspector." "Hello!" " It's done." "How?" " The way we wanted." "Laura took me aboard and left, I told the fuel story and took a petrol can." "Giovannini didn't leave my side." "I persuaded her that I know all about motors." "Where are you calling from?" "From the wharf." "I'm putting the petrol can in the car." "I've been invited to lunch." "The lady won't let me go." "How are you going to proceed?" "The commander will be at lunch." "I'm hoping to find a moment to invite her to dinner and by the way she's looking at me, I think she'll come." "Mimi, look, Giovannini complained to Tommaseo because she says her yacht is being detained illegally." "He wanted to let her go immediately but I managed to get another day." "Time is ofthe essence." "Do you understand?" "Yes perfectly." "Listen, Mimi, the other night, with Laura?" "Sorry Salvo, I have to go." "Who is it?" " It's Fazio." " Who is it?" "Oh Fazio!" "What's happened?" "Chaikri's been found dead." " The North African from the Vanna?" " Yes" "Shit." "Come on!" "Why didn't you call?" "I tried but no-one answered." "It must be off the hook." " How did it happen?" " I don't know Inspector." "Catarella' rang saying Dracchi, Cracchi, and it took me ten minutes to work out he was talking about the North African." "So when you didn't answer, I came here." "Good job." "I'll jump in the shower." "Do you know where we're going?" "To the wharf, the Vanna's mooring." "I was in my cabin going to bed when I thought I heard a shout." "Where did it come from?" "I thought it came from the crew's quarters." "Onthis side ofthe boat." "So what did you do?" "I went to their quarters." "Alvarez, Ricca and Di Giulio were there sleeping." " Chaikri's bed was empty." " And then?" "I thought the cry might have come from the wharf, so" "I took my torch." "The wharf was completely deserted." "I leant onthe railing and then," "I just saw himthere." "Have you told Mrs Giovannini?" " No." "Is she not on board?" "Yes, but she's resting and I didn't want to disturb her." "What did you tell the crew?" "That lot are still drunk." "They'd be no use at all." "So what do you think happened Commander?" "Poor Zizi' was so drunk he must have slipped and hit something, then fell in and drowned." "Do you believe that bad luck story?" "Sure." "Why not?" "But can you tell me why the commander needed a torch on the wharf?" " It's perfectly lit here." " So why did he take it?" "To make us think he just found the body by chance." " Why didn't you say anything?" " It's better this way." "We'll make him think we swallowed it." "Doctor Pasquano has to see the body and I'll give him a call in a couple ofhours." "Oh, Mimi!" "Busy night?" "Leave it alone." " Tell me." "I gave you a clue the other night." "I went to dinner with Livia." "Livia?" "No, not your Livia!" "Livia Giovannini." "So she took me to a restaurant in Montelusa." "She ate well and drank a bottle and a half of wine all by herself." "By the way, do I get reimbursed?" "Are you kidding!" "?" "Go on." "Afterwards, she took the initiative." " What did she say?" " Say...?" "She didn't say anything," " she did!" "What did she do?" "We got in the car and you can guess where she put her hand." "She invited me into her cabin." "What time was that?" "We boarded just after midnight, and downstairs we met" "Commander Sperli'." "But Sperli' and Giovannini are lovers." "Did he get angry?" "No." "He politely wished us goodnight and went up top." "So they're lovers in the sense that Giovannini goes back to him when she doesn't have anything better on offer." "Could be." "As soon as we got into the cabin, Livia got naked." " Mimi', do me a favour?" " Sure, What?" "Stop calling her Livia!" "Giovannini!" "Thank you." "Was off." "And she didn't stop." "Salvo, she's not a woman, she's an electric meat grinder and there's no way to pull the plug." "She went till six o'clock in the morning, until Sperli' called her and I heard you and Fazio." "But you didn't hear anything." "A shout?" " When?" " About 2.30 am." "If there was, she was screaming like an eagle." "But did you get to talk to her between screams?" "Yes." "She asked if I was married, how much I earnt." "I told her I her I wasn't married, and made up a biggerfigure than we actually get." " Ok, reasonable questions." " Yes, but I thought they were leading questions so I told her I didn't like