" Puccio!" " Hey, sir." "Good morning." " Were you out in the boat this morning?" " Yes, I was." "How did it go?" "The fish are far out now." "Further in, it's all polluted thanks to our muck. I didn't get much." " There's a nice octopus." "Have it." " Me?" "What would I do with it?" "." "What would you do with it?" "." "Eat it and enjoy it!" "You need to boil it for a while." "But you have to tell your housekeeper to hit itwith a cane." "With a cane?" "With a cane." "Then put it in a pot and let it cook." "On, you go, sir, take it." "Go on." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." " Goodbye." " Have a good day." " Hello?" " Why didn't you answer earlier?" "Oh, Livia!" "Earlier, when?" "Earlier." " What time did you call?" "About seven." " Why?" " Why what?" "Why did you call so early?" "Because my first thought today as soon as I opened my eyes was for you." "So there are days when your first thought isn't me?" "Oh, come on!" "No, tell me. I want to know." "What's the first thing you think of in the morning?" "Excuse me, Salvo, what if I asked you the same question?" "Don't be silly." "All the best." " You too." " Why me?" " l don't know." "Well, thank you." " No, dear!" "You said thank you just to stop it." "I bet you don't know what day it is." "Come on, don't exaggerate. lt's 6... lt's my birthday." "See how long it took to get you to remember you're 49 today?" " You wanted to block it out." " 49?" "No, 48." "Salvo, weren't you born in '64?" "Exactly." "I've just finished the 48th year of my life." "To finish 49 it'll be another 12 months minus a few hours!" "You've a strange way of counting." " You taught me it." " Me?" "Yes, when you were 40, I..." "You're a boor!" "Why am I a boor?" "What's being a boor got to do with it?" "." "And I don't get it!" "What is this thing of celebrating birthdays?" "What is there to celebrate?" "I don't know..." "I don't know!" "You dickhead!" "Get it right up you, you prick!" "Arsehole!" "Fuck you!" "Good morning, Commissioner." "Clean yourwindow?" "No, thank you." "Just fill it up, please." "All right." " Thank you." "Dickhead!" "You and your shitty car, get out the way!" "Are you going to move?" "Look at this dick!" "I told you to fuck off once, I told you twice..." "Now, you've broken..." "Are we a bitjumpy?" "All the very best..." " CatarŽ, hang on." "Galluzzo!" "Holding cell, and breathalyse him and everything else." " Yes, sir." "All the best." " Thank you." "Go on, get in." " CatarŽ?" "What is it?" "." " Yes, sir." "All the very best from my heart, sir." "A long and happy life full of health and an even longer life, sir!" "CatarŽ, thank you." "Thank you very much." "All the best." "All the best." "All the best, sir." "Sir, all the best." "Come with me, will you?" "I can't, I have to go to Cava d'Aliga to meetAugello, who itwas told me to wish you all the best." " What happened there?" "A supermarket robbery." "They took the takings, quite a sum, apparently." "Do supermarkets not bank their takings in the night safe?" "Yes, usually, but not this time, it seems. I'll go and see." "All right." "All the best again." " Thank you." " What is it, CatarŽ?" " Sorry about that, it slipped." "I noticed." "The lawyer Nullafacenti wants to speak to you in person personally.." " Put him through." " l can't, he's already in loco." "He's here?" "Show him in." "Are you sure he's called Nullafacenti?" "That's how he introduced himself?" "." "I'd swear to it." "All right, you do that." "I will, sir." "Come in, sir." "Nullafacenti." "May I?" "Good morning." "I'm Nullo Manenti." "Please, take a seat." "I'm here about my client, Giovanni Strangio." " Who's that?" "." " What do you mean?" "You arrested him about an hour ago." "Ah, right." "I haven't questioned him yet." "But how did you know...?" "He called me." "Really?" "He called me from the holding cell on his mobile." "From the holding cell on his mobile?" "Excuse me a moment." "Galluzzo?" " Sir?" " Did you breathalyse Strangio?" " Negative, sir." " The other tests?" "We took some blood and sent it to the hospital at Montelusa." " Licence, tax, insurance, all okay?" "All okay, sir." "Thank you." "On you go." " Listen, Galluzzo..." " Yes, sir." "Did you take his mobile phone?" "His mobile!" " Go and get it, go on." " l'm sorry, sir." "Do we always have to get something wrong?" "I'll talk to you later." "Sorry, you were saying..." "My dear Commissioner, my client is not new to these things." "How come?" "He's not quite right in the head." "All right, but do you realise your client is a potential killer?" "Afuture hit-and-run driver?" "One of those who knocks people down and doesn't even stop to help?" "You're coming on a bit too heavy." "Yeah?" "But itwas you who said he's not right in the head." "But it's quite a leap to say he's a killer." "Listen, Commissioner, I'm here to ask you to try to be understanding." "I'm speaking sincerely." "It's not like I want to have Giovanni Strangio as a client." "So why have you?" "I'm his father's lawyer and he asked me to..." "Who's his father?" "Michele Strangio, the President of the Province." "Listen, Commissioner, I'm here to ask you to overlook this." "If you let it go, for our part we'll forget the provocation." "What provocation?" "My client said you prevented him leaving the garage with your car." "Right, sir, on my part there was no provocation." "I wanted to go, but my engine didn't start because my car is very old." "And then, answer me this, did you client mention that he tried to drive me off the road?" "No, he didn't say anything about that." "Excuse me, Commissioner. I retract what I said about the provocation." "Sir!" "Sir!" "Sir!" "CatarŽ, can't you see I'm talking with the lawyer?" " Yes, I see, sir." " Well?" "Inspector Fazio wants you urgently on the phone." "All right. I think we've said all there is to say." " My respects." " Goodbye." "Hello?" "Fazio, what is it?" "." "Sorry, sir, but could you come to the supermarket?" "To the supermarket?" "Why?" "Because the manager is kicking up a stink because Augello asked him a few questions he didn't like." "He says he'll only speak with his lawyer present." "Can you come, sir?" "All right, I'll be there in ten minutes." " Sir." " ls he in there?" " Yes." " ls he still mad?" "Yes, now that you're here, I'm happier." "Listen, though, does this supermarket not belong to the Cuffaros?" "Apparently." "I want my lawyer." "Mr Nicotra, let's stay calm, please." "Sit down." "Mimi, you sit down as well." "Did you accuse Mr Nicotra of something?" "Do you think I would?" "I just asked him a few simple questions." "Yeah, a few simple questions!" "Mr Nicotra, you called me!" "I have to do my job." "Someone calls you about a robbery and you accuse the victim of being the thief!" "Let's calm down here!" "Let me understand." "Let's start over, Mr Nicotra." "How did you realise there'd been a robbery?" "Yesterday, because there'd been discounts on a lot of products, we'd made a lot." " How much?" "About 87,000 euros." "And what do you usually do with the takings?" "Put them in the night safe?" "Yes, sir." "But yesterday when I got to the night safe I found a sign saying "Out of order"." "What was I meant to do?" "I came here and I put the money in a drawer in this desk." "I locked it and went home." "This morning, after I'd been here about an hour, I'm not sure, I realised the drawer had been opened and the money had been taken." "So then I called your police station and look where it got me!" "Did you call the bank?" "Yes, but they said as far as they know the night safe was working fine and they knew nothing about any notice." "I swear on the soul of my beloved mother there was a sign!" " l don't doubt that." " You believe me?" "Mimi, what did you ask Mr Nicotra to make him so angry?" "I simply asked him, given that no-one but him knew the money was in the drawer, how did the thieves know the money hadn't been deposited and that itwas here?" "And since there were no signs of forced entry, how had they got in?" "is that it?" "That's