"INSPECTOR MONTALBANO "Artist's touch"" ""MANUSCRIPT FOUND AT SARAGOSSA" by Jan Potocki" "Signor Alberto!" "Who is it?" "Catarella." "Calling from the station!" "What do you want?" "Calling a bit early to communicate an urgent communication." " So?" " Alberta's dead." " Alberta who?" " How would I know, sir?" "That's what's wrote here:" ""inform Montalbano Alberta's dead"." " And who wrote it?" " Me myself... when Galluzzo phoned, from the scene of the crime itself." " What was she, a prostitute?" " Could've been, sir." "She was called Alberta, last name Larussa." " Alberto Larussa?" "The jeweller?" " Don't know her day job, sir." "Maybe you should come, there's suspicious circumstances." "I'm on my way." " A question, please..." " People want to know..." " Get rid of the newspaper!" " Yes, sir." " Hey, Jacomuzzi!" " They said he's a friend of yours." " No." "Livia knew him." "Why?" " Because it's not a pretty sight." "Fazio, why did you call me?" "isn't Augello on duty?" " Yes, but there was another murder." " When?" "Last night." "Last night, Larussa stripped naked... and put these on his ankles and wrists." "He fastened the band to his chest and put the headset and mask on." "Seems he made all the stuff himself." "And then?" "The electricity's recently been increased to 380 volts..." "But if he was tied to the chair, how did he switch it on?" "There was a timer." "Pity it was destroyed or we'd know when he died." " Although, since it's suicide..." " What's this?" "A book we found beside him." ""In truth, since Marañon the cobbler died, it is no longer possible to find a well made shoe in Madrid."" "We want to know..." "Let us in..." "Here he is..." "A question..." " Good morning." " Good morning, Inspector." " Any idea what happened here?" " To be honest, no." "I spoke to Jacomuzzi from Forensics:" "he thought it was suicide." "The most elaborate suicide I've ever seen." "Is it true Alberto Larussa committed suicide?" " You can ask Judge Lo Verde..." " Montalbano...!" " Did he have health problems?" " Who found the body?" "The range of hypotheses is wide, and all will be evaluated." "At this moment in time, the theory that Alberto Larussa put an end to his days seems the most concrete." " Did he leave a note?" " I have nothing further to add." "Goodbye." " No sign of Augello?" " No." " Who found the body?" " The niece of a neighbour." " I had her wait." " Good." "Where is she?" "In here..." "She visits her aunt every morning." "She's an old friend of ours." " An old friend?" " Yes." "Look for Augello." "You two come with me." "I don't believe it..." "Anna!" " Hi, Salvo." " Hi!" "How are you?" " Fine, you?" " Not bad." " How long is it?" " At least two years." "Two years!" " Fazio said you found..." " Yes." "Sorry, it can't have been pleasant." " Can we get you anything?" "A coffee..." " No, I'm fine." " Still teaching physics?" " Yes, I was made professor last year." "Congratulations!" "Still living in Marinella?" "Still in Marinella." "Strange..." "it's tiny but we never meet." "True." "Everything else okay?" "Can't complain." " Did you know him?" " Yes." "He was a nice guy." "When I visited my aunt, even before she got ill," "I'd pop in for a chat." "He gave me some jewellery..." "this, for example." "Nice." "Unusual." "Did he kill himself?" "Looks like it." "It seems strange." "Despite his handicap, he was so alive, interested in music, literature, cinema..." "He kept up to date with everything." "Not the type to do a thing like that?" "I don't know." "Maybe we look for logic where there isn't any." " Inspector, excuse me..." " Yes..." "Coming." "I have to go." " Have you made a statement?" " Yes." "To save you coming to the station." "So..." " Let's get together soon!" " No, we'll let another two years pass." " Exactly." "Bye." " Bye." " Salvo?" " Yes?" " Always the cop." " Why?" "You asked all the questions." "You said nothing about yourself." "What's to tell?" "Nothing." " Bye." " Bye, Salvo." " Good morning, Inspector." " Morning." "Come in." " May I, Mimi?" " Come in, Salvo." " Any news?" " A real mess." "Ignazio Cucchiara, sixty, electrician." "A record as clean as a virgin's communion dress." "What did he do?" "Nothing, poor soul." "Someone shot him." "But I've got no murder weapon, no motive, witnesses..." " Nothing!" " That makes two of us." "Let's get a coffee, I didn't have breakfast." "Good morning, Inspector." " Did you hear about the goldsmith?" " Yes." " What happened?" " A suicide." " Inspector!" " Yes..." " Maria Antonietta Vullo is here." " Who?" " She used to clean for Sig." "Larussa." " Where is she?" " I put her in your office." " Good." " We're just going for a coffee..." " She's weeping like a fountain." "Yes, but..." " Like a fountain?" " Yes." "I can't get breakfast this morning." "Get me a coffee, a croissant, anything..." "Good morning..." "I'm Inspector Montalbano." "Quite as shock, eh, Signora?" "I was very fond of Signor Alberto." "So I see." "How long did you work for him?" "Over thirty years." "Since he moved to Vigàta from Ragòna," " where he was born." " Was he already in a wheelchair?" "He never told you how he was disabled?" "We weren't close..." "And he was reserved." "He told me right away..." "Knew he could trust me." "He had a riding accident in Ragòna... and spent the rest his life in a wheelchair." "Come in!" "Inspector..." "Come