"Mornin', Calorio." "Mornin' Sir, you had a nice swim!" "Your nose is always in a book!" "What is it?" ""The Old Man and the Sea", the translation makes me want to chuck it out." "Poor Hemingway!" " I'll lend you mine, much better." " Thanks." "May I offer you a drop of wine?" "So early?" "Ah, you young people!" "Yeah, sure!" "It's been cold these nights, need an extra blanket?" "No, thanks, sir, I'm like a king here." " Sure?" " Absolutely." "I have all I need in my cabin here." " Okay then, I'll be going." " Goodbye." "Have a good day." "Commissioner." "What's going on, Fazio?" "The Palmisanos have hung out another banner." "Who are they?" "SINNERS, YOU'LL BE PUNISHED!" " I told you, you don't recall?" " No." "Gregorio and Caterina, brother and sister about 70." "They've locked themselves in and won't see anyone." "They write weird things, and hang them out, that's the latest banner." ""You'll pay for your sins with yourlife"." "Montalbano, repent!" "It's not funny, Mimi." "They're just two old people, what's the harm?" "From one exclamation point to three, they're giving deadlines to the sinners." "That might be the final warning." "Who are these sinners anyway?" "You've forgotten all you studied in Catechism!" "The sinners are us." " Does Palmisano have a gun license?" " Yes, a revolver." "And he registered a rifle and pistol that were his father's." "I don't like this thing at all." "I'm going to the police station, you go take a look." "And me?" "Mimi, you have to repent." "See you later." "Mr. Palmisano?" " Ma'am, open up!" " Who is it?" "Police, open up!" "I'm not opening'." "I'm not asking as a favor, you're obliged to open, right now." "Get out, cop, while the gettin's good!" "Don't waste my time..." "He's shooting at me?" "It was supposed to be a normal check." "Holy smoke!" "Get away, it's dangerous!" "How've I gotta say it?" "It's dangerous, get away!" "Stay down." "Don't panic, stay calm." "Move back!" "Listen to me," "I'm going up." "If he comes out and shoots, but only then..." " Galluzzo, clear?" " Yes, Commissioner." "Cover me but don't hit him, try to get him back inside." "Fazio, you follow me up." " Ready?" " Ready, Commissioner." "Here I go." "Stay low, Fazio!" "What kind of fucking place is this?" "Go that way." "I'll go this way." "Come on out!" "Hear me?" "I'm talking to you!" "Don't piss me off." "Come out..." "Fazio!" "You violated my God-given bride!" "Give me this gun!" "You'll be sorely sorry, sinner!" "Yeah, I'll be sorry!" "God is the executioner!" "Shut up or do I have to shoot you?" "Move it!" "What'sthat?" "Salvo, we got the sister." " Did you shoot?" " No, she did." "Let's go." "Gunpowder's a favorite with this family!" "Spada, handcuff him and take him away." "I curse you, you'll burn alive." "We'll talk later." "Do they go straight to the madhouse?" "We take them down, then we'll decide." " Hold on to this." " Why, and you?" " I'll look around." " I'm staying with you." "No, call Jacomuzzi, we have to search everything." "Right away." " Great, sir!" " Catarella, is this a theater?" "You were great, so agile and fast!" "Me?" "You looked like an acrobat, better than movies!" " They showed it on TV." " Me?" "You and Inspector Fazio, but you were better, on that ladder, with a gun, you looked like Brush Quills..." " Bruce Willis!" " That'sthe one!" " Thanks." " What a show!" "Fazio!" " What happened with the Palmisanos?" " The DA loaded it on." "Resistance, attempted murder and attempted massacre." "Where did they take them?" "To a clinic for the mentally ill, watched day and night." "Isn't that excessive?" "Know what Caterina did to a nurse?" " What?" " She cracked his head with a chair." " Why?" " He was Arab." "And so, she figured, an enemy of God." ""3x3's not thirty-three, 6x6, sixty-six can't be." "The sum ofit, you bet, another number you will get." "Add to this your years, and now the riddle clears..."" "Who's this?" "Salvo, it's me." "Livia!" "How are you?" " I saw you." " Where?" "On TV, the national network." "The damned Tele-Vigata guys sold the footage." " What?" " Nothing." "Darling, I was so scared for you." " When?" " When they shot at you climbing." "Yeah, I almost got hit!" "Why didn't you send Augello, he's a lot younger than you?" "You can't keep doing these things at your age, Salvo!" "Livia, what the hell...?" "What age?" "You treat me like Methuselah!" "Don't swear, I hate it." "Who said Methuselah?" "You're getting stressed!" "I'm not fucking stressed!" " I'm extremely calm!" " Calm down..." "Commissioner Montalbano." "Where's the trash bin?" "Around back." " You're the one who found..." " Yes." "No one touched the corpse, right?" " Sure?" " Yes." "One, two and three..." "It's a doll!" "Let's see..." "The corpse shows no signs of violence." "Doctor..." "Maybe she died of natural causes." "Listen, doctor..." "Montalbano, ask me the time of death?" "Don't you see you're no longer able to see the difference between a corpse and a