it." "Not one word more or less." "Why did you get so angry at these routine questions?" "I didn't get angry over the questions, but the look!" "The look?" "Yes, sir, the look." "When he asked me the question," "CommissionerAugello looked at me as if to say," ""l know you're guilty." "Don't try and take the mickey!"" "Mimi... did you look at Mr Nicotra?" "Do you think I would look at Mr Nicotra?" "Right, listen..." "Mr Nicotra, you're very nervous, and I understand thatwith the robbery." "Tell me this." "Do you have the keys to the supermarket?" " Yes." "Are there any copies?" "Yes, one, but it's held by the board of the company." " You had your keys the whole time?" " Yes." " How do you explain it, then?" " What?" "That there's no sign of a break-in." "How do I know?" "is it possible the thieves used the keys?" " Yes." " Those of the board." " Who said that?" "." " What?" "You did, Mr Nicotra." "No, sir, I didn't say that." "I said someone could have used a copy of the keys, but not the board's." "I understand, but excuse me if I insist..." "To make a copy, you need the original." "Who gave the thief the key?" "You orthe board?" "What do you say?" "I want my lawyer!" "This is an obsession, this lawyer business." "Have you told the president of the company about the robbery?" "Not yet." "But I told you." "You, you, you!" "We're not them!" "They, the Cuffaros, I mean, they won't call a lawyer." "If anything they'll call the priest for the last rites." "I don't know if you're following me." "Anyway, listen, thank you." "All the best, Mr Nicotra." "Let's go." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Well done." "We did a textbook interrogation, butwhy did you stop just at the best bit?" "Because I felt sorry for him." "And he wouldn't have given us the name even under torture." "Fazio, I want to know more about Nicotra." "Listen, it's clear the thieves used eitherthe board's key or the manager's with his agreement..." "What I don't get is why didn't they break in to provide a bit of cover?" " They cocked up." " You think so?" "I don't know." "You got a better idea?" "Half an idea." "I think there was an agreement with the thief who was meant to force one of the outside doors." "That didn't happen, and this surprised the manager as well and frightened him too." "And what does that mean?" "I don't know." "You're asking me?" "I don't know." "Let's go to the station." "Who am I meant to ask, if not him?" "Sir?" "." " l wanted to tell you about Giovanni Strangio." " Yes?" "I was told to take him to Montelusa jail." "When I get there they tell me to take him to the Prosecutor, Seminara," "And Seminara let him go?" " Yes, sir." "Did he read what I wrote in the report?" "Yes, sir, itwas on his desk." "And he still let him go?" " Exactly." "Dear Galluzzo, Seminara is sensitive to the attentions of politicians." "Strangio's father is President of the Province." "Two plus two makes...?" "Four." "Of course, sir." "Don'tworry." " Right away." " Who is it?" "The Chief, he wants to speak in person personally with you, sir." " Tell him I'm not here." " He's mightily pissed off." "Let him get even more pissed off." "Mother of God, he'll eat me down the phone line!" "Yes, sir." " May I?" " Come on." "What did you find out about Nicotra?" "Right... I'm warning you, if you start reading from thatwho is parents are, his address and stuff like that, I'll make you eat it!" "As you like. I'll put it away." " Good man." "Right, Guido Nicotra... widower, 50s, no kids, no women, no vices." "And without my notes, that's all I can say." "That's plenty." "What do they say about him in town?" "In town they say he got the job on the...what shall we say?" "..the suggestion, the invitation of the Right Honourable Mongibello." "The Cuffaros family's lawyer." "Who's a politician, isn't he?" "I think so." "Are we able to find out who's on the board of the company that runs and owns the supermarket?" "I checked." "The names are on this bit of paper." "Will I read them to you?" "Just this once." "Great." "Right, they are called Angelo Ferruggia, Filippo Tridicino," "Gerlando Prosecuto and Calogero Lauricella." "The first two are pensioners in their 80s, ex-railway workers." "Prosecuto is a cinema projectionist and Lauricella is an ex-warehouseman at the fish market." " They're all dummies." " What about the president?" " The Right Honourable Mongibello." " How come he exposed himself?" "Probably because on a board of directors you need at least one who knows how read and write." "Hello?" "Sir!" "Sir!" "Sorry to bother you." "What are doing, eating?" "No, CatarŽ, I was about to, but don'tworry." "What is it?" "." "Afemale officer lady just phoned, but not one of ours, from the Cava d'Aliga supermarket." "An office cleaner, you mean?" " What did I say, sir?" "What did she want?" "." "To say that Nicotra has hung himself." "is Fazio there?" "No, sir, he's just left to go to the scene with Galluzzo." "All right, call him and say I'm on my way." "All right." " Sir." " Was it them that found the body?" "Yes, the brunette." "Itwas the blonde who called." "You call the prosecutor and Pasquano?" "Yes, sir, the doctor's there." " Hello, Doctor." "As you can see, it's suicide." "Yes, but I need to know the time of death." "No, until the prosecutor gets here, I can't..." "What prosecutor?" "A professional like you." "Have a look close up." "I'll help you up." "You'll help me...that's a good one." "You'll help me..." "Where did I find the likes of you?" "There we go." "What time is it?" "7.45." "Right. ln my opinion, he hanged himself between 3 and 4 this afternoon." "Afew hours ago we heard the news that Guido Nicotra, the manager of the Cava d'Aliga supermarket, had taken his own life, hanging himself in his office." "We are wondering if Commissioners Montalbano and Augello will finally be satisfied now." "Now, admitting for a moment that poor Nicotra, a person with no criminal record and considered by all to be beyond reproach, might for a moment have given into temptation, does not in any way justify the behaviour, in my view Nazi," "of Commissioner Montalbano and his deputy." "The responsibility forthis death lies with them." "May I?" "Come in." "Make yourself at home." "Good morning." "Montalbano..." "I have to tell you I confirm everything." "What?" "Let's say...he was hung about 4 in the afternoon." "In his stomach are the remains of the lunch he'd had at midday." " Why "he was hung"?" " Right... in my opinion, he was strangled by hand." "They held him so tightly by the arms that there was bruising." "The chair, the rope, the roof beam... it's all just a staging to make it look like suicide." "Are you certain?" " No." "And in fact I won't put it in the report." " You know why?" " Why?" "Because a good lawyer in court could find a hundred different excuses to justify the bruising." "I understand, but if you don't put it in the report, what am I meant to do?" "Ah, that's your problem, Montalbano!" "Did you hear that bastard Ragonese last night?" "Can we not do anything to defend ourselves?" "What do you want to do?" "Sue him?" "The court might say you're right in three orfour years." "If I run into him in the street, I'll thump him." "Forget it, Mimi." "Apart from the bullshit and the insults," "Ragonese told you want you wanted to know." " Me?" " Yes." "You said you weren't convinced about the lack of forced entry and that using the keys was a big mistake." "indirectly, Ragonese has told you the thief did it deliberately." "He wanted to trap Nicotra and make him take the blame." "That makes me feel worse." "So he's notjust a dick but a bastard who's in bed with the Cuffaros." "That's your opinion." "Never mind." "You're just in time." "Find outwhat security firm the supermarket uses." "Done it already." "Done it already." "Done it already." "Done it already." "Well?" " None." " None?" "There was no need." "Everyone knew the supermarket belonged to the Cuffaros." "Go figure if some thief is ever going to go and steal there." " Yeah..." " But..." " But?" "There's