in!" " I brought you the..." " Thank you, young man." "Thank you." "I didn't have time for breakfast." "Good!" "I usually had something with Signor Larussa." " He didn't like to eat alone..." " Did he seem depressed recently?" "Not at all." "He was almost happy." "As if looking forward to something." "And instead..." "Did he have any close relatives?" "No." "His father died ten years ago." "He still lived in Ragòna." "I know 'cos he gave me a raise." " He'd inherited some money." " Close friends?" "In the last months he had a couple of visits." "Someone not local... maybe." "He said it was an old friend... and gave me time off." "So I never saw him." "No... no." "How's it going, doctor?" "I was passing and... I thought you'd show up sooner." "I was getting worried." " What do you want to know?" " Just a yes or no." " Have you done Larussa's autopsy?" " Yes." " Was he electrocuted?" " Looks like it." " Time of death?" " I don't know yet." " Approximately?" " Approximately, yes:" " last night, without a doubt." " Anything else?" "Before he died he drank a bottle of whisky." "What?" "Larussa was teetotal." "He needed some Dutch courage before killing himself." "See how much time I've saved you?" " Bye" " Montalbano!" "One day I'll be doing your autopsy!" "Each Christmas he gave me one of his pieces." " I still have his letters." " You wrote to each other?" "He was a nice man." "When's the funeral?" " The day after tomorrow." "Why?" " I'd like to go." "Let me know what time you arrive." "I'll pick you up." "I have to go now." " Bye." " Bye." " Jacomuzzi, I said come in..." " I didn't want to disturb you." " What do you want?" " Our friend Larussa did it all himself." "After 30 years he knew how to get about in his wheelchair." " We've analysed the case..." " Suicide?" "Yes." "Our findings and the autopsy." "I know you've spoken to Pasquano, so I won't bore you with the details." "I'm off." "You're going to the judge to close the case?" "Sure." "Jacomuzzi!" "I'm not convinced." "Come on!" "The file screams "suicide"!" " And I'm not convinced." " And I'm off." "So, go!" "And so Alberto Larussa ended his days... turning his wheelchair into an electric chair." "A short circuit burnt down his workshop." "But jewellery wasn't a job, it was a passion." "He was rich, as his home shows." "An eligible bachelor, apart from the fact that he'd been disabled for 30 years after a riding accident." "But his passion wasn't enough to make him want to live." "On Retelibera we don't like reporting crime, but we had another death last night in Vigàta." "This time it was murder..." "Ignazio Cucchiara, 60 years old, with a clean record." "We're outside Vigàta police station... waiting for further information." "We are examining all hypotheses and can reassure the public that the person or persons responsible will be brought to justice." " So you have some leads..." " I have nothing further to add..." "That's all Dr. Augello told us." "But it's more than some of his colleagues give us." "We await the development of the investigation..." "Niccolo Zito, Relelibera." "Alaimo Filippo's my name." "I suffer from insomnia." "I don't sleep!" "That's the third time you've told me." "Can we go on?" "When I'm sick of being in the house, I wake the dog up and take him for a walk." "The dog, Piri I calls him, if he's woken up, gets a bit pissed off like." "Inspector, is the dog relevant?" "It's "revelant", oh yes!" "If I woke you up in the middle of the night... and made you take a two-hour walk, you'd be pissed off, eh?" "So soon as Piri sees something move..." " man, animal or car - he's off!" " That happened the night of the 1 3th?" " Yes." "We was walking along, when a car speeds out of the gate of poor Signor Larussa's house." "Piri chases it... and the bastard runs him over!" "Look at him..." "Look at him..." " Look at him!" " I'm looking!" " What time was this?" " 2.30, 3.00 in the morning." " And what did you do?" " I ran after the car shouting:" ""Bastard!" But it was dark, I couldn't get the number." " But I did see one thing." " What?" " It was an Acireale number!" " Acireale?" "That's not a province!" "That's not my fault!" "Do I decide the provinces?" " Mimi!" " Sorry, it's this Cucchiara case..." " What's the news?" " Tell me one thing:" "have you had your house rewired recently?" "Ten years ago... the previous wiring was pre-war." "Why?" "All those in Cucchiara's diary had it done." "By Cucchiara, an electrician." "But you know what's odd?" " No, tell me." " Some had it done twice a year." "So, two possibilities:" "Cucchiara was a crap electrician..." " or it was an excuse." " I'd go for the second." " Shall we order?" "Calogero!" " Coming." " Are we sure Cucchiara was clean?" " Record clean as a whistle." " But he had an unlicensed gun." " Obviously, not the one that shot him." "Obviously not." " What can I get you today?" " I'll have spaghetti with sea urchins." " Perfect!" " Mimi?" " Me?" "A salad." "And mineral water." " Got a bad stomach?" "I've got 3 hours of interrogations, I should keep it light." " Bring him a salad." " Right away." " Wine?" " No, no!" "Why waste it." "Hey, does this mean anything to you?" ""In truth, since Marañon the cobbler died, it is no longer possible to have a shoe well made in Madrid." " What should it mean to me?" " I don't know..." " Have you read it