doll?" "Doctor, will you knock it off?" "Next time, before you call me, make sure the cadaver is a real cadaver." "If you still can!" "Sorry, with this wind I had a minor accident." "What's all this?" "We got news of a cadaver, we got here, we saw it's an inflatable doll, but by then, it was too late to call you." "Doesn't matter." "By chance, do you know where they sell these dolls?" "Simple curiosity." "Doctor, I don't know." "Dr. Pasquano can tell you, he'll be sure to know." "Thank you." "Discovered anything?" "Is it possible that two things, made at the same time, but kept apart and used differently, two bikes forinstance, can lose parts and wear out in exactly the same way?" " Not possible." " That's what these dolls did." "I noticed it too, but I can't reason it." "The only plausible explanation is that Palmisano's wore out from natural causes, while in the other doll's case the wear was produced artificially." " You're kidding?" " No, look." "The patches are in the same place, the abrasions too." "Look here, the same locks faded out in the same spot." "So, there's an obvious question:" "Why would anyone waste so much time doing something so nonsensical?" "The sense is here, but we can't follow it." "What can you tell me about these dolls?" "Me?" "As far as I knew, they're 30-year-old models, today's materials are much more sophisticated, like latex, they look like real women." " Where were they sold 30 years ago?" " Not in Italy." "By mail, abroad." "They sent them in plain wrapping, to hide the content." "So, 30 years ago two people from Vigata ordered the same, identical dolls," "then 30 years later, an unknown person sees Palmisano's on TV and makes his doll look exactly like it." "And we're back to square one, why?" ""3x3 is not thirty-three..."" "3x3 is nine... and thirty-three." ""6x6, sixty-six can't be..."" "6x6 is thirty-six," "I write sixty-six." ""The sum of it, you bet, another number you will get..."" "Thirty-six and nine make forty-five." ""Add to this your years and now the riddle clears."" "What is it, a phone number?" " This is Montalbano." " Commissioner, it's you?" "Sorry, who's this?" "Don't you recognize me?" "I'm Enzo's wife." "So, will you stop by?" "Yes..." "But for what?" "For the letter left yesterday, didn't they tell you?" "Sure, of course they did, I'll be right over." "Thank you." " Hi, Enzo!" " Hello, Commissioner." "Here's the letter, a minute sooner, and you'd have spoken." " He was here?" " No, he phoned." " What did he want to know?" " If you'd picked it up." "What was his voice like?" " You don't know him?" " No." "It sounded like the voice of an old man, but maybe it was fake, he didn't say goodbye, he hung up and that was that." "Thank you, goodbye." ""Now you're in play, and you'll have to stay, and follow this ray, just do what I say." "So, Montalbano, where narrows the street, then up like a wheel, the summit to meet?" "If you can guess it, walk down it all and see at the end, a place you'll recall, and more news to find."" "I had him go inside, a man who wants to talk to you in person, personally, he names himself Girolamo Cacazzone." "We're sure the name's Cacazzone?" " Me, you or Cacazzone?" " You!" "I'm sure, maybe he doesn't know his name's Cacazzone." " You're Mr..." " Girolamo Cavazzone." "Oh, Cavazzone." "I was told you want to talk to me." "I took the liberty of disturbing you to ask some advice." "Maybe you're not the appropriate person, but..." "I'm listening." "I'm a cousin to Gregorio and Caterina Palmisano." "I didn't know they had relatives." "We haven't seen each other for more than 20 years, family matters, inheritance." "My mother inherited nothing, it all went to Gregorio and Caterina." "So, since I'm next of kin," "I was wondering:" "With things as they stand, couldn't they be considered dead?" " Who?" " My cousins." "Gregorio and Caterina Palmisano." " Listen, Mr. Cacazzone..." " Cavazzone." "Let's talk straight, you came to ask if you can inherit from your cousins, although they're still alive." "Is that right?" "In a certain sense..." "There's just one sense, the only one possible!" "This isn't my sphere of competence, see a lawyer." " Alright, but..." " Good day." " But really..." " Good day." "Can you believe!" " Sir, this is CirrinciÚ Pasquale." " Pasquale, tell me." "I wanted you to know I took my mother to the hospital." "Oh no, what happened?" "She got a tremendous fright at your house in Marinella, because when she cleaned the shower, two corpses fell on her." "They're not corpses, they're dolls!" "I know, but my mother had a shock." "When she came to, she called and I took her to the hospital." " How's she now?" " She has a 104 temperature." "She said she can't make dinner tonight." "That's unimportant!" "Hug her for me." "I will." " Something else?" " Sir, if I may..." "I understand you, since you're a man alone and your girlfriend doesn't come often to visit, it's logical that, from time to time, you might need..." "Don't