the Regional Bank next door." "And they have a night security service." "I checked." "To get to the bank, the guard has to pass in front of the supermarket." "I checked." "The guard in question is called Domenico Tumminello." " This is his number and address." " Well done, Fazio, well done." "Who is it?" " lt's Commissioner Montalbano." " Who are you looking for?" " l'm looking for Mr Tumminello." " Come in." "Thank you." "I'm his wife, what's happened to my husband?" "Nothing, ma'am, don'tworry." "is he at home?" "No, sir." "But why are you looking for him?" "It's nothing, I need to ask him something." "Where can I find him?" "Why are you so scared?" "Yesterday morning, Minico, my husband, finished work at 6 and came home." "He drank a little hot milk and went to bed." "It must have been 10, I was coming back with the shopping, and the phone rang." "Itwas someone from Minico's work." "Did he say his name?" "No." "All he said was, "l'm from the office."" "And you didn't recognise the voice?" " No." "All right." "Then what?" "He said Minico had to go to the office right away because he hadn't done his job properly, and he'd to go and see his boss." "He said itwas urgent and hung up." "What did you do?" "What could I do?" "I work my husband up and told him." "And he got up, got dressed, poor thing, he was asleep on his feet, and he left." " Than what happened?" " l haven't seen him since." "I'm sorry, ma'am, he hasn't come back?" "He hasn't called?" "Nothing?" " Did you try calling his work?" " Of course." "They deny everything, they say none of them called." "Have you tried the hospitals?" "I called all the hospitals, nothing." "Maybe you should report him missing." " No." " Why not?" "Because if I report him missing, then Minico might really disappear." "Have you got a photo of your husband?" "Come in." "Good morning, Chief." "Commissioner Montalbano... ..you've wrecked my career." "Me?" "I'm sorry, but..." "Silence!" "I'll do the talking." "As you like." "First I get a call from Mr Strangio, the President of the Province, to tell me that you..." "..had provoked his son and arrested him." "Me?" "No, wait..." "Shut up!" "And then, an hour ago, the Right Honourable Mongibello informed me that he intends, in the name of his party, to raise a parliamentary question about the suicide of Nicotra." "All right, I'm even more sorry, but what can I do?" " l questioned the witness..." " Silence." "I called you here to tell you my career is over." "But so is yours, I'm certain!" "All right, Chief, what can we do?" "We'll see." "With your permission." " l'm a bitworried about this." " Me too, but before thinking the worst, look into Tumminello's private life." "He doesn't look like a criminal." "I know, but that means nothing, we know that from experience." "All right, I'll find out as much as I can." "Yeah, thanks." "Come in." " Sir." " GiusŽ." "Mimi, what's with the long face?" "I can't stop being annoyed about that bastard Ragonese." "There's worse. I went to the Chief who told me we're wrecking his career with this Nicotra business and Mongibello wants to raise it in Parliament." "What's he after?" "What's he after?" "The transfer of the Chief and retirement for me." "You know what that means?" "You finally piss off." "Yes, undoubtedly, but above all it means a thousand points to the Mafioso power of the Cuffaros." "If that happens, I'll resign." "What's the point in resigning?" "You have to write a report for the Chief with the facts, from when you arrived at the supermarket till I got there." "Facts only, no comments." "What has our country become?" "Mimi, this is a country where a Minister, and not in the '60s, but recently, said you have to live with the Mafia." "And I'm worried, not about my career, which I don't give a damn about, I'm worried about my country, okay?" "Good." "Sir, are you not eating?" "No, I suddenly lost my appetite." "How come?" "How come?" "Because I'm thinking about things." "Thinking's the worst enemy of the stomach, and, if you don't me mind me saying so, of the dick." "You're right, but you can't always control your thoughts." "I'm sorry, this all looked wonderful." " Will I take it away?" " Thank you." " Sir, you want a coffee?" " No, thank you." "Well?" "From what I hear, Tumminello is a solid guy." "He lost his firstjob at the age of 30 and soon found thisjob as a security guard." "Nothing aboutwomen or other vices, he's all home and work." "What do you think?" "It's not looking good, sir." "This poor fellow was in the wrong place at the wrong time." "He goes past the supermarket on his bike, sees someone at that time of night trying to open one of the doors..." "But isn't concerned because he recognises him." "It's someone from the company that owns the supermarket." "Exactly." "He continues his rounds, finishes his shift and goes home." "The next morning when his wife answers the phone to the robber, the poor fellow thinks it really is a call from work." "And he doesn't know about the robbery." "Exactly." "He leaves the house, meets the robber..." "Poor guy." "So if things went the way we think this robbery has led to a murder and a suicide." " No, two murders." " The manager?" "I don't know, sir, there's something not right." "ltwasn't even 100,000 euros taken from the supermarket." "You don't kill two people for 100,000 euros." "Not if itwas a normal supermarket robbery." "But this was a robbery at the Cuffaros' supermarket, and the Cuffaros don't muck about." "Catch you, you're dead." "That's true." "Listen..." "is the supermarket still closed?" "Until the day aftertomorrow." "No-one's been in since Nicotra died?" "No, nobody." "Tommaseo sealed it off when I asked him." "And who's got Nicotra's keys?" "I don't know." "They're probably in a bag with his clothes at the morgue." "Go and get everything that's there, his clothes as well." "All right, sir." "Look at this shirt." "Do you remember what colour Nicotra's shirt was when we questioned him?" " l think itwas dark blue." " Well done, and this is grey." "Which means it's not like they want us to think, that Nicotra was upset at being questioned." "No, Mr Nicotra had time to go home, change his shirt and go back." "Then he must have received a phone call or they knocked on the door, and he let his killers in." "Probably." "We need to go and have a look at his office." "We'll need to ask the Prosecutor." "Who, Tommaseo?" "Why?" "He'll never give us a warrant with whatwe've got." " You want to come with me tonight?" " To the supermarket?" "Where else?" "Out dancing?" "Listen..." "go to Nicotra's house and see if these are for the house or the main door, so we won't waste time in front of the supermarket." "Sir... ..think carefully about this." "If they find out we went in without a warrant..." " You worried the Chief..." " No, no... I don't care about the Chief." "I'm worried about Mongibello." "He's capable of saying we went in to plant evidence." "You're right." "So we have to make sure nobody knows whatwe're up to tonight." " Sir?" "Yeah?" " Can I ask you something?" " What?" "What are we looking for in the office?" " Nothing." " So what are we doing here?" " l want to see the office again." " You've seen it already." " Yes, but with different eyes." " What do you mean?" "The first time I came here, the office was a robbery scene and I looked at it like a place that had been robbed." "The second time, when I came back, itwas the scene of a suicide, and that's how I looked at it." "But I've never seen it as the scene of a murder, see?" "Yes." " That's it." " Let's go." "Fazio, take everything that's in here and put it on the desk." " ls that the lot?" " No." " No mobile phone?" " No." "Strange." "He had it in his hand when I met him here the first time." " Not in the drawers?" " No." "The killers took it." "Or he left it at home before coming back here." "We'll have to go to Nicotra's house." "Put everything back in." "What's this?" "An MP3 player." "What's that?" "." "It's for listening to music." "We'll take