the path I was on and if someone could find me another, I'd always be grateful." " Very good!" " I think she has something in mind." "So how did you pull it off?" "Modestly speaking, I think" "I was ontop form." " No Mimi, I'm not asking about your physical prowess, I have no doubts about that." "I meant, how did you pull it off since you didn't get to check the fuel with Lieutenant Belladonna" "Oh no no, we did it!" "You did it?" "It was quick, there wasn't muchtime." "But we did it." "But where?" "When?" "In the harbour office when she called me." " Ahh, in the harbour office!" " In the harbour office." "Oh, you didn't say in the harbour office!" "I just told you, in the harbour office!" "No, you weren't clear." "Well done Mimi." "My dearest Mimi!" "Go and rest, you look tired." "But I don't want to rest." "No, go and rest, you look spent." "But I don't want to sleep." "But you must." "I need you in top shape." "You did a great job." "Thanks Salvo." " See you later..." "Don't tell me..." ""In the harbour office."" ""It was just quick"..." ""It was quick, in the office"." ""In the harbour office"." "Bastard." "You know that when someone drowns, there's usually a lot of water in the lungs." "Yes, I know that." "Was there?" "Yes!" "But not enough for him to have drowned." "Then how did he die?" "With a whack on the back of the neck from an iron bar that killed him instantly." "It matched a type of hook I noticed hanging off the wharf half a metre above the water." "What do you think happened?" "Poor thing was drunk, he slipped and fell between the wharf and the side of the boat and there he died." "I don't understand." "So was it the hook that killed him, or an iron bar." "The killers are cunning." "They wanted us to believe that he'd hit the hook." "But the hook was covered in algae and there was no trace of algae in the wound." "So if Pasqualino's right, and I think he is, the North African couldn't have been killed on the yacht." "Yes, because even if Augello was doing gymnastics with Giovannini, he would have heard something." "Exactly." "So if it didn't happen on the yacht, it must have been on the Asso di Cuori." "That means Giovannini is in the dark." "Otherwise she wouldn't have invited Augello to her cabin." "Not necessarily." "Maybe she didn't know Chiaikri was an infiltrator and it was Sperli's idea to kill him." "So we know nothing Fazio." "Have they left?" " Anyone here?" " Yes, I'm here." "Ah!" "Laura?" "Salvo!" "What's up?" "Sorry to bother you, but has the Asso di Cuori left?" "No." "That doesn't sound right." "It's not at the mooring!" "Ah, they've probably just taken it out a bit to check the motor." "You'll let me know if they take off?" "Sure... but what's your interest in them?" "Come for a walk and I'll tell you the whole story." "I can't leave." "I have too much work." "I could see you tonight if you like." "Sure." "Where?" "I'll come to your place and then we can decide." "Ok." "Where shall we go?" "We'll decide later." " See you tonight then." " Sure, see you later..." "Laura, when are you coming?" "This is Bonetti Alderighi." "Montalbano, are you there?" " Yes Chief." " I called your office." "And?" "They told me you'd gone home a while ago." "Sir, if you're insinuating that I'm slacking off?" "I didn't call about that." "What is it?" "I want to see you immediately!" "Where?" "What do you mean?" "HERE!" "At headquarters?" " Where else?" "At a bar?" " Now?" " Now!" "?" "I can't." "Why not?" " Why?" "Montalbano, I'm asking the questions." "Why not?" "Because, on my way home, I slipped and got a sprain." "So I can't..." "A sprain that doesn't stop you seeing a certain Laura." "Apart from the fact that Laura is a physiotherapist who has to fix my calf, which I really hope she can." "But if you're referring to another sort of meeting, let me assure you that my calf injury will not get in the way of..." " So you can't move?" " No." " Then I'll come to you." " When?" "No!" "No, not now." "Oh sir!" "A cramp!" "Look, I'll force myself up and" "I'll come to you." "Alright?" "Alright Montalbano." "I'll be waiting." "Two homicides in Vigata." "God Montalbano!" "Are you crazy?" "Didn't you realise?" " What?" " Silence!" "Tell me that you knew the man in the dinghy was murdered." " Yes, actually..." " Quiet!" "...And tell me that you knew the North African sailor was murdered." " I