worry, your mother gives me all the attention I need." "Sir, my mother can't give you that kind of attention." "I don't understand." "If you want a pretty girl," "I'll find you one:" "Fair, dark, to your taste." " What girl?" " And free, since it's for you." "It's better than venting on a doll, isn't it?" "No, listen..." "Call me, I'll find you one right away." "Goodbye." "Good grief, what a morning!" "Who could have wanted to kill him?" "He was easy-going, never hurt a soul." " Who found the body?" " A watchman, just passing by." "Jacomuzzi!" "Salvo, tell me." "Maybe Calorio tried to write something before he died." "But you can't read it, the wind's blown it away." "Maybe some trace is left, can you do anything?" "We can try, but I don't guarantee anything." "Any blood on the boat?" "Yes, on a winch and even on deck." " How long since I saw you?" " Ingrid!" "What a voice, has something happened?" "Today something happened that's a little..." "A tramp who lived here was killed." "In fact, you sound strange." "I admired your feats on TV the other day, and thought I'd like to see you, are you free tomorrow evening?" "Yes." "Where'll we meet?" "There's a place right near here." "I'll come by for you about 9?" "Okay, see you tomorrow." "Bye, Salvo." " Galluzzo!" " Commissioner." "I spread them out like this." "There's no street map of Vigata, but I got topographical maps from the Zoning Office." "Great." "So..." ""Now you're in play, and you'll have to stay, and follow this ray, just do what I say." "So, Montalbano, where narrows the street, then up like a wheel, the summit to meet?" "If you can guess it, walk down it all and see at the end a place you'll recall, and more news to find."" "I'm Montalbano, is Pasquale there?" "Good evening, sir." "Pasquale's out, he'll be back in an hour, should he call you?" "No, I'm going out and be back late, tell him..." "Tell him I have an urgent need for those things, he knows and if he could call tomorrow morning." "I'll tell him, good evening." "Thank you." " Mr. Commissioner, welcome back." " Good evening, Vincenzo." "My friend Ingrid Sjostrom." "We'd like to eat..." "We're in your hands!" "I'll take care of you." "Well?" "New loves?" "Don't start being a commissioner." "No, it was just to talk." "Okay, just to talk, I'll say no." " So, no men?" " You're joking?" "You think a woman goes with a man only if she's in love?" "No, not at all!" "And you?" "Always faithful to Livia with few exceptions?" " Ingrid!" " Not even a tiny temptation?" "There are lots of temptations, even big ones." "Oh?" "What does resisting cost you?" "It costs what it has to!" "Is anything free in life?" "Here we are, Mr. Commissioner." "Enjoy it." "Scallops, sardine parmesan, stuffed squid, beltfish in orange sauce." "Enjoy you rmeal." " End of the conversation!" " We'll pick up later." "At your house though." "At my house with a nice glass of whiskey." " Enjoy your meal." " Thank you." "Enjoy yours too." "Hello, Pasquale?" "Everything's fine." "Sure, don't worry." "I'll leave you, your friend's here." "We'll be in touch." " Waiting for someone?" " No." " Are you Montalbano?" " Yes." "I rang but no one answered, so I thought you must be out." "What is it?" "I don't do threesomes, I don't like it with other women." "The lady can watch, but I'll do it with you." "I'll leave you right away." "Where are you going?" "Let's be serious!" "There's a mistake." "I understand, you made a pick-up." "Don't worry, Pasquale paid the whole thing." "I'll leave you." "Ingrid, listen to me?" "Where are you going?" "Listen!" "Why are you so upset?" "Don't think I'm jealous, I don't give a damn about your women." "I'm deeply disappointed," "I never thought you were such a hypocrite, you said..." "There were no other women and I found a whore here." "There's a mistake, let me explain." "You owe me no explanation and I don't want to hear any." "I'm going to the bathroom." " What is it?" " Nothing." "Good for you Salvo!" "You told me you're learning to resist temptation." "You found a very particular way!" "I only ask:" "Why are both ofthem blondes?" "Couldn't you choose a blonde and a brunette?" " What are you talking about?" " Under your bed!" "I bent overto take off my shoes..." "Now listen to me!" "Have some whiskey and listen to me." "Well, those dolls... the first was found in the house of an elderly man called Palmisano, the second in a trash bin..." " Thank you for the evening." " Thank you." "You're so much fun." "I forgot, a friend of mine wants to meet you." " An ex?" " No, now way." "He's a very intelligent 20-year-old." "And even in love with me, but he especially admires you." "I'd like you to talk to him, his name's Alfredo Pezzella." "Tell him to come by the office tomorrow." " Can you make it home?" " I hope so." " Bye, Salvo, I'm fond of you." " Me too." "Drive carefully." ""You were so bright, you got the place right."" "Six, seven..." "Two..." "What's this, the Weekly