this as well." "Come on." " What's this?" " Does it notwork?" "I tried it before and it opened fine." "That's it." "After you." " Thank you." "There's a keyboard and a mouse, but where's the computer, sir?" "Yeah." "No!" "What's up?" "What is it?" " They forced it, they broke in..." "And grabbed the computer." "And they must have done it recently because I tried the key about 8, coming here from the station." "Maybe they broke in while we were at the supermarket, and maybe..." "They're at the supermarket, looking forthe other computer, because they don't know we've got it." " Will we go and get them?" " Of course!" "Hurry up." "Look, sir." "I'm sure I put them back up when we came out." " That means only one thing." " There's someone inside." " Yeah." "Are you armed?" " No." "Let's make a pact." " l'll go in and you stay here." " Why?" "Because you're unarmed, sir." "Fazio, mind your own fucking business!" "Follow me." "They were looking for the computer." " Catarella?" " Yes, sir." " Did Fazio give you a computer?" " He did, sir." "What have I to do with the aforementioned?" "Open it, look at everything that's on it, and then give me a summary, okay?" "What is it?" "." "You look worried." "I don't understand, sir, what have I to give you?" "What?" "You said look at the computer and give you a flummery." "A summary!" "Tell me what's on it." "Mother of God, you gave me a fright." "Aflummery's what's on the computer?" " Exactly." " The flummery." "Oh...and then listen to what's on this..." "And do another flummery." " Good man, another flummery." " Thank you, sir." "All right?" " Don'tworry." " Two flummeries." " Two flummeries." " Two flummeries." " Thank you." "I'll do it." "The flummery is what's on the computer." "You're small, you're a flummerette." "But I'll do it." "Right, here we go." "Sorry about the door, sir, it slipped." "What is it, CatarŽ?" "The gentleman from the other day is here because he wants to speak to you in person personally." "Who?" "Did he say his name?" "Of course, sir, Giovanni Strangio." "Giovanni Strangio?" "You sure?" "Giovanni Strangio." "Show him in, and tell Fazio to come to my office." "Right away, sir." "Inspector Fazio." "Hello." "Take a seat." "I've come... I've come to report a murder." "A murder?" "Whose?" "My girlfriend's." "Her name was Mariangela Carlesimo." "Obviously, itwasn't me who killed her. I only found her dead..." "Hang on a moment." "Don't tell me anything else." "Afterwhat happened the other day, I'm not the most suitable person to take your statement." "Have you spoken with a lawyer?" "He was the first person I called when I found the body." "The second will have been yourfather." "Naturally." "But the lawyer couldn't come with me because he was busy in court." "What's he doing?" "Watch out!" "Fuck!" " Up, up, up!" " l was going slowly." " He throw himself in front..." " We saw, Galluzzo." " He doesn't seem too bad, sir." " No, he was almost stopped." " But let's take him to AE." " Yes." "Come on, behave yourself!" "AE, go on." " Lean on me." " Galluzzo, move the car." "Show us the way." "Have I to go first?" "Yes." "I don't feel up to it, Commissioner." "Tell me this." "How come when you found the body, instead of calling us, you came in person to the station?" "My first instinctwas to get as far away from here as possible." "All right, stay here." "Galluzzo, stay here with him." "Fazio, come with me." "Where is she?" " Who?" " The body." "There." "Sir, why are you not questioning Strangio?" " ltwould be waste of time." " ln what sense?" "In the sense that as soon as the Chief hears what happened, he'll take me off the case and I have to say this time he'd be right." "is that the only reason?" "If you know something, why do you ask me?" "You're worried they're setting a trap for you?" "In a sense." "Do I have a reason to dislike Strangio?" "If thatwere to come out, itwould invalidate the investigation." "Good morning, sir." " Good morning, Commissioner." "Where's the victim?" " Inside." "Awoman, very young, very beautiful." " How did you find her?" " Naked." " Was she raped?" " Probably." " Fazio, go with him." "When he questions Strangio, call me." " Yes." "Tell me how you discovered the murder." "This morning, when I got here from Punta RaisiAirport..." " Where had you arrived from?" " Rome." "Whatwere you doing in Rome?" " l was there forwork." " Where do you work?" "I work at HP3, we make satellite navigators." "I'm the company's rep here in Sicily." "Once a month the regional reps meet in Rome for a day." "So you were in Rome all day yesterday?" "Yes." "What time did you leave Rome?" "At 7 in the morning." "I landed at Palermo at 9." "I picked up my car that I'd left at the car park and I came to Vigata right away." "When I got to the office, I called her but she didn't answer." "I thought she was asleep, sometimes she'd take a sleeping pill." "I opened the door..." "..and then... I saw a terrible sight..." "..on the floor." "I took a step... ..and that's all." "Doctor?" "Doctor!" "Good morning." "Driving licence, please." "I'll give you it, so long as you insert it you know where!" " Doctor, can you tell me something about the girl?" " l knew it." "I knew that's why you were here." "Right, I'll tell you all at once so that you stop breaking my balls!" "All right." " Listen carefully, I'm not repeating it." "47 stab wounds, the first of which, to thejugular, was fatal." " But..." " No, don't speak." "Don't say a word." "The crime must have taken place in the arc of time between 5 and 8 in the afternoon." "The girl wasn't raped nor were there signs of any recent sexual activity." "Goodbye and a big kiss." "Doctor, one question, were there any signs of a struggle?" "Struggle?" "What struggle?" "But I told you the first stab wound to the jugularwas fatal!" "The girl went into the office and the killer struck and killed her right away." "Whatwas she doing naked in the office?" "How do I know?" "That's yourfuckingjob." "What kind of knife did the killer use?" "Knife?" "You couldn't call it a knife." "Itwas something very thin and very sharp, I don't know, a razor or a carpet knife." "But I can't be sure because Forensics haven't found it yet." "All right." "Thank you, Doctor." " Yes." "Ah, Montalbano, Montalbano... I almost forgot." "The girl was pregnant." " Pregnant?" " Yes, two months." "Hello?" "Sir, it's the prosecutor Dammadeo who wants to speak to you in person personally." "Ah, Tommaseo." "Show him in." " No, sir, he's on the line." "All right, put him through." "Yes, sir." " Hello?" " Good morning, Montalbano." "Good morning, Tommaseo." "Did you see what a beauty she was?" "Alive, she'd have been exceptional." " Yes, sure." "I've got a clear idea of what happened." " Don't tell me." " Yes, old chap." " This is what happened." " Enlighten me, please." "Very simple. I'm certain that Strangio, coming home unexpectedly, caught his girlfriend in flagrante with someone else." "Then, in a fit ofjealousy, he killed her." "Well, it's amazing how you managed in such a short time... lt was sufficient to talk to him." "You were there as well." "Did you see his self-control?" "His chilling lucidity?" "I mean, someone kills your girlfriend and you don't bat an eyelid?" "Excuse me, sir, do we have any proof forwhat you're saying?" "Unfortunately not yet. I had Forensics check his car over as well, but he must have thought of everything." "This coldness is typical of killers, Montalbano." "Have you arrested him?" "No, but how could I have?" "For now he's just a witness." "You put some pressure on him and he'll confess." "Goodbye, Montalbano, go for it." "Of course!" "You can rely on me." "Goodbye." "Tommaseo wants us to lean on Strangio." "Tommaseo wants us to lean on Strangio." "Of course." "He didn't even try to lean on him, he steered clear of it." "Did you see his face when he told him whose son he was?" "As soon as he heard President of the Province, he blanched." "He wants us to cover for him." "Which doesn't mean we shouldn't push on." "But discreetly, we