don't see..." " Enough, enough!" "And tell me now yes or no, that you've begun the investigation?" " Certainly I can tell you that." " Be silent!" " But if I may" " Not a word!" "Can I just tell you?" "I am speaking now." "Be quiet and answer my question without digressing." " May I make an observation?" " No!" "Answer!" "But if you won't let me make an observation." "Very well." "Make it, answer and that's it." "Please allow me to note, that you haven't yet asked me a question." " Really?" " Really." "You see?" "You're the only one who makes me this crazy..." "So my question isthis:" "Why did you not think to mention this investigation to the minister or to me?" "Can you explain that?" "Who told you?" "Don't ask stupid questions, just answer me." "I just completely forgot." "You forgot?" "Do you think you're running a private detective agency?" "No, no, no, no!" "Be silent and listen." "From this moment, you are relieved!" " Of what?" " The investigation!" "Mr Mazzamore will take over." "Well, if you will allow me," "I will relieve myself." "If you please..." "Laura I'm sorry!" "I was called to see the Chief." "I knew you must have been held up." "Ok, so where shall we go?" "No." "What is it?" "It's still early." "Have you eaten?" " I'm not hungry anymore." " I'll make you hungry again." "Let's go!" "It's too late." "Do you want to have a drink at my place?" "No." "Are you upset?" "I called the harbour office to tell you I was running late." "I'm not upset." "Shall I see you tomorrow?" "I don't think so." "Why?" "I've thought about it." "The call from the Chief was fated." "In what sense?" "It was destiny that it happened." "It's a sign." "Please explain?" "It means that nothing can ever happen between us." "Pasquale!" "What a pleasure to hear from you." "What is it?" "I'm just letting you know you can get out if you want to." "The boss has taken me off the investigation." "It's not our case anymore." "I don't think you can get out of it right now." "It's too late." "You're in, so you have to stay in." "I'll call you tomorrow." "Bye Mimi." "Good luck." "Bye... bye..." "They want to do business and then they pull out." "Last night when you called, I was already on board." "And I didn't have any reason to leave." "Why did you do it?" " Do what?" "The phone call." "Why?" "To save you wasting a night." " I don't believe you." " Then why do you think?" "Because you were struck with remorse." "Remorse foryou?" "Don't make me laugh!" " No, not for me, for Beba." " How many?" "Two sugars." "You're feeling guilty because you sent me after Livia," "I mean Giovannini." "I never told you to go to bed with her!" "She's a woman and you know she screws around." "That put you in a tight spot." "You didn't tell me to, but it went without saying." " Let's leave it." " Yes, let's leave it." "Do you still want to know what I found out?" "Tell me." "But let's go outside." "Ok." "Even though we've been taken off the case." "Tell me anyway." "So I had dinner on board." "Did you talk to Chaikri?" "Just a nod." "The lady asked the commander if he could..." "But why was the commander there?" "If you let me finish, I'll tell you." "You're right." "Go on." "Livia asked the commander to retrieve the body so they could bury him and leave." "Shall I go on?" "Your call was too late because I'd already told them I'd work for them." "Did they tell you any more about it?" "Livia told me I didn't need to go to South Africa and that I could stay in Freetown in Sierra Leone." "I told her I didn't give a fuck where I was as long as I was earning money." "I let her know" "I was happy to turn not one, but two blind eyes." "But did she tell you what their interests are there?" "Coffee and tobacco plantations and another huge stake, unofficially, in excavating activities." "What does that mean?" "Excavating." "Mines Salvo!" "Mines." "Did you find out anything else?" "No, but I have a meeting at 5 o'clock today to sort out the contract and maybe they'll tell me more." "But if we're not onthe case, what should I do?" "I don't know." "Let me think." "So during the night?" "Do you want to know everything Livia wanted?" "Mimi!" "I've asked you before, please don't call her Livia." "Her name is Livia" " And you can call her by her surname, Giovannini." "Is that clear?" "Secondly, I want to know if anything strange happened?" "Did you