Quizbook?" "Coded Anecdote for Slow Resolvers!" "So..." ""It's not because you're bright that you'll do things right." "Looking for the next won't do, someone... will bring it to you."" "It's not because you're bright that you'll do things right..." "Sir, it's Pasquale." "Didn't you like the girl I sent?" "Tell me what you like, I'll send another." " What's in your head?" " You didn't want her?" " Who said I wanted her?" " You did." "No way!" "I called you, I didn't talk and I hung up." "I thought your silence meant 'yes'." "And then you called back." "I called back?" "My wife told me you had urgent needs ofthose things I know where to find." "So I thought you meant the whores." "No, I meant the dolls I couldn't find." "I see, you'll make do with them!" "Pasquale, do me a favor:" "Mind your damned business!" "As you like." "Get a load o fhim!" "Just get a load of him!" "Come in." "Hello, I'm Alfredo Pezzella." "Please sit down." "Ingrid told me I could meet you." "I'll come right to the point," "I asked to meet you, I'm interested in your investigation methods." "Want to be a cop?" "No, I'm studying Philosophy, I want to be an epistemologist." "The Philosophy of Science!" "I'll warn you that my methods are anything but scientific." "Sorry, I should explain more clearly," "I'm interested in the working of your brain when you investigate." "Two and two make four." "Don't be offended if I say I don't believe you." "I'll give an example concerning you directly." "What example?" "Ingrid told me how you two met." "She'd been singled out as the primary suspect in a crime but you didn't believe the evidence, meaning you didn't believe two and two make four." "Okay, but in that case..." "In that case, at one point in the investigation, you realized blindly following a mathematical rule would be wrong." "That's what interests me, how and when this snaps in your brain, when your brain leaves the solid terrain of certainty to venture into the quicksand of theory." "Often I don't know myself." "What is it you want from me exactly?" "I'd like to follow you in your investigations." "I'd be no bother, I wouldn't interfere in any way." "I don't doubt it, but an investigation's delicate." "Excuse me." " Salvo, you're a lucky man." " Why, Jacomuzzi?" "We managed to see what that poor man wrote in the sand." " Initials." " Initials?" "That's right!" "He wrote three letters:" "A P, an O and an E." "P. O. E..." "What's that mean?" "Maybe the initials of some party." "We'll think about it!" "Thank you." "Excuse me, if I may, is it a case?" "Yes, a man found murdered on the beach." "The dead tramp found in the wreckage ofhis boat." "I read it in the morning's paper." "Excuse me, those three letters?" "Calorio wrote them in the sand before he died, we think it's a clue to the killer." "P. O. E." "Commissioner, it's Alfredo Pezzella." "I know I shouldn't call you so late, but you see..." "Tell me." "I wanted to say" "I've been thinking about the three letters Calorio wrote and I thought maybe it's not initials." "I thought maybe he wanted to write exactly "Poe", that is, the author Edgar Allan Poe." "I don't know if it's silly..." " I thank you." " You're welcome, and forgive me." "Fazio, go inside." "Commissioner, look." "He was right," ""MS. Found in a Bottle", by EdgarAllan Poe." ""If these lines end up in the right hands, good, if not, alright, it will be the last of my defeats." "In 1939 I was 16, an episode upset my life." "In boarding school was a boy my peer, Carlo Zeta, who was in every way, a girl and he gave himself to us to satisfy our youthful lusts." "These encounters took place at night in a cellar which was reached through a trapdoor in the kitchen." "Carlo refused only one friend of ours:" "Attilio Comaschi, he didn't like him." "The more Carlo refused, the more Attilio became irate, an inexplicable refusal." "One night I was to meet Carlo in the cellar at midnight." "When I got there, I saw a tremendous sight," "Carlo was lying in a pool of blood, he'd been murdered." "Shocked, I turned to run and I found Attilio, with a raised knife." "'If you talk', he said, 'you'll end up like him'." "And in cowardice I remained silent." "My life has been a series of errors, maybe the remorse ofthat cowardice, maybe a self-disgust for not talking, I don't know." "But a week ago, I saw Attilio here in Vigata." "'Hi Attilio!" "' I said, 'Remember me?" "'" "He looked at me, recognized me and jumped back." "Like that night, a look came overhis face." "'What do you want?" "', he said."" "Yes, Commissioner, 60 years had gone by since the last time we'd met at boarding school." "I hadn't recognized him, but he had me." "He said he wanted to be my conscience, then suddenly I recognized him too, it was really him." "He said he hadn't told the police" "I killed Carlo, and it was the biggest mistake of his life." "Did he threaten, or ask for anything?" "No, nothing at all." "I was afraid he'd blackmail me, so I went to see him." "I