work better thatway." "Maybe I've come up with something, sir." "Yeah?" "Yesterday, when Pasquano, Forensics and the others left, a woman of about 50 came forward who wanted to know what had happened." "I asked her who she was and she said she was the Strangios' maid." "Concettina Vullo she's called." "What did she tell you?" "First, she doesn't know Strangio well, because the boy's never home and eats out all the time." "All she said was his character is really variable." "Meaning?" "That he'll be fine and then five minutes laterfly into a rage." "Had she witnessed a scene between the couple?" "No." " What did she say about the girl?" " That she was a good girl." "So she didn't give you anything substantial?" "No, not really." "But maybe she told me one interesting thing." "Sometime the lady would make the bed herself sometimes." "Go on." "Every time Strangio left town, the maid would find the bed remade." "So when Strangio was out of town, the girl had visitors?" "So it seems." " Good morning, sir." " What stage are you atwith the computer?" " l'm just finishing, sir." "And what's on it?" "." "Sir, there are three main things." "The first is correspondence, letters to various companies aboutwhat they had to deliver to the supermarket, the borders, sir." " The orders!" " That's right, sir." "And whether or not the supermarket had received them as requested." "All right, I get it." "The othertwo?" " One had the daily rakings." " Takings." "That's right, sir." "And along with the daily takings rakings, the weekly and monthly..." "All right." "And the third?" "Sales, daily sales, weekly sales, monthly sales..." "All right, I get it." "Anything else?" "Yes, another four files I've still to look at, sir." "Do me a favour." "Find me the phone number forthe main office of the company HP3." " Gotcha." " What?" " What you said." " What have you got?" " Gotcha." " What?" " What you said." " What have you got?" " Why are you getting angry?" " l don't know..." "You asked me to get the number for the main office and had I got it." "No, the main offices of HP3." "Ah, HP3!" "Now I've got you, sir." "When I get the numberfor the main offices of HP3, whatwill I do?" "Put it through to me." "Yes, sir." "Right away." "HP3, main office, all right." "HP3, main office." "4, 5..." "Hello?" "HP3, how can I help you?" "Good morning, this is Commissioner Montalbano." "I'd like to speak to someone from management, please." "Regarding what, sorry?" "I wanted some information about the regional reps' meeting the other day." "I'll put you through to Mr Quagliotti." " Thank you." " l'm putting you through now." "Quagliotti." "What can I do for you, Commissioner?" "." "But I can't give you any confidential information over the phone." "I don't need any confidential information, just, please, the times of the regional reps' meeting the other day." "From 10 to 1 , lunch break, afternoon session from 2 to 5." "5." "Listen, was Giovanni Strangio there in the afternoon?" "He signed in at 2." "Whether he stayed... I understand." "All right." "Thank you very much." " You're welcome." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Come in." "May I?" "Come in." "Sir, I called Tommaseo." "Tomorrow morning I'll go to his office and get a warrant to search Strangio's villa." "Good man." "Listen..." "Pasquano said the girl was killed between 5 and 8." " We need to check the flights." " Done it." "Strangio could have got the flight at 4 from Fiumicino which arrives at Punta Raisi at 5.10." "We know he drives fast, so he could have got to Vigata in time to kill her." "Be the first time Tommaseo's guessed right." "I don't think we're going to get much from Nicotra's computer." "Catarella said it only has info about the supermarket's business." "We should have gone to the house first, then the office." "If the Cuffaros did it thatway, the interesting stuff was at home." "Come in." "Mimi." " Can I talk to you?" " Of course." "Purely by chance, I found out from Fazio something about Nicotra's death." "Namely that it wasn't suicide, but that he was strangled and they made it look like he hung himself." " Had I not told you?" " No." "But you should have told me right away, because you knew how pissed off I was at that bastard of a journalist who'd accused us of causing Nicotra to commit suicide." "Now you know, can you sleep happily?" "Don't try and be funny." "I want you to make an announcement." "About what?" " That Nicotra was killed." "Thatway, I can sue that scumbag Ragonese." "And you'll lose." " Yeah?" " Yes." "Why?" "Because it's notwritten anywhere that he was killed." "But you knew." "Fazio told me Pasquano told you." "He told me, but it's not in his report." "He said the defence might interpret the bruising differently." "It's not up to Pasquano to worry what the defence will say." "I agree, but that's what he did." "What do you want from me?" "Anyway, since you're here, you know how we've got the murder of that poor girl who was stabbed?" " Yes, Strangio the son of the President is involved." " Exactly." "I don't want to deal with it because I'm in a delicate situation." "If you agree, next time I see the Chief I'll ask him to give it to you." " Fazio?" " Yes?" " What's new?" "Awasted morning." "Judge Tommaseo was in a meeting." "So I sat and waited and then he came out after an hourto go to the john, if I can say that, I told him we needed a warrant to search the villa." " Did he give you it?" " Orally." "He didn't have time to write it, but he promised it after lunch." "Excuse me, sir." "There's a Mr Lopollo who wants to speak to you." "Why are you talking from behind the glass?" " l didn'twant to disturb you." " You're not." "Where's this Lopollo?" " Line 1." " Thank you." " You're welcome, sir." " Mr Lopollo, what can I do for you?" " Leopoldo's my name." "Leopoldo..." " Mr Leopoldo, what can I do for you?" " l've found a body." "A body?" "Where?" " ln the country, Borruso." " Good morning." " Good morning, Commissioner." " Mr Leopoldo?" " Yes." " You found the body?" " Yes." " Where is it?" "." " Down there." "Thank you." "Sir, you recognise him too?" "It's Tumminello, the security guard." "I'm sure it's him." "Come in." "May I?" " Come in, Montalbano." " Thank you." "There's no point reminding you that your two investigations, the supermarket robbery and suicide of the manager and the murder of the girlfriend of the son of the President of the Province, are going to face resistance and political interference." "We've seen the first signs." "Mongibello and his parliamentary question." "Now... ..I know that often you do not tell me everything you're up to." "As we Sicilians say, you sing me half the Mass." "But it's in both our interests that you sing me the whole Mass." "We're in the same boat." "We have to row in unison to get away from this whirlpool that could prove fatal to both of us." "Sir, what I can tell you is that Nicotra, the manager, was killed." "Sit down." "Thank you." "Have you got irrefutable evidence to back up that statement?" "Evidence, no, but investigative hypotheses, as many as you like." "What's more we just found the body of a security guard whose only crime was to have passed by the supermarket at the time of the robbery and seen the thieves' faces." " But you don't know who killed him?" " Obviously not." "And when you do, the reaction of the people behind this will destroy us." "Sir, what are you telling me?" "To forget this?" "Go round in circles?" " Tell me about the girl's murder." " Yes." "Tommaseo thinks itwas Giovanni Strangio, her boyfriend." "His lawyer, Manenti, though, says that day, at the time of the murder," "Strangio was in Rome, butwe have to check this alibi." "I don't think he's the killer, but as you know I had a problem with Strangio's son..." "Yes, I know." "I'm sorry, why don't you give the investigation to my deputy, Augello?" "There'd be no point." "You and Augello are the same thing, everyone knows that." "No, the investigation stays with you." "Giving it to anyone else would be an admission