hear anything?" "Yeah, something strange did happen." "About midnight." "The commander came to the door and I got a break." "Livi..." "Giovannini got up stark naked and went to the huge safe in the cabin." "She took out a file, put on a gown and left." "I got up to see what was in the safe." "Excellent." "And what was in it?" "Piles of money." "Dollars, euro, yen." "A series of files and records." "Among them was a big folder with" ""Kimberley Process" written on it." ""Kimberley Process"." "What does that mean?" "I don't know." " What should I do?" " Well if you go back on board without authorisation, it's illegal." " So do we leave it to chance?" " What do you want to do?" "I don't know." "I'll go at 5 o'clock and maybe they tell us something we can use to screw them over." "And then how will you get out of there?" "You can't tell them you've had second thoughts." "They'd kill me." " I've got it!" " What is it?" "The Chaikri method." "What does that mean?" " I'll arrest you!" " Don't give me that shit!" "It'll work!" " May I?" " Montalbano, the fascist-buster!" " That's me." "Hi." " Hi." "Via the internet, I sent that passport you gave me to a French colleague." "And I told him, that you thought the name on it was from a book by Simenon." "And?" "He told me that last month, they arrested a forger, a master ofthe art." "Thanks to our lead, they finally worked out this forger had a habit of using the names of" "French literary characters." "So he likes to read." "My French colleague recognised the man on the passport." "His name is Jean-Pierre David." "Why were they keeping an eye on David?" "It seems he was part of a large trafficking organisation." " Trafficking what?" " Diamonds." "Watch this conjuring trick." "The magic bag." "My nephew Totuccio taught me." "He's 4 or 5, or 5 or4?" "Now, it's empty." "I'll give you two balls." "Throw one inthe air, and the other." "And it's empty!" "Catare?" "!" "?" "I'm sorry sir." "What are you doing?" " Just a trick, to pass the time." " Show me." "Really sir?" "It's a conjuring trick my nephew Totuccio taught me." "He's 4 or 5." "You take an empty bag." "Yes." "A magic bag, nothing in it." "You pretend to take a ball, throw it on the ground, it bounces" " and there's nothing there." " That's cute." "It is, it's a magic, magic trick." "Will you call Inspector Mazzamore for me?" " Cazzamore?" " No, Mazzamore, you got it?" "Don't worry, I'll call him later." "Did you find anything about the Kimberley Process?" "I've printed everything out sir." "Well done." " Hello, Vigata police station." " It's the Chief." "I want to speak" " to Montalbano immediately." " Straight away your excellence." " I'll see if he's around." " Yes, do." " One moment." "Sir," "I know, it's the chief." " Are you a magician too?" " Enough." " Hello?" " Montalbano, I'll get to the point." "Against my better judgement," "I've been told to reassign you to the investigation." "Let me make this clear." "If you make one wrong move, I will screw you!" "Keep me updated on any developments." "I really was a magician." " Hello!" " Who is it?" " Inspector Montalbano." " Inspector." " May I?" " Please do." "You're eating?" "I'll come back later?" "I've just finished." "Will you have a coffee?" " Thanks." "I'd love one." " Sit down." " Mario, coffee please..." " Straight away sir." "Is Mrs Giovannini here?" "She is, but she's resting If you want..." "No, no." "I heard you had some fuel troubles." "Everything ok now?" "Yes." "It seems it was a false alarm." "Just as well." "So you'll take off as soon as possible?" "If they give us poor Chaikri's body, we'll have the funeral in the morning and leave in the afternoon." " Thank you." " At your service." "Delicious coffee." "If you want, I'll get Mrs Giovannini." "No, why?" "No problem." "I'll pass by later." "I'm here all morning." " Thanks very much Captain." " You're welcome." "Can I get off round there?" " Certainly." " Thanks." "Hello." " I've been waiting for you." " I was sure of that." "My name's Roberta Rollo, I'm police too, for three years." "Did you make the chief put me back on the case?" "Not personally, but I pushed the right buttons." "So Chaikri was your informant?" "He was one of our agents" " who infiltrated the group." " So the person who met Chaikri at the barracks was you?" "Yes." "Sferlazza told me it was about terrorism." "I