found him on the boat where he lived." "We fought, but I... didn't want to kill him." "He confessed in full, you deserve credit too." "Thank you, I followed the investigation closely." "The case is closed, you've seen how I work, you're satisfied." "It's over?" "Can't I follow other cases?" "Even just one or two." "I don't have any on-going cases at the moment, if something comes up, I'll let you know." "Thank you, I hope to hear from you soon." "Wait." "It's not a murder or a crime, but strange things are happening to me." "I'll be happy with anything!" "I received these three anonymous notes, they talk about a treasure hunt, I don't know what the treasure is." "Read them, resolve the riddles and then we'll talk." "Thank you." "This package just came that says it must be given to you personally." " Who says that?" " The package!" ""To Commissioner Salvo Montalbano, personally."" " Who brought it?" " A little boy." "You can go." " Not going to open it?" " No, not now." "Creeps, a lamb's head!" ""For Salvo, treasure hunt"." "So?" "No one's to know about this, outside of us three, clear?" "It's a Mafia warning, how can we keep it hushed?" "No way, the Mafia's no part ofthis." "Then what's this all about?" "It's a treasure hunt, even says so." "Either say what you know, because you do know, or I'll go and stay totally out." "Then go, I can't tell you a thing right now." "Goodbye." "What do I do with this head?" "What's it look like?" "What's it look like?" "A lamb's head!" "Whoever did the job's no butcher, he's got no experience." "Take it all, toss the head in a trash bin, while all the rest, the box, the cloth, just keep them because there might be fingerprints." "This isn't Mafia, but there's something fishy." "Okay." "'The head of a lamb is really a treat, tongue and brain in the pan can hardly be beat." "Some put it in stew while others just roast, or oven-baked too, it's a dish you can boast."" " What can I serve?" " A glass of wine, please." " May I?" " Please." "Do you serve food here too?" "Just in the evenings, to go with the wine." " Lamb's head too?" " Yes, but just Saturday evenings." "Good." "How do you cook it?" "Sometimes it's stewed, others fried, roasted, baked." "And the other days?" "Pork ribs, goat cheese, stuff like that." ""When you've had your fill, and a drop of wine stroll up the hill where the air is fine, it's heaven on earth." "Arest you will get, but not revealing its worth, there's no answer yet."" "'The head of a lamb is really a treat, tongue and brains in the pan can hardly be beat." "Some put it in stew while others just roast, or oven-baked too, it's a dish you can boast." "When you've had your fill and a drop of wine, stroll up the hill where the air is fine, it's heaven on earth." "Arest you will get, but not revealing its worth, there's no answer yet."" "It's another direction." "The place is near a lake, that's heaven on earth." " Did you find anything?" " Nothing." " Why?" " Didn't you read the last lines?" "'There's no answer yet", so no sense wasting time." "I don't think things stand exactly that way, actually, I think, you should use your intuition to find something useful for the future." "I'm fed up, I won't play this game anymore." "You can't pull out." "Why not?" "I can pull out when I want!" "Can I make a suggestion?" "If I went instead of you?" "No, if my adversary sees I'm getting help..." "I wouldn't be discovered, try me." "Okay." "Thanks for the trust, I'll be in touch." " Sorry for the door, it slipped." " What is it?" "Mr. Biliardo wants to report its disappearance since he owns the car." "Someone wants to report his own disappearance?" "No, his cars." " A car theft?" " Yes sir." "And you come to me?" "Send him to Fazio!" "This Mr. Biliardo wants to see you in person, personally." " Have him come in." " Right away." "Please, Mr. Biliardo." " Hello, Commissioner." " Sit down, Mr. Biliardo." "Vilardo." "Vilardo, tell me." "I've come to report the theft of my car." " What car is it?" " It's an off-road." "They stole it a few days ago." "Okay, you can talk to Inspector Fazio..." "No, forgive me," "I came to you for a precise reason." "Yesterday I saw my car here in Vigata." " Here in Vigata?" " Yes." " You're sure it was yours?" " Absolutely." "Who was driving?" "A man, I couldn't see him well." "But he wasn't alone," "I saw long black hair tossing in the back seat, as if a woman was trying to sit up," "but the driver kept shoving her down." "Then a bus cut off my view." " Sorry, there's a man..." " I'm talking to Vilardo." "I wouldn't have disturbed you, if it weren't most urgently urgent." "What's the matter?" "There's a man who's crying and crying and you can't make him stop crying and crying." "Mr. Vilardo, you'll have to continue with Fazio." "As you say, excuse me." " Can I let him in?" " Let him in." "He's crying and crying..." "Please." "Sorry, I've been out since early," "I left the house before sunrise, I'm exhausted." " Some