before?" " What is this, a riddle?" "No, a bet with Livia." "I want to impress her..." "Know who to ask?" "Catarella." "Don't be daft..." "We connect up to the web." "Now we connect to this site..." "It has the literature of the whole world." "Now, give me a key word." " Marañon." " Mara..." " Maranon, with an 'n' at the end." " Maranon, with an 'n' at the end." "Maranon, with an 'n' at the end." "Now we press "Enter"." "It's a technical term." "Found!" "Marañon." ""Manuscript Found at Saragossa" by Jan Potoc..." "Poto..." "Potocki!" "Of course." "Go and get the book." " Well done, Catarella!" " Thank you." "What a brain!" "I have to leave tomorrow after the funeral." "I felt I had to come." "What are you reading...?" "Potocki?" " Doesn't seem your thing..." " We found it at Larussa's house." "Do you like it?" "It's wonderful, but I don't understand why he had it with him when died." "Perhaps he wanted to tell you something." " Me?" "What would he want tell me?" " Have you read the introduction?" " No." " Potocki died like that too." " How odd." " What?" "We once talked about the kind of funeral he'd like." " So?" " He even showed me some drawings." "You can't imagine the hearse..." "two metre high weeping angels." "All gold and mahogany." " You're joking?" " No." "He said he'd have it specially made." "Even the costumes for the wreath-bearers." "The coffin was like a pharaoh's..." "A man like him, so reserved, wanting a pharaonic funeral?" "I was amazed, too." "But he said death was such a great change that you should be the opposite of the way you were in life." "Who's that?" " Eh?" " Who's that?" " Who?" " The woman who smiled at you." " A witness..." " To what?" "She found Larussa's body." "Have you got a pen?" "Thank you." "Wait here... I have to go to the land registry to check on Cucchiara." "Augello said he didn't have much money." "Not in the bank, but in property yes." "Write down this registration number." "Find out who owns it..." "AC 927 TW." " Let me know..." " Okay." " Come in!" " May I?" " Montalbano!" "Come in!" " Thank you." " Good morning." " Good morning." " What are you doing here?" " The Larussa case." "I was waiting to close it." "You don't think it was suicide?" "What's bothering you?" "I don't know..." "He wasn't the sort to kill himself." "Come on, Montalbano!" "That contraption has his stamp all over it!" "That's what puzzles me." "Why so theatrical?" " And what did Potocki's book mean?" " What do you want?" " According to Alaimo Filippo..." " Who?" "The owner of the dog who hates being woken up?" "That's him." "He says that at about three... he saw a car come out of Larussa's gate." "And you believe the poor creature." "I don't think they searched the house well." "I want to go back and take it apart." "I can't have one of my best officers wasting his time on some eccentric who killed himself in a novel way." "So so you'll give me three days." "And then you'll close the case." "Two days. 48 hours." "They really suit you." "Larussa was the best." "He made ordinary material shine like gold." "He couldn't have made anything ugly even if he'd wanted to." "Shall we go?" " Inspector?" " Yes?" " What exactly are we looking?" " A motive." " A motive...?" "For suicide?" " Yes." "We're acting as if the workshop was Larussa's whole world." " But he lived here, ate here..." " Inspector?" "He had loads of videos." "A hundred." " Fritz Lang..." "Griffith..." " He was a real film bluff!" "Galluzzo, my grandfather made that joke!" "Go and search." "Yes, sir..." " Inspector!" " Yes?" "I found this in the bedroom." "Fazio!" "Sir..." "Look at this." "Take it to the station." " Inspector?" " Yes?" "I found this!" "Last will and testament of Alberto Larussa." "Handwritten will." "The undersigned, Alberto Larussa..." "Come in." " Excuse me, sir." " What is it Fazio?" "Know who owns the car from Acireale?" " No... who?" " The name's in the will." " Giacomo Larussa?" " Alberto's brother and sole heir." " And he hasn't shown up yet." " That doesn't mean anything." " Maybe he's scared." " Scared of what?" "Sole heir!" "Work it out." "Alberto Larussa was worth billions." "Not counting the property..." "Would you murder your brother..." "because he was rich?" " Well... where does that leave Alaimo?" " At the opticians!" "He has glasses like jam jar bottoms." "Assuming he had them on, when he claims he saw Giacomo Larussa leaving his brother's home after killing him and making it look like suicide." "Even if he did, is it against the law to visit your brother?" "Perhaps, when Giacomo left, Alberto took his own life." "The time of death is vague." "I want the handwriting of the will examined." "You never give up!" "Not until I know..." "if the will is real or not!" "All right..." " So..." "Boscarino!" " Inspector..." "Something isn't right." "To be sure I need a text definitely written by the subject," " anything, a shopping list..." " We don't have one..." "You bring me one document and ask me to establish its authenticity..." " with nothing to compare it with." " But can't you tell us anything?" " We've been here two hours!" " Whoever wrote this wasn't thinking:" "he writes 'b' one way, then forgets and writes it differently." "But people aren't computers..." "Will this do?" "A photo?" "I do handwriting, not identikits!" "Boscarino..." "On the back!" " Inspector, this will