of guilt." "You go on, and actwith the loyalty and honesty that you've always shown." " l'll do my best." " l'm sure you will." "But give priority to the inquiry into the girl's murder so we don't open ourselves up to malicious accusations." "And I mean it, Montalbano, keep me informed about everything." "Don'tworry." "With your permission." "Hello, Puccio." " Good morning, Commissioner." " How's things?" "Fine." " Hello?" " Mimi." "Hey." "Listen, I wanted to tell you I went to the Chief." "What did he say?" "That he absolutely does notwant you to investigate the girl's murder." "Why not?" " Maybe it's for the best." " What do you mean?" "Why?" "I'll explain tomorrow." "Listen, another thing, tomorrow when you get in, call Strangio and his lawyer and have them come in at 5pm." "All right." " See you later." "Bye." " Bye." " Sir!" "Sir!" " CatarŽ." " l've finished with the MP3." " ls there something on it?" "." "No, sir, four chats with supermarketworkers, then there's him, the manager, talking with CommissionerAugello, then there's you talking to him, the manager." "CatarŽ, are you saying this contains a recording of Augello questioning Nicotra and then me questioning Nicotra?" " Yes, sir." " Bugger!" " Have I done something wrong?" " CatarŽ, come here." "Very well done, very well done." "Thank you, sir." "He's hugged me twice this week." " Have you got any...earphones?" " No, I don't." "Galluzzo does." "Galluzzo." "Galluzzo?" "He's hugged me twice this week." "Galluzzo?" "Are you listening to music?" " No, sir." " You're listening to music on duty?" "Confiscated." "Temporary and immediate confiscation." " Priscilla." " Yes?" "Can you watch all these DVDs and make a note of where the Right Honourable Mongibello appears." " Right away, sir." " Hello, Niccolo'." "The trusty Priscilla." "More beautiful every day." "Commissioner Montalbano, you're too kind." "What is it, heartbreaker?" " We can help each other out." " Let's hear it." "You heard Mongibello wants to raise a question in Parliament about the Nicotra suicide?" "Yes, I heard." "I also heard that lackey Ragonese on Televigata." "They want to blame you forthe suicide." "But in reality they want to screw you and the Chief." "As usual, you're right." " What are you going to do?" "The Chief, I don't know." "What I'm going to do is give you this." "What's on this?" "Everything MimiAugello and then me said to Nicotra." "Bugger!" "I might be able to get this ready for the news at 1 ." "Let's get a move on, then." "I'll call Priscilla." "Priscilla!" " He's in charge in here now." " Priscilla!" " There's a transcription to do." "All right." "The Chief wants to cover his arse and send us forward." "He said we're in the same boat." "I think he can'twait to give us a shove into the sea for the sharks." "Did you call Strangio and his lawyer?" "Yes, but the lawyer said he can't come." "Does that not seem strange?" "Very." "But he didn't attend his client's interview with Tommaseo either." "Really?" " lt has been stated..." " Listen to this... ..that Commissioner Montalbano and his deputy subjected Mr Nicotra to psychological torture, butwe are able to reveal what really happened through the recordings of the questioning." "Sir." "Sit down." "You want something to eat?" " No, thank you." " You find anything at the villa?" "As regards Strangio, hardly anything." "Afew business letters and shit like that." "In the girl's computer, though, I checked her mail and found she wrote a lot to a friend of hers, one Amalasunta Gambardella, it shouldn't be hard to figure out who she is." "Find her." "Once we've spoken with Strangio, we can decide what to do." "Did you see Zito's report?" "Yes, sir, and just as well." "At leastwe got something from the supermarket." "Butwe need to keep going or this will bury us for good." "Why do you think Nicotra recorded his conversations?" "Maybe to show the Cuffaros he spoke to us in a certain way, to look good." "Then, at a certain point, Mimi's question about the lack of damage alarmed him and he thought we were going to catch him out and so he asked for a lawyer." "But there's something that doesn't add up." "He call us at 8, didn't he?" "Opening time forthe supermarket." "But as manager, he got to the office first." "He didn't notice anything?" "No, I think before he called us to report the robbery, he called someone else." "There's a call to "someone I don't know", Catarella wrote." "It might be the call before he called us." " Can we hear it?" "." " Of course." "Zito has the recorder, but he said he'd get us a copy." "I see." "Right, Mr Strangio, can you tell us what you did in Rome afterthe meeting of HP3 reps?" "I went to the hotel for a moment and then to dinner." "Do you normally have dinner at 5?" "I see you've checked." "I went walking around Rome." "Mr Strangio, I have to ask you to think about your last answer." " Would you like to change it?" " No, why should I?" "Because Augello here called the hotel." "As you see and as you said, we checked all about your stay in Rome." "Mimi, tell him what they said." ""The client left the hotel in the afternoon, having paid his bill."" "I wanted to try not to involve..." "Yes, I went to the hotel, paid the bill, I had them call a taxi and went to see a friend." "I spent the evening and night with her." "is she a long-term lover?" "Yes." "For more than two years... with a break of two months, the first period I lived with Mariangela." " Did your girlfriend know?" " No." "I want you to write the name, address and phone number of the girl." "Thank you." "Mimi...call the young lady and see if she can confirm Mr Strangio's alibi." "Mr Strangio, were you in love with your girl?" "I liked her." "The attraction had died between us." "Affection, yes, a lot of affection." "Itwas like a..." "like a wind that suddenly drops." "That's what itwas like." "So we decided to go our separate ways." "Why did you keep living together?" "You weren't officially tied." "A bit out of laziness, maybe." "I believe... it's my belief that recently Mariangela, feeling herself emotionally free, had found, what can I say, a new interest." "What makes you believe that?" "." "A change in her mood." "She'd gone back to being happier, more joyous." "She was two months' pregnant." "Yeah?" "I didn't know." "I wonder if I was the father." "Do you have any idea who Mariangela's new love might be?" "No, absolutely no idea." "When you arrived from Punta Raisi and opened the door, were there any signs of forced entry?" "No." "The door was locked." "And you confirm that you came straight here?" "Yes. I landed at Punta Raisi at 9, at 10.30 I was in Vigata and I came here at 11." "Excuse me." "Hello." "What?" "I see." "All right." "I've just been told Judge Tommaseo wants to see you tomorrow at the courthouse at 9.30 even though it's Sunday." "Go with your lawyer." "That's all for now." "Fazio, show the gentleman out." "Yes." "Excuse me, sir, there's something I'd like to ask you." "Yes?" "When I found Mariangela, she was naked." "Did you not find any clothes in the office?" "No." "It's strange." "Usually, Mariangela would have a shower and wander about in her bathrobe, a white bathrobe." "You didn't find it?" "No, it wasn't in the office." "Come in, Commissioner, please." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "What an honour." "You got here just as I was preparing dinner...it's nearly ready." "Excuse me, ma'am, but how did you know I'm a Commissioner?" "I saw you on TV." "Otherwise, what are you thinking?" "That I'd invite a stranger up here just because he waved at me?" " Of course not." " Come through." "What were you making?" "Pasta with fresh sardines. I love it." " Please, have a seat." " What a lovely smell." "Thank you." "My husband." "Nicola his name was." "He was such a good man, Commissioner." "The Lord called him five years ago." "And since then I don't know what to do with myself." "And I spend the days out on the balcony." "The sun's good for my legs, you know." "Listen, ma'am, on the morning of the 6th, were you on the balcony?" "The 6th..." "Wednesday... cream pastry day." "I'm notwith you." "I've got a sweet tooth." "Every Wednesday I get a cream pastry from my neighbour." "One on Wednesday and one on Sunday." "So on Wednesday about 10.30, you'd have seen Strangio arrive...?" "Yes, I saw him." "What did he do?" "Came in his car, opened the garage with the key..." "No, he didn't put the car in the garage." "He stopped in front of it, but didn't get out." "He sat there for a while and then he left again." "Are you sure about that?" "I'd swear to it, Commissioner." "I can see well even in the dark." "Listen, speaking of seeing well, these last few months had you noticed anything strange around the villa, I don't know, cars coming and going you hadn't seen before...?" "Commissioner, I don'twant to be disrespectful to that poor girl who was killed, but for three or four months, there was a man who, when Strangio was away, came to see her at night." "What he did was pull up at the garage, get out, open it..." "He had the garage keys?" "He put the car in." "I saw him cross the garden and go into the house." "Were you able to get a look at his face?" "Never, Commissioner." "Always from behind." "The only thing I can tell you is that he wasn't a young man, but he must have been at least 50." "Itwas the way he walked." "And these visits took place when Strangio was away?" "Yes, exactly, Commissioner." "My name is Amalasunta Gambardella and if you hadn't looked for me, I'd have come in." "You're Mariangela Carlesimo's best friend?" "I think so." "When did you meet?" "We went to primary school together and we've been friends ever since." "Do you know how Giovanni and Mariangela met?" "." "Of course." "He was introduced to her by his father, Michele Strangio, the President of the Province." "Mr Strangio taught maths at Mariangela's secondary school, he was her teacher." " l understand." " l don't think you do." "Meaning?" "She nevertold me anything, but at school the story was that the teacher had a weakness forthe pretty students." "And Mariangela, I can assure you, was pretty." "So you're telling me that Mr Strangio and Mariangela had a relationship?" "What I don't get is why he introduced his son to his lover." "My impression is he wanted to "park" herwith Giovanni." "See, Mariangela had lots of qualities, but she was weak, she was very biddable, let's say." "Do you think Mariangela and Giovanni loved each other at the start maybe?" "Maybe." "Maybe at first Giovanni convinced herself she loved him for a while." "But Giovanni is nothing compared to his father." "But then why would he be?" "He's not his son." "He's not his son?" "He was adopted at the age of five." "The teacher's wife, who couldn't have children, died four year later." "And if Giovanni grew up a bit strange, a bit off his head, it's his father's fault for the way he treated him." "He wanted him to be worthy of him at all costs." "I'm sorry, did Mariangela tell you she was pregnant?" "." "Yes." "And Giovanni was the father?" "I don't know if..." "But you know his name?" "Can you tell me?" "Commissioner, I'm a law student and I know what I've said so far isn't criminally relevant." "If I tell you the name, the situation will be completely different." "You're studying law, so you know if a judge asks you this question, you have to answer." "You can't refuse or you'll be in trouble." "I know." "But despite that, you don't want to tell me." "And so I have to assume you won't because the man is someone important." "Let's do this. I'll find evidence and then I'll say the name to you." "At that point, you tell me yes or no." "But you'll also say it in court." "Agreed?" "Agreed." "Mr Strangio?" "I'm Commissioner Montalbano." "Excuse me." "You like the opera as well?" "No, no... I wanted to see you so you didn't find out from tomorrow's papers." "We're going to charge your son over the death of Mariangela Carlesimo." "Strange." "Manenti, the lawyer, told me there was proof, that Giovanni's arrestwas based only on investigative theories." "No, we have some proof." "At the moment it's being examined by my colleagues from Forensics in Montelusa." "Can you tell me what this proof is?" "Awhite bathrobe, sir." "We found it in the garage of the villa." "The killer probably left it there, planning to get rid of it later." "It might be the bathrobe the victim was wearing when she was killed." "Fine." "May I go?" "Of course." "Come in, the door's open." "Here we are." "I went to the station and Giuseppe told me what happened." " l thought I'd come." " You did well." "Come in." " Do you want anything?" " No, thanks, I've had." "Sit down." "Don't start." "No, sir, it's not personal details." "May I?" "Yes." "The President of the Province on the morning of the 5th had a meeting till 1 ." "He had lunch and went to a second meeting until 5." "Then he said he was going home to pack because he was going to Naples for another meeting, a political one." "We need to check." "I did, sir." "He took a plane from Punta Raisi at 9." "Well done." "So he'd have had time to kill Mariangela." "Yes, we need to check the hotel." "Hotel Vulcano. I checked." "Well done." "Did you check the Rome-Naples flight Giovanni took tojoin his father?" "Yes, sir, but he didn't take any flight apparently." "Instead it seems he hired a car, a fast one, that he left the next morning at Fiumicino airport." "His friend in Rome wasn't telling the truth." "And anyway it couldn't have been Giovanni who killed the girl." "Listen to me now." "I think it might have gone like this... the teacher and Mariangela get together again." "The girl gets pregnant and doesn't want to get rid of the child." "Maybe she asks him to marry her, otherwise there'll be a scandal, we don't know." "The teacher, before going to Naples, goes to see her, maybe to try and convince her to have an abortion." "Aviolent argument ensues, and at a certain point he loses his temper, takes the knife that's lying there and kills her." "Then he takes the bathrobe, and rushes to Palermo airport to get the plane at 9." "But he has time to call his son and tell him to join him at the Hotel Vulcano in Naples." "Let's see if I've got it." "At the Hotel Vulcano, when he arrives from Rome, Giovanni finds his father who tells him what happened and persuades him to help him." "And he says that if anything goes wrong, he'll have the best lawyers available." "He's unable to refuse his adoptive father and agrees." "Well done, you got there." "But the business of the bathrobe, why take itwith him?" "I think Strangio hurt himself fighting with the girl." "His DNA might be on the bathrobe." "That's plausible, but her blood could have gone on Strangio's shirt or shoes or suit." "And he changed into the clothes he'd packed for Naples." " Right." " There's something I don't get." "If he wanted to help his father, why did he tell us about the bathrobe?" "Strangio Senior didn't have time to get rid of the bathrobe." "He left it in the boot of his car and he told his son to take it and get rid of itwhen he got to Palermo." "The boy took it, but didn't get rid of it." "Why not?" "Because for maybe the first time in his life he understands he's risking too much obeying his father." "That bathrobe, if it comes to it, might save him." "And in fact when he realises that there is no sign of all the lawyers Dad had promised him, he tells us about the bathrobe." "And now be quiet a minute till I play you this." "This is a copy of the recording Zito gave me." "Zito also showed me how to use this, so if it doesn'twork, blame him." "Hello, it's Guido." "I told you not to use this number." "I'm sorry, but it's an emergency." "Someone stole the supermarket takings..." " Go on." " Excuse me, but..." " Speak, man!" " What am I meant to do?" " You're asking me?" " Who else, if not you?" "Do what you think is right." " Can I call the police?" " Do what you think is right, I said." "Contrary to what we thought, Nicotra wasn't in with the robbers." "He'd understood it was a set-up to