water?" " Yes, please." "My daughter..." " What's your name?" " Bonmarito Giuseppe." "It's since yesterday after lunch that my daughter Ninetta hasn't..." "She hasn't been heard from?" " Has this happened before?" " No, never." " How old's your daughter?" " Eighteen." "Does she have a boyfriend?" "Not a real boyfriend exactly, there's a boy hanging around, but I think my daughter considers him just a friend." " Do you know this boy?" " Yes." "I went to his house and woke him up last night, he said he hadn't seen her since that morning," "they're classmates." "What time did your daughter leave the house?" "My wife said about 6, she was going to the movies with herfriend Lina." " Which movie theater?" " Splendor." "Did you talk to this Lina?" "Yes, she said she hadn't seen her since 8 o'clock, when they left the movies together." " Do you have a picture of her?" " Yes." "There's a problem, your daughter's of age." "And so?" "Maybe she left of her own will, she has the right." "No, she's too attached to her mother, besides my wife has serious heart problems." "Even if she'd run away, she'd have called." "Wait a moment." "Excuse me, Mr. Vilardo, where were you when you saw your vehicle?" "Around Via Ecce Homo," "I'd taken the dog out." "What direction was the car going?" "Like I said, a bus cut my view, but I'm almost sure he turned right in Via Dei Glicini." " Thank you." " Much obliged, Commissioner!" "Galluzzo, come with me." "Mr. Bonmarito, you can go, leave your address and phone number with Agent Galluzzo, your daughter's boyfriend's data and her friend Lina'stoo." "Don't worry, we'll start a search right away." "Galluzzo, when you're done, take him home." "Yes sir!" "If they're so poor and the girl's so pretty, there's only one reason." "I agree, what do you suggest?" " We won't wait the lawful time?" " No." "First thing is to find out if the girl was consenting." " Her father rules out elopement." " Father's rule out lots ofthings." "If it is, why steal a car?" "A grown girl's elopement is not our affair, but car theft is." "That's true, but maybe the car theft was necessary for some reason." "You're pushing for elopement, why?" "Kidnappings are rare around our parts and besides this girl's father doesn't have a cent." "The other theory is abduction for rape." " You know the Splendor cinema?" " Of course." "Ninetta left there at 8, go with her picture and see if anyone saw or heard anything." "Okay." " Miss Lina Anselmo?" " Yes, who are you?" " Commissioner Montalbano." " What is it?" "I'd like to talk with you about Ninetta Bonmarito, you know her?" "Yes, sure." " You won't invite me in?" " No, sorry." "Why?" "My dad doesn't want me to open to strangers." " Is your dad home?" " No." " Your Mom?" " No, I'm alone." "Then take a good look at this document so you can see I'm a police commissioner." "It makes no difference." " What do you mean?" " It could be a fake." " So, we stay out here?" " Yes, it's best." "We know you went to the movies with Ninetta last night, true?" "Yes." " Do you go often?" " Yes, we do." "Do they bother you sometimes?" " Yes, sometimes." " What do you do?" "We move." " Did anyone yesterday evening?" " No." " You're sure?" " Yes." " What time did you leave the show?" " A few minutes past 8." " How did you get home?" " I have a scooter." "Why didn't you take Ninetta home?" "My father doesn't want us riding tandem." "You're friends, I imagine you share secrets." "Was Ninetta in love with anyone, had she received advances?" "I don't think there's a boy in Ninetta's life, the only one she was sort of fond of is Michele," "Michele Guarnera." "Michele Guarnera." "Thank you." "However, you can come in if you like." "No, we wouldn't want to displease Dad!" "Thanks anyway." "You're welcome." "Michele, thanks for coming." " So, what can you tell me?" " Shouldn't you ask questions?" "Yes, usually, but I want you to talk freely." "Where do I start?" "Wherever you like, just talk to me about Ninetta." "Ninetta's a wonderful girl, very close to her family, especially to her mother, and she's worried about her health." "She's an old-fashioned girl." "Do you spend time with other classmates outside school time?" "Sure, we go to parties, the movies." "And what's Ninetta like?" "Happy, sociable, she can take a joke, but can handle those who overdo it." "At these parties, does Ninetta..." "I understand." "No, she doesn't smoke or drink, no joints, and she's never off in a corner with someone." " You're in love with her?" " Yes." "Think she'll be found alive?" "I hope so." "Come in." "Here we are, what is it?" "Where've you been?" "Where did you go?" " Is this the missing girl?" " Yes." " Can I take this a minute?" " Okay." "We got a phone call telling us about a car in flames on the road to Monreale, so we went to see." " And?" " The car was still burning." "I got the feeling right away it was Vilardo's off-road." "When I wiped the plate, I saw it was." " Did you look in the trunk?" " Yes, it