is false." " Sure?" " Certain!" " Bingo!" "It should be here." " Looking for someone?" " Good morning." " We're from the Vigàta Police." " I'm the concierge." "How can I help?" "We're looking for Prof. Larussa." "He's at school." "He's a physics teacher." " And where is the school?" " Two blocks from here," " a five-minute walk." " Thank you very much." "You stay here." "Talk to the concierge and neighbours." " I'll see you later." " Okay." "Galluzzo!" "Let's go!" "To the school." "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." "This simple concept is fundamental." "You can extend it to our lives, our actions and their consequences." "Montesano?" "So when we do something we should always expect a reaction?" "Even when we think no one's seen us?" "Good." "We are part of a complex whole... if you move one thing, you affect everything else." "And somewhere, without knowing it was you, someone is affected by your action." "And reacts... striking when you least expect it." "If we'd wanted philosophy, we'd have gone to classical school." "At least they have boys there!" "Good morning, girls." "No, sit down..." "Girls, I have to go out for a moment." "Where's he going?" "I may be away for some days." "Goodbye." " Galluzzo..." " Thank you." " Inspector Montalbano." " Giacomo Larussa." " What's happening?" " Are they arresting him?" "Excuse the mess." "When there isn't a woman in the house..." " Pyjamas and underwear enough?" " I think so." " Want to call a lawyer?" " No, I'll do it when we get there." "How was your relationship with your brother?" "Almost non-existent." "He lived in Vigàta and I in Palermo." "We went our separate ways" "After the accident he went to live alone." " Not to be a burden on his family?" " Perhaps." "But he'd been in touch recently." "I visited him a few times." "Also the evening he killed himself, if that's what you want to know." "This morning when I arrested you, you didn't bat an eyelid." "As if you were expecting it." "Have you read Kafka?" "Well... something." "So you know that what awaits us..." "is error, not justice." "I'm ready." "We can go." "I didn't kill my brother." "Thank you for everything." " Hello." " Hello." " Hello." " Hello." "Inside!" "Come on!" " Okay?" " Yes, I didn't say anything because Larussa was in the car, but his neighbour, Michele Ruoppolo, said that at about 4 a.m. on the 1 3th, he saw the professor's car returning." "That confirms Alaimo's statement." "He saw the car leaving Alberto's house at 2." " How long did it take from Palermo?" " Just over two hours." "But there's no traffic at night." " But I..." " What?" "Nothing..." "The prof seems such a nice man." "Let's go home." " Montalbano!" " Judge..." "We are to be congratulated!" "We spotted it." "What?" "Giacomo Larussa committed fratricide, trying to pass it off as suicide, with that macabre mise-en-scène." "I've just left him at the Vigàta prison." "I think he'll be there a while." "A witness has provided an interesting piece of the puzzle." " What witness?" " Just a moment... if you'd like to go in, Signorina..." "Inspector Montalbano..." "Angela Bonocore." " Please to meet you." " Good morning." "Take a seat..." "Could you tell the Inspector..." "what you told us earlier?" "I can swear that 1 3th April, at about six p.m., I passed Sig." "Larussa's house and heard a violent argument." " Male voices?" " Definitely." "Why so sure?" "Did you stop and listen?" "I don't listen to others' conversations." "Coming back from the shops, I passed the house and heard shouts." "I was surprised, 'cos it's usually so quiet." " Then I went home." " Fine, Signorina." "We'll phone if we need you." " Thank you, Signorina." " Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Inspector..." " Caruso!" "Spada!" " Yes, sir!" " What about a "good morning"?" " Good morning." "And goodnight..." "Signorina..." " Anna!" " Hi, Salvo." "What are you doing here?" "I came to tell you something my aunt said." "It seemed important." " Have a seat." " Just for a moment." " I've a flight to Venice." " Yes." "My aunt told me about the night Larussa died." " You remember there was a storm?" " Of course." "My aunt told me that she was woken by the thunder." "She got up to close the shutters and saw a car going into Larussa's drive." " What make of car?" " it's my aunt..." "A dark car, it was raining too heavily to see." "She was surprised anyone was out so late." " What time was it?" " Ten to two." "Precisely?" "She looked at the clock before going back to bed." "I thought it might be important." "It is." "Thanks for coming." " I have to go." " I'll take you..." "A school trip?" " No, just a weekend." " Who with?" "Bye, Salvo." "Have fun!" "Not a school trip..." "and you don't know who with." " Good morning." " Good morning." "How nice to see you again." "May I introduce my lawyer, Signor Palillo?" " He has taken my case." " Please to meet you." "Good, you're all here." "Please, come in." "Thank you." "After you." "Were the cuffs really necessary?" "Inspector, sit next to me." "Take a seat." "Thank you." " And so..." " I'd like to clarify one thing:" "while the two brothers didn't get on, recently their relationship improved sufficiently for my client to visit his brother three times in the last month." "What was the cause of the rapprochement?" "Alberto got in touch." "He said he was