screw him with the Cuffaros." "He wanted to be arrested, itwas his only hope." "And we didn't understand that." "In fact, letting him go, we placed him in the hands of his killers." "You were right, Fazio." "Aboutwhat?" "Two murders for a take of less than 100,000 euros is a bit much." "The Cuffaros were being guided by a more subtle mind." "We have to understand what Nicotra had done to deserve all this." "It must have been something recent." " l'll try, sir." "All right." "A subtle mind... to guide the Cuffaros this subtle mind..." "..also has to be... ..powerful." "We mustn't forget the experience of autonomy we promoted, because it risks being burned on the altar of the national logic that is killing Sicily." "That logic is dictated by powerful forces that have their home, heart and head in Rome." " That's enough." "An autonomous policy..." "Mimi?" " lt's him." " Fazio?" "It's him, there's no doubt." "Excuse me, him who?" "You didn't recognise him?" "The man Nicotra called after the robbery." "The same man who handed him over to the Cuffaros." "Bugger!" "The Right Honourable Mongibello?" "May I?" " We won, Montalbano." " ln what sense?" "The Right Honourable Mongibello hasjust been to see me." "He apologises profoundly, he'd been misinformed, and he withdraws everything he said about us." "No more questions in Parliament." "Rather, he'll do all he can in the media to clear our names." "Good." "But there's another battle beginning with him." "This is an anonymous letter." "It's the transcript of a phone call between Nicotra and a person unknown." "Do you have any idea who might have sent it?" "Probably the same person who sent the recorderto Retelibera." "What does this have to do with the Right Honourable Mongibello?" "It all begins with the supermarket robbery." "The thief used a copy of the keys which were deposited with the board of the company and the chairman is the Right Honourable Mongibello." "Yes?" "I'll be right there." "The President of the Province Michele Strangio... ..has killed himself." "The maid found him this morning." "He left a letter clearing his son." "Itwas him who killed that girl." "If he'd given himself up, the scandal would have been too much for him so he preferred..." "Did you find out anything about Nicotra?" "Yes, he was kidnapped." "Kidnapped?" "Four months ago forthree days, over and done with." "Neither us northe Carabinieri were told about it." "You know why?" "Because to free him the Cuffaros handed over a substantial sum." "Excuse me, butwho would think of kidnapping one of the Cuffaros' men?" "At first they thought of the Sinagras but they proved their innocence." "And then why did the Cuffaros pay a ransom for a guy who, at the end of the day, was just a supermarket manager?" "Probably because he wasn'tjust a supermarket manager." "What did this Nicotra do before?" "He was the accountant for a number of companies the Cuffaros own." "Ah, the account... so he might have been the accountant for all the Cuffaros' companies?" "I thought of that too." "It's a fairly plausible notion." "It's the only possible one." "They paid because they couldn't do without someone as important as him who knew all their secrets." "If he was so important, why kill him?" "And why all that show at the supermarket?" "Obviously something happened that made them lose trust in him." "Hello?" "Hello!" "Hello, it's Guido." "I told you not to use this number." "I'm sorry, but it's an emergency." "Someone stole the supermarket takings..." " Go on." " Excuse me, but..." " Speak, man!" " What am I meant...?" " You know what's happening?" " Yes." "Good man." "So will we make an agreement?" "I'll make you a reasonable offer." "Two million." " But..." " No ifs and buts." "Two million." "That seems more than reasonable to me." "Tomorrow come to Mannera at 5 and come on your own." "If I notice any of your little Cuffaro buddies, I'm out of there and I'll send everything to Retelibera." "All right?" "You need to leave the money nearthe fence." "And the recording?" " l'll send it to you." "How can I be sure...?" "You can't." "You have to trust me." "Don't send me money that's marked or you're a dead man, okay?" "Yes." "Excuse me, who are you?" "What are you doing in my office?" "Luciano Sponses, Deputy Assistant Commissionerwith Antiterrorism." "I was told to wait here." "Have a seat." "HQ had mentioned it." "Can we drop the formalities?" "Of course. I was expecting the Drugs Squad, though, notAntiterrorism." "Well, the Cuffaros do business with Islamic terrorists as well." "Arms sales, availability of strategic sites, that kind of thing." "When Nicotra found out, he got a fright." "You found out somehow and arranged the fake kidnap." "Exactly." "You spoke to Nicotra for those four days and somehow convinced him to collaborate." "He said yes, but asked for some time because he had to show you some important documents." "You freed him and to make it all a bit more believable you asked the Cuffaros for a ransom." "But from that point on the Cuffaros didn't trust Nicotra and they killed him as soon as they could with that supermarket set-up." "I'd heard you were good, but not this good." "But now you've got nothing, because Nicotra is dead and with him all the Cuffaros' secrets." "ltwasn't easy dealing with Nicotra." "He was difficult, he was scared of everything." "I'm in possession of a recording of a phone call where Nicotra tells someone about the faked robbery, as though he were the most important person to be told about it." "This person is the Cuffaros' political cover." "Mongibello." "Exactly, but he dumps him, handing him over to die, and showing that he is behind the Cuffaros." "Yeah, yourthinking holds up, but... ..it's only thinking." "It'll be difficult to demonstrate" "Mongibello's involvement in court, based on a telephone call in which, I imagine, the name Cuffaro is never mentioned." "No, it's not, but there's more." "This evening, a blackmailer called Mongibello, offering an exchange." "The recording of the phone call fortwo million euros." "I'm offering you a golden opportunity, because if Mongibello agreed to pay it's an implicit admission of guilt as is the fact he didn't report the blackmail." "Think about it." "We can catch him in flagrante... I can't decide this on my own." "As soon as I know something, I'll be in touch." "Don'twaste time, the meeting's at 5." "All right." "Bye." " Bye." "May I?" " Hello." "Have a seat." " Thank you." "I got here as soon as I could." "On you go." "The judge in charge of the inquiry gave me some good advice... ..forget that he and I had ever discussed it." "That's good advice?" "He didn't say not to carry out the operation." "He just said he doesn'twant to authorise it." "But if we inform him once it's all over, he'll bearthat in mind and won't ask any embarrassing questions." "And we'll say we got a tip-off the Right Honourable was being got at by persons unknown." "Clear?" "Absolutely." "One more thing, the worst for you." "You won't be working on the op." "I'm not working on the op." "Dear Sponses, I might not be working on the op, but I'll be going to Mannera anyway." "What the fuck are you doing here?" " ls he dead?" " Yes." "They must have used a sniper's rifle." "Yeah, but I can't figure out where they shot from." "Look back there!" "Look behind, get a move on!" "The Cuffaros decided he'd become the weakest link, or he'd become a traitor and they decided to kill him." "They don't have the recording." "They don't give a shit." "Nobody mentions their name." "Whatwill you do now?" "We'll have to tell the Ministry and hope the prosecutor doesn't let himself be intimidated." "Well, as far as I know, dead men don't have parliamentary immunity." "And I think the prosecutor mightwant to know why Mongibello was going about with two million euros." "False." " False?" " Yes." "I think Mongibello got them from the Cuffaros." "He didn't even know itwas wastepaper." "I think this time the prosecutor will really shake up the Cuffaros and we'll give him a big hand.q"