was empty." "Something's weird in all this, it scares me." "It does me too." " You went to the Splendor?" " Yes, but no one saw a thing." "Figures!" "But how did Ninetta get there?" "Maybe she took the bus, there's a stop near the theater." "When we're done, go to the bus company and find out who was driving yesterday at 8." "Talk to him, show him the picture and ask if he recalls Ninetta getting on there." "Okay." "Mimi, why did you take Ninetta Bonmarito's picture?" "Remember that brothel we closed some months ago?" "Of course, in Via Marconi." "When I saw that picture," "I remembered a girl working as a prostitute." " Ninetta Bonmarito, a prostitute?" " No." "This one's the prostitute." "See how she looks like Ninetta?" "Her name's Alba Carraro." "You're right, there's a resemblance, they look like sisters." "So?" "We're looking for Ninetta Bonmarito, not a look-alike." "Sure, but I was wondering:" "What if the kidnapper got the wrong person?" "He wanted to kidnap Alba, but, tricked by their similarity, he took Ninetta." "That's a great thought!" "Commissioner." "That's him, his name's Antonio Gibilaro." " Can we ask a few things?" " I'm on break, ask a colleague." " But we're police." " And I'm Johnny Carson!" "Do we drag you to the precinct to get some answers?" "Sorry, Commissioner, I thought it was a joke." " It's not!" " What do you want?" "Were you driving the bus yesterday evening?" "Yes, my shift was 6 p.m. To midnight." "Did you notice this girl on board?" "This is Ninetta, she always takes the bus." "She rode yesterday evening too, got on at Splendor." " What time?" " About 8:10." "Has something happened to Ninetta?" "We don't know yet." "Did she meet ortalk with anyone?" "No, she sat by a window like always and got off in Via delle Rose, a bus to her house goes by there." "You didn't notice anything strange?" "No, I closed the doors and kept going." "Thinking back, there was something strange." "Tell me." "Along the way, when Ninetta was already on, a dickhead in an off-road passed me." "Once he got by, he slowed, in fact, I had to jam on the brakes not to hit him." "Then he slowed way down, let me pass and got behind me." "Did he keep following you after Ninetta got off?" "No, I didn't see him afterthat." "Thanks a lot." " Are you thinking like me?" " Meaning?" "That bastard in the off-road saw Ninetta as he passed the bus." "Do you doubt it?" "Hello, Mr. Commissioner." "They brought this letterfor you." "I bet a little boy brought it." "Yes, he gave it to me and ran off." " Would you like a table?" " Yes, thank you." "I'll be right with you." ""Dear Montalbano, your patience maintain, and all your waiting, will not be in vain..."" "What will you have?" " Whatever you like." " I'll take care ofit!" ""I do my work both day and night, to make you treasure rich and bright." "The task I'm trying will make you shiver, the real in pseudo-real I'll deliver." "You must believe me when I say, you'll cry for joy in every way." "My next move is a dream to handle, you'll see the game's well worth the candle."" "The real in pseudo-real I'll deliver..." "Commissioner!" "Alfredo!" " I came for news." " I have to go now." "I received another letter, read it and see if you get an idea." "Then leave it with the agent at the switchboard." "I'll let you know as soon as I can." "Miss Carraro." "A pleasure, Commissioner Montalbano." "It's about when I worked at Rosaria Giordano's brothel?" " No." " Yes." "He was so nice when he questioned, I have to thank him, also when he called my folks, he didn't let on," "I won't forget that." "I've stopped doing any wrong, if you wanted to know." "Actually we wanted to ask if, when you were working at Via Marconi," "any client became particularly attached to you, or was obsessive." "What?" "He's still looking for me?" "Who?" "Rosaria does her job well, she's very careful." "She didn't let the clients see us girls directly, she'd show them pictures in an album and the client would choose." "Once a man came asking for me, but Rosaria said I was busy, he seemed weird to her." "Weird, how?" "She said when he saw my picture, he started shaking, he seemed stressed." "She got scared and said I was busy, but he came back the next day, and the next, asking for me but she always said I was busy." "What did he do?" "He left extremely upset, furious." "She came and told me everything, she said to be careful, to wait a few minutes before leaving." "But that day I had to go, I left at 8 o'clock because I had an engagement and besides, I'd rented a room only half a mile away." "It was dark, and as I was crossing the street, a car tried to run me down," "I had to jump off the street to avoid being hit." "A man got out and started running towards me." "I was scared to death, I just stood there." "Luckily a car stopped, thinking there had been an accident, he got back in his car and drove off." " Did you see his face?" " No." "His high beams were on, I was blinded." "Did