lonely..." "needed to talk to someone." "The last time you saw your brother was the night of 1 3th April, right?" "Yes." "I hesitated before accepting his invitation." "The 1 3th April was the anniversary of his accident." "I was worried that those memories would make things awkward." "But I only found him a bit melancholy, no more that that." "Someone heard a row at around 6." " Did you argue?" " Absolutely not." "At about quarter to six," "Alberto put the TV on to watch some series," ""Marshall", I think." "I remember there was a fight scene." "It was very loud and I asked him to turn it down." "Obviously the witness misunderstood." "We'll check." "What time did you leave your brother's house?" " At eight o'clock I returned home." " And the dog Piri, that you ran over at 2 a.m. in front of your brother's house?" "This blessed dog belongs to an old man who doesn't wear his glasses to take his dog for a walk!" "It's a pity that without them he's as blind as a bat!" "But there's another witness:" "Signora Emma Tropeano, who got up in the middle of the night and saw a car going in to your brother's drive at 1 .50." "Signora Tropeano is 84 years old and has Alzheimer's disease which affects the brain, making her an unreliable witness." "Professor, explain one thing:" "Vigàta to Palermo is about 2 hours." "I'd like to believe you left your brother's house at 8." "But you were seen coming home at 4 a.m." "By someone young who doesn't need glasses." " Inspector..." " Excuse me... I loved my brother." "On the way back from Vigàta all I thought about was his loneliness." "It hurt me that I couldn't help him." "I got back home at ten and went to bed, but I couldn't sleep." "So I went for a drive." "I came back at about 4 a.m." "Did anyone see you during the drive?" "A witness?" "I don't think so." "Have you seen this before?" "What's this, a joke?" " Your joke, perhaps." " But it's useless!" "My father had decided everything:" "when he died everything went to Alberto, and after Alberto's death to me!" "Ask Antuofermo, the Ragòna notary..." "he dealt with family matters!" "So why didn't you claim the money?" "Were you afraid of being found out?" "No..." "I didn't think about it." "Professor, let's be frank:" "in recent months you practically cleaned out your account." "You even had the phone taken out!" "I don't care why - debts, a lover...... but don't tell me you didn't need your brother's money!" "As I told the Inspector earlier, I didn't kill my brother!" "Can you tell us anything about the case?" "I know what the investigators think." "My client visited his brother, knocked him unconscious, wrote the will, took the objects for the execution... made by God knows who, then carried the body down into the workshop and arranged that macabre mise-en-scène." "But, I ask them, why write a false will when he knew there was a legal will saying the same thing?" "Why a second apocryphal will?" " Thanks, Niccolò." "Bye." " I've made pasta and broccoli." " if you're inviting me..." " But you bring the wine!" "Don't worry..." " Inspector..." " I'll sign it later." "Sorry, Mimi..." "Signora..." "I'm going to Ragòna for a few hours, could you take my place..." "There's a problem, Salvo..." "Excuse me, Signora..." " Sorry, Salvo, I'm in trouble." " Why?" "Cucchiara was clearly a loan shark." "But none of his "clients" will admit borrowing money from him." "If someone doesn't talk, I'll never find his killer." "Who is that woman?" "One of the names in Cucchiara diary." "She wrote him several large cheques." " Her excuse?" " What?" "She had problems with her wiring and Cucchiara came several times..." "Do you believe it?" "Don't ask rhetorical questions." "You know it annoys me." " How may I help you?" " I'm Inspector Montalbano..." " Come in." " I'm looking for Mr. Antuofermo." "Sorry." "My son had to go to Palermo." "Excuse me, but the firm is Michele Antuofermo and sons." " Are you Michele?" " Yes." "But all that is left of me here is my name on the nameplate." "But it's you I'm looking for." "I'd like some information" " about the Larussa family." " That family has given me nothing but trouble." "When I heard Alberto was dead, I waited for Giacomo to come and claim his inheritance." "But you got there first, obviously." "What did you think when Giacomo was arrested?" "Antonio Larussa's sons were always..." "lively." "Alberto less than Giacomo." "But I never thought they'd end up with one burnt alive, and the other accused of his murder." " Were you a friend of the family?" " I went through school with Antonio." "Then he studied literature and I to be a notary." "They were a very happy family." "Until that awful day." "It's been empty for 1 0 years." "The Lord took Antonio 7 years ago." "He was living in a rest home." "He was old." "Well... my age." "Can I ask you about Antonio Larussa's will?" " Of course." " Everything went to Alberto, right?" "Exactly." "So Giacomo was deprived of his legitimate inheritance." " Yes." " isn't it an inalienable right?" "Unless the beneficiary accepts to be excluded." " Giacomo didn't dispute the will?" " No." "I get the impression the will was a punishment." "He didn't fall off a horse, did he?" "Antonio saw Alberto fall down the steps." "He didn't have time to help him or see what happened." "He only knew what his sons told him." "Alberto said Giacomo pushed