never believed that." "It's diamond trafficking." "How did you work that out so quickly?" "They told me you were a good cop, but..." "You're not bad either." "What I haven't worked out is why you fed me clues so I'd know your story was false." "Now I can tell you." "As you've worked out, the Vanna and the Asso di Cuori are part of the same organisation, but with different jobs." "Which are?" "The Vanna collects the diamonds, while the Asso di Cuori, which is faster, moves them on." "Having them in the same port was an unique opportunity for us." "That's why I came in." "But these people know who I am and they wouldn't hesitate to kill." "So I put a flea in your ear, but I couldn't be too specific." "You know you have to be careful with information in our job." "Even with someone trustworthy like you." "So you don't know anything about Lannec?" "Who is he?" "The body the Vanna brought in." "His real name is Jean-Pierre David." "Jean-Pierre David?" "I knew about the body, but I didn't know it was Lannec." "He's the head of the organisation." "We've been after him for years." "Have you heard ofthe Kimberley Process?" "Vaguely, but tell me more." "It's an international body, started in 2002 to control the import and export of so called "conflict diamonds"" "What are they?" "Diamonds which come from regions controlled by anti-government forces, guerillas and revolutionaries." "With the huge profits, they can buy all the weapons they need." "So what do youthink is happening here?" "I think the Asso di Cuori was stuck here with a broken motor." "And it couldn't meet the Vanna on the high seas." "So they brought in Lannec, alias David." "Lannec arrived and he was killed." " Why?" " That I don't know." " What do you want to do?" " I have search warrants for the yacht and the cruiser." "If the revenue guards find the diamonds, we'll arrest them with your co-operation." "But we have to do it by this evening." "There's a risk they'll take off tonight or early tomorrow morning." "But won't the Asso di Cuori get scared off if they see something going on at the wharf?" "You're right." "What do you propose?" "I'd send out two patrol boats and close the entrance to the harbour." "They have powerful engines and can stop the cruiser at any time." "That's an excellent idea." "Where are you going?" "I have to get some papers from the car." "Back in a minute." " Valenza?" " Yes?" "Police." "Come with us to the station." " Why, what's up?" " We'll explain at the station." " Come with us." " I don't understand why?" "Stop!" "..." "Stop!" "Stop or I'll shoot!" "You could slow down now you're breaking my arm!" "It has to be believeable I know, but you're hurting me Giuseppe." " Get in." "Did you tell that revenue guard who I was?" "Shit, he gave me a heart attack." "His gun was cocked." "We did it on purpose because we want to get rid of you." "Thanks a lot." "This morning you came on board the Vanna?" "Yes, I wanted to scare them!" "It worked perfectly." "Giovannini told Sperli that you knew everything and they couldn't give you time to act." "What did you say to him?" "Nothing." "I went onto the Vanna and just let him get a look at the" "Kimberley Process file." "So he thought I knew everything and panicked." "What happened?" "Giovannini came to me extremely agitated and told me there'd been a change of plan." "Watch out because they're planning on running at dawn." "I'm supposed to take a suitcase to Paris and from there, get a flight to Sierra Leone to meet them." " And you?" "I told them that was fine." "They're sending a car to get me in the morning." "So you're to do the whole trip to Paris by car?" "I believe so." "Salvo, the diamonds are still on board." "We have to act now." "Lieutenant Belladonna has just boarded the Asso di Cuori." "Why her?" "Shit!" "Hello?" " Something's wrong." "The boat's moving." "Lieutenant Belladonna is..." "He's on board." " Are you ok?" " Yes." "Are you sure?" "Get out here." "As soon as you're out, jump in the sea." "Quickly!" "Lift!" "The Coastguards have got the Asso di Cuori." "The revenue guards have the suitcase with the diamonds." "We've arrested them all Salvo." "Did she volunteer?" "As far as I know." "She volunteered!" "I'm sorry, it seems we've had a fight." "Subtitles by Astrid Briggs and Simon Killen. © 2011" "Subtitles by Astrid Briggs and Simon Killen. © 2011"