he show up again?" "No, even Rosaria said she never saw him again." "Commissioner, why are you asking me this?" " He's still looking for me, right?" " No, don't worry." "Even if he wanted to, he doesn't know you live so far away, don't worry." "Anyway, if you hear anything or you should see him, call us right away." "Certainly." "Sir, a letter came for you, Alfredo Pezzella brought it." "He left you this note too." ""Commissioner, here's my first impression ofthe new letter, which I find very unsettling, especially for:" "'You'll cry forjoy in every way'." "Choosing the verb 'cry' seems odd, generally we laugh with joy, we can also cry with happiness, but I don't think this is the case." "Then the need to say he's working day and night to make the treasure unique and unrepeatable..." "It's just a feeling, but I fear when we discover the treasure, we'll have quite an ugly surprise." "Keep me informed, cordially, Alfredo."" "Sir!" "Catarella, what is it?" "An American girljust called." " What did she want?" " She was scared and upset." "She was screaming into the phone, and by her words, I knew she was scared." "Why, do you speak American?" "No, but I know a few words, because my sister-in-law, who's American, sometimes..." "What did you understand?" "First she kept saying: "didi, didi"." "Didi?" "What's that mean?" "Sir, in American "didi" means corpse, dead." "Did she say anything else?" "Then she said: "leki, leki"." "What's that mean?" "In American, "leki" means lake." "And that's all, she hung up." "Lake?" " Is Fazio there?" " Not yet." " And Galluzzo?" " Yes." " Tell him to come pick me up." " Right away." "'Then the need to tell you he's working day and night to make the treasure unique and unrepeatable."" ""I do my work both day and night to make your treasure rich and bright."" "To make your treasure rich and bright..." "To make the treasure unique and unrepeatable..." "Goddammit!" "Idiot, moron!" "I'm an idiot, a moron." " Ingrid, it's Salvo." " Salvo, what an awful voice!" "Listen closely." "You said Alfredo loves you, right?" "More than love, he's crazy about me." "Would you invite him to dinner tomorrow evening?" " What ifhe can't?" " The sooner you see him the better." " How long do you want him gone?" " Two hours is enough." "I'll call him right away and insist we meet tomorrow evening." "Thanks." "You damned son-of-a-bitch!" "Want to play?" "Okay, we'll play!" "I've got a game for you!" "May I?" "Dr. Pasquano." "Come in." "I just finished the autopsy on that poor girl." " That's why you're here, right?" " Yes." "Are you groping or do you have some idea?" "I do." "Good." "I'd really like you to catch him." "I'd like to get him here alive on the operating table." "In all my years of work," "I've never seen anything so horrible." "More than rare, unique!" "He turned her into the exact copy of that doll in the trash bin." "And to do it, he poisoned her." " Poison?" " Yeah." "He couldn't kill her with a weapon, a gun shot, a knife." "They'd have left evident signs on the body." "A subtle mind, that son of a bitch!" "He poisoned her right after kidnapping her and then..." "Get him!" "Get him!" "If that guy gets away," "I'll bet my balls he'll think up something even worse." "I'll get him, don't worry." "Here we are." "Ingrid's invitation to dinner was your idea, right?" "Yes." "You must think I'm stupid," "I knew the dinner was a trap." "Where's Ingrid?" "Still waiting at the restaurant, you're the reason I left in the car" "and now, here we are." "Keep you hands raised!" "It's Ingrid." "Poorthing, she'll have to eat alone this evening." "I'll put you to sleep first, don't worry." "Want to say something?" "What is it?" " Want to know how I found you out?" " Does it change things?" "You challenged me to an intelligence game and I got you, don't you want to know how?" "Okay, let's hear it!" "I thought about what you said and wrote." "You made a few huge mistakes." "I don't make mistakes, hear me?" " Can I ask you something?" " No." "Just one!" "Okay, let's hear it!" "You kidnapped Ninetta when you couldn't find the brothel girl, eh?" "What's so funny?" "I played your game and I won." "Sorry, but you don't look like a winner." "Neither do you." "My men know what I was investigating, when I don't show up, they'll come." "They'll find you here with all this evidence, this proof." "You're washed up, Alfredo." "You're crazy." "Think I'll leave clues around?" "Think I'm a fool?" "After my fun here with you, I'll clean every inch," "I'll get rid ofit all." "This place will be as spruce as a sacristy." "I don't make mistakes, get it or not?" "Stop right there, asshole!" "If you move, I'll kill you." "Get your hands up!" "Commissioner, all okay?" "Get your hands up!" "This time I really skinned by!" "What took you so long to get there?" "We ran out of gas, with all the tension, we forgot to check." "Commissioner, all okay?" "Translation Charlotte Lantery subtitles OMBRE ELETTRICHE" " Roma"