him," "Giacomo said that Alberto fell." "What is certain... is they were arguing over Emma." " And who was this Emma?" " A beautiful girl..." "And from a good family." "I saw them kissing one afternoon." "I saw them behind that tree, which was smaller then." " I was pleased." " Who was kissing this Emma?" "Alberto or Giacomo?" "That was the problem." "Both of them." "I can understand that a girl could be attracted to both." "Alberto and Giacomo were opposites, in every sense." "Ls this Emma?" "Wasn't she beautiful?" "When she heard Alberto had been injured because of her, she left Ragòna." "Emma Morpurgo, her name was." "I have no idea what became of her." "Don't you ever knock?" " Come in!" " May I?" " Sorry, Inspector!" " No, you're right." " A question:" " I'm very busy." "I've done every test on that will, chemical and graphological." "It was written about a month ago with Alberto Larussa's usual ink." " A month ago?" " Absolutely." "Alberto Larussa's writing was skilfully forged." "Is it possible to write a note and make it look forged?" "You're saying Alberto Larussa pretended to forge his own writing?" " Yes." "Any way to find out?" " I've never thought about it." "A careful examination should reveal if you've tried to forge your own writing." "And have you done this careful examination?" " No." " Why not?" "You asked me to see if Alberto Larussa's writing had been forged by someone else, not himself!" "You're right." "Do it now, okay?" "Bye!" " Salvo!" "You're here?" " Jacomuzzi." " You've saved me a trip!" " Tell me..." "I'm really proud of myself!" "Cut the crap." "What have you found out?" "What the objects found on Alberto Larussa are made of." " What is it?" " Xeron 50, a superconductor." "To put it simply, it multiplies the energy." " And who sells it?" " Only a few companies in the north." "Not in Sicily?" "You can't find Xeron in Sicily!" "A mathematical certainty." "So... in a suicide case..." "Come in!" "Fazio, call all the post offices, courier services, shippers..." "In Vigàta and Ragòna." "I want to know if Larussa received package from the north" " in the days prior to 1 3th April." " Larussa Alberto or Giacomo?" "Good question." "Both." "All right, sir." " immediately!" " Of course." " Come in!" " May I?" " Come in!" " You asked to see me, sir?" "Yes." "I wanted to tell you I'm charging Prof. Larussa." " No!" " What's got into you?" "Sorry." "I'm following an intuition." "I'd like to question him again before you take a decision." "Where does this intuition lead?" "I want to understand his motive." "You don't kill a brother for a few lire..." "A few lire?" "Alberto was wealthy and Giacomo lived modestly." "In fact he was broke." "But I'd like to question him again." " When?" " When you like." "Even today." "Listen Montalbano, I've already done one about turn." "I don't want to look like an idiot." "If you come up with another suspect," "I'll give you a public kick up the backside." "Clear?" "And I'd deserve it." "Thank you." "Good morning." " I don't look too good, do I?" " Have a seat." "Thank you." "I'm still not clear about some things." "That 1 3th April thirty years ago, whose horse was your brother riding?" "That keeps you awake at night?" "There are people here who sing until three in the morning." "I don't get to sleep until dawn, at 7 I'm up and don't know what to do with myself." " Can I be honest?" " Absolutely." "You're really pissing me off!" "Clear!" "Your calm, your politeness are pissing me off!" "You won't lift a finger to help yourself!" "So tell me..." " why you killed your brother?" " I didn't kill him." "But you want to stay in prison." "That's what I don't understand!" "What guilt are you atoning for?" "The fact you pushed your brother down the stairs 31 years ago?" "Isn't it excessive for a childish argument that ended in tragedy?" ""Let's forget it, Giacomo." "I'm sorry I didn't see you for all these years and didn't answer your letters." "It no longer matters if you pushed me... or I fell."" "That's what he said... the first time he invited me to his house." "He even gave me cravat." "I don't wear them, but he didn't know, it was so long since we'd been brothers." "And I didn't feel the need of a brother." "He and my father made me feel I'd killed him." "Inspector, I didn't kill my brother." "Neither the first time, nor the second." "I almost believe you." "Because I have an idea." "You're interested in literature so you know Jan Potocki." "The author of "Manuscript Found at Saragossa"?" " Exactly." " A strange man." " He committed suicide?" " it wasn't so simple." "It took him three years to do it... he unscrewed a little sphere from the lid of his silver teapot." "Every day he spent hours filing it... until it was the right size." "And then?" "He had it blessed, put it in the barrel of his gun, a muzzle-loading weapon," "one shot only... only one... and killed himself." "Here..." " Catarella?" " Good morning, Inspector." " Messages?" " No, nothing." " Thank you." " Inspector, I found it." "The 1 3th April a package was delivered from Ruberti's in Seveso." " Who to?" " Alberto Larussa." "Here in Vigàta." " Nothing to Giacomo?" " No." " Get me the number of Ruberti." " Here." "I thought you'd want to call yourself." "Office hours 1 0-1 3, 1 6-20." " Thanks." " Welcome." "Salvo Montalbano, I'm a police Inspector, I need some information." "Did you sell some material to a Signor..." " A private individual?" " Yes." "We don't sell to individuals." "Our products are not for domestic use." " I see." " What did you say his name was?" " Alberto Larussa." " Ah!" "I heard what happened." "What a way to go!" "Yes, we made an exception." " You sold him the Xeron 50?" " He was an artist." "I had the fifty metres sent to him..." "a ridiculously small quantity." " But it never arrived." " What?" "Not the first time." "He called several times." "Even sent some ear-rings for my wife." "I sent fifty metres by courier." " They arrived, unfortunately." " How can you be so sure?" "I saw his electric chair on TV... the anklets, bracelets and chest band..." "They were our Xeron 50." " Thank you." " Good evening, goodbye." "Good evening." "Hello..." " Were you looking for me?" " No..." "I was just passing." " Did you go to Venice?" " Yes, a couple of days." " Have fun?" " Not bad." " Want to take a stroll?" " Yes." "The Larussa case?" "The papers and TV don't mention it any more." "They'll start again." "I've just had Giacomo released." "Why?" "Giacomo always said he was innocent." " It was his brother's revenge." " What revenge?" "What happened?" "Alberto committed suicide and made it look like Giacomo killed him." "He waited till the 1 3th April, the anniversary of the accident" " that left him in a wheelchair." " The riding accident..." "What riding accident?" "He fell down some steps." "He believed his brother pushed him." "So why the story of the horse?" "It was the father's idea, to avoid scandal." "But he held Giacomo responsible and cut him out of the will." "And how did he get the blame to fall on his brother?" "He made contact with Giacomo." "Then he lured him to his house the night he killed himself." "And he left a false will." "it was that that made me suspicious." "Then I discovered the Xeron was ordered by Alberto, not Giacomo." " Xeron?" " He needed it... and you know why..." "Of course." "It's a good conductor." "If he wanted to electrocute himself, he had to be sure." "Exactly." "To complete his work he put a copy of "Manuscript Found at Saragossa" by Jan Potocki beside him." " Why?" " To help us work it out." " Work out what?" " That like Jan Potocki he had meticulously planned his suicide for years." "Livia, I'm sorry." "I'm late as always." " Come on..." " You're happy to see me?" "I waited an hour for you to pick me up!" "You never change." "Sorry, I had a problem at home." "How can I make it up to you?" "Let's go." " Larussa's house?" " Yes." "His brother's already let it." "Let's have a look." " May I?" " Yes..." " Hello." " Hello." " I'm Inspector Montalbano." " Nice to meet you..." "Nice to meet you..." "Signorina Burlando..." " Good morning." " Good morning." " Are you the new occupants?" " We arrived yesterday!" "Come in." "Thank you." " Problems?" " We were told there was a TV aerial." "But all we found on the roof were birdsnests." " Signora?" " Yes?" " Can you check if the TV's working?" " Yes." " Just a moment..." " Don't worry." " Pasquale?" " Yes?" " Check if it's working now." " Good morning." " Good morning." " Good morning." "No TV aerial?" " Tell me..." " This arrived at home..." " You had this at home..." " No, it came to our home." " Who send it?" "The doctor?" " No, the concierge..." " Aren't you on holiday?" " I've had an idea." " Livia's in the car." " Give her my regards." " Nothing on the Cucchiara case yet?" " if only someone would confess!" "And they're all respectable people!" "I can't see any of them shooting Cucchiara." " Who's this Emma Morpurgo?" " Morpurgo...?" "The day you went to Ragòna..." "she was in my office." "Yes..." "Fazio!" "I need a list of Giacomo Larussa's cheques for the last 3 months!" " For when?" " Oh, in a week?" "!" "immediately!" "Come with me." "And this is when he's on holiday." "A sum disappears from Giacomo's account." "The same sum appears in Emma Morpurgo's account, and she pays Cucchiara." "As we can see from his diary." "So, the professor paid Signora Morpurgo's debts." "Yes..." "I've left Livia in the car for 2 hours!" " isn't he on holiday?" " They're leaving now." "Can you imagine how pissed off Livia is?" "Yes?" "Good morning, Inspector Montalbano." "May I come in?" " Please..." " Thank you." "We met in Dr. Augello's office..." "Could I ask you a few questions?" "I told your colleague everything." "However..." "Thank you." " You have a beautiful home." " it belonged to my husband's family." "He dedicated his life to this house." "The furniture had been sold to pay his father's debts, and he spent all his time tracking it down." "It was a passion, perhaps a sickness." "How can I help you?" "Where were you the morning of 11th September 1 969?" "This is you, isn't it?" "That's how I like to remember them..." "young and happy." "But at a certain point you chose one." "Didn't you?" "Yes..." "Alberto." "He was sensitive, an artist." "Perhaps Giacomo was better looking, but too introverted." "He'd be silent for hours!" "He said he could hear my soul vibrating in my body." "I sometimes thought he had a screw loose." "Enough to push his brother down the stairs?" "No, I'm sure it was an accident." "But it was over me." "So I decided to stop seeing both of them." "But not for ever, clearly." "My husband died a year ago." "Restoring this house cost a fortune." "He left me full of debts." "Giacomo came to pay his condolences." "When he heard about my problems, he decided to help me." " Paying your debts to Cucchiara?" " Yes." " But I don't know how." " Easy." "He ruined himself for you." "And due to a trick of Fate, when Giacomo could have helped you with the money from Alberto," "Cucchiara died." "Taking your debts with him... to hell, I hope." "Why didn't you go directly to Alberto?" " He was better off." " I'd never have gone to Alberto." "I hadn't seen him for over 30 years." "And after what happened because of me... it didn't seem right." "And when you heard that Giacomo had killed Alberto, what did you think?" "That Giacomo could never have done such a thing." "Only I know how close they were." "Come in!" " You wanted me, Salvo?" " Yes, I have something to tell you." "Salvo, but I've only got a minute." "The Chief is driving me mad about Cucchiara." "Forget Bonetti Alberighi and sit down." "How many shots were fired at Cucchiara?" "Six." "A bit haphazardly." "He bled to death." "Know what kind of gun it was?" "Not for sure." "A 38 calibre, perhaps a revolver." "Catarella, tell Jacomuzzi to come in?" "Yes, with the thing I asked for." " What's going on?" " In a minute." "Come in Jacomuzzi!" " Hello." " Hello..." "Not me, him." "Me?" "What is it?" "The gun found at Alberto Larussa's house." "The one who burnt to death?" "What's he got to do with my moneylender?" "Did you run the tests?" "I compared the shells at the scene of Cucchiara's murder with this." "You can never be 1 00% sure, but it's possible, even probable." " Did you test it for fingerprints?" " Not yet." "What are you waiting for?" "Will someone explain what's going on?" "So test it now." "Hurry up!" "So..." " What a surprise, Inspector!" "Come in." " Thank you." " Still pleased to see me?" " You can't imagine how much." "If it weren't for you, I'd still be inside counting the seconds." "Please, come in..." "It's always a mess when you call." " Your brother's things?" " Yes." "I'll have to sell a lot." "My brother had very different taste." "Even that house in Vigàta... too big." " I could never live there." " But you had no trouble renting it." "So it must be me who has difficult taste." "You and your brother had one thing in common... you loved the same woman." "An old story." "I've paid enough for something I didn't do." " Just satisfy my curiosity..." " Go ahead..." "How did you know there was a fight in "Marshall", just at that time?" "It coincided exactly." "I fell for it myself." "But there's almost always a fight." "But you forgot one detail:" "Alberto had a TV, but no aerial." "He only watched videos." "I hadn't seen him for 30 years..." "When Alberto called, you had no great wish to see him." "But you knew he was rich and Emma needed money." "So you thought, I'll borrow it from him, since he's become so affectionate." "Maybe he even promised to." "To get you to his house that 1 3th April." "When I got there..." "he said I could forget the money." "Thanks to me, he was an invalid and had lost the love of his life." "And could never love again..." "So the witness did hear a fight between you and your brother?" "He threatened me with a gun." "He opened a drawer and aimed the gun at me." "I knew he wouldn't shoot, but I also knew he'd never give me money." "What is it?" "You think I killed my brother?" "No, I think your brother killed himself." "I think you killed Cucchiara." "He was threatening Emma." "Alberto wouldn't give you money..." "so you had to kill the moneylender." "Your brother gave you the idea when he threatened you with the gun." "You went back to your brother's house and took the gun." "Then you went to Cucchiara's house at about midnight and shot him." "Then you hurried back, hitting poor Piri." "And you put the gun back." "Not knowing your brother had already killed himself." "That's just speculation." "You have no proof." "The proof is here... on this gun:" "your fingerprints on the murder weapon." "May I?" "Don't worry." "I killed once." "it was enough." "Cucchiara wasn't a man, he was the worst kind of loan shark." "When I went back to Alberto's house, I didn't notice anything." "For a trick of fate I found Emma again, just as my brother died." "You may think I'm crazy, but that night at 55, I thought my life had changed." "But I was mistaken." "You know that law of physics:" "every action has an equal and opposite reaction?" "There's no getting away from it." "Fazio, let's get this straight:" "as soon as Prof. Larussa comes out, call the station and tell them you're bringing in Ignazio Cucchiara's murderer." "Hand him over to Augello, not the Chief!" "And if he runs away?" "He won't." "Didn't you say he seemed a nice man?" " And if they ask about you?" " What's it got to do with me?" " It's Augello's case." " But it was you..." "Mind your own business." "See you tomorrow." "Inspector!" " Hey!" "Trying to run me over?" " Want a lift?" " No, I need to walk." " incorruptible!" "I'm trying to avoid temptation." " Not very courageous, anyway..." " I prefer "prudent"..." " given the way you drive..." " Come on!" "Just a minute!" " Bye, Salvo." " Be good." "Bye." "Livia?" "Salvo, where did you get to?" "I waited for 2 hours!" "You could have at least called me..." "You're right about everything." "But let's fight tomorrow."