"The impulse had become irresistible." "There was only one answer to the fury that tortured him." "And so he committed his first act of murder." "He had broken the deepest taboo and felt not guilt, not anxiety or fear but freedom." "Every human obstacle, every humiliation which stood in his way could be swept aside by this simple act of annihilation:" "murder." "Thanks, John." "Take care of everything while I'm gone." "Thanks." "Flight 840 to Rome." "See you at the check-in." "The flight arriving from Toronto will be delayed." "Last call for Flight 840 to Rome, boarding at gate eight." "Mr Peter Neal, leaving for Rome, to the information desk, please." "Mr Peter Neal to the information desk, please." "I'm Peter Neal." "You called me?" "Yes, there's a call for you." "You can use that phone." "Thank you." "Hello?" "Yes, yes." "Listen, Jane..." "Listen..." "Yes." "I haven't called you for two months because..." "Yes." "Jane, calm down." "Calm down, please." "I need to hang up." "My flight's been called." "I've got to go." "Tomorrow." "Yes, tomorrow." "I'll call you tomorrow." "OK." "Bye." " Sorry." " That's all right." "ROME" "THRILLER OF THE YEAR..." "OR MAYBE THE DECADE" " How many were there?" " One." " Is this the one, madam?" " No, darker." " What's in your bag?" " Nothing." " Come with me." " Let me go." "I said come with me, please." " Let go!" " Give me the bag." " Can I see your receipt?" " I was on my way to pay." "You said you didn't have anything." "What's going on?" "What do you want from me?" "Can you come to my office?" " This way, please." " Get your hands off me." "Elsa Manni, 12 convictions for shoplifting." " You should have learned by now." " We can make a deal." "It's only a book." "What's it to you?" "I'll give you my address." "When you've finished you can come and see me." "Come on, let's make peace." "You're not gay, are you?" "Where do you live?" "Here in Rome." "Via delle Camene, number 14." "Via delle Camene." "OK." "Thanks." "The captain and his team welcome you aboard." "We have just left JFK airport in New York for Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, and are scheduled to land in six hours." "Hey, gorgeous!" "Give me a kiss!" "How are you?" "My washing machine's broken." " Are you OK?" " Yes, fine." "Fine, thanks." "It's time to die." "Time to die." "Time to die." "Did everybody get all the material?" " OK..." " Am I too late?" "Did you get the material?" "Peter!" "Peter!" " Peter!" " Tilde!" "Hello." "How are you?" "You look prettier every time I see you." "Must be because you write nice things about me." "It usually takes me about a month to do research and then about three months to do the first draft." " Hi!" " Hi, Tilde!" "And then two months for revisions." "Three books in a row means working non-stop for two years." ""Tenebrae" is a sexist novel." "Why do you despise women so much?" "Sexist?" "No, I don't think it's sexist." "Your women are victims and your men, with all their bullshit, are heroes." " If this isn't sexism..." " Tilde, what's the matter with you?" "You've known me for ten years, since you were studying in New York." " You know very well that I..." " I'm talking about your work." "Well, let's see." "Would it help if I told you that I've fought for equal rights?" "Well done." "Now explain your books." "Do you believe what you write or does your publisher make you tell sexist stories to sell more copies?" "I've had an idea." "I'd like to set up a private interview between you and Peter." "That way he can get to grips with your magazine's politics." "He's just got here, so..." " What do you think?" " OK." " Good." "I think it's time..." " Yes." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "We've got to go, unfortunately." "You're welcome to drink the bar dry." "Thank you for your attention and interest." "Call me tomorrow and we'll set up a meeting." "Goodbye." "Bye, everyone." " My mother's waiting for you to call." " I will." "I want to see her." " You know you're getting mean?" " Good." "Those lesbians want your balls because they don't have their own." " What's that?" " My hat?" "I bought it here." "Like it?" " Isn't it hot?" " Try it." "No, no." " Doesn't it fall off?" " Fall off?" "If you move quickly doesn't it slip off?" "Look!" " That's a miracle!" " No, it's a hat!" ""Tenebrae" has been the number one bestseller for 12 weeks." " 12?" " Yes!" "That's amazing." "Amazing." " Am I a good agent?" " Terrific, great, incredible..." "Come on, tell something nice about me!" "Where's my secretary?" "Anne's really something." "She found you an amazing house in six days." " She promised to come." " She'll be here soon." "I didn't want the press to see you with an entourage." "They love your books but hate success." "That's interesting." "Very interesting." "Bullmer, there was a guy in the corner." "He was..." "Well, he didn't actually say a word." " The tall thin guy?" " Yeah, that's him." "Christiano Berti." "He's a book critic on TV." "He is a big fan of yours, and we've got an interview on Thursday." "Gianni!" " Hey, Anne." " Peter." " How are you?" " Fine." "You?" "Really well." " Peter, this is Gianni." " Gianni, this is Peter Neal." " Pleased to meet you." " How are you?" "This young genius will have my job one day." "For now he'll be looking after you during your stay." "How do you pay him?" "In promises?" "See you tonight, all right?" "I've bought you a present." "It's in my bag." " Oh, Peter!" " Just a little thing." "Oh, my God!" "Who could have done this?" "Come in." "I'll take that." " Mr Neal?" " Yes, that's me." "Welcome." "I'm Chief Inspector Germani from Police Headquarters here in Rome." "This is Inspector Altieri." "We didn't want to disturb you but the door was open." " Right, Inspector?" " Yes, it was open." "Sorry, but a girl was killed five hours ago." "Her name was Elsa Manni." "She was a kleptomaniac." " I wanted to ask if you knew her." " This is my first time in Rome." "She was attacked in a really horrible way." "Her throat, her chest, and she was suffocated." "Her mouth was stuffed with pages from a book, "Tenebrae"." ""Tenebrae"?" "So we thought we'd speak to you." " Shall I get you a drink?" " Just some water, please." "Thanks." " Can I..." " Sure, go ahead." "We were about to leave when you arrived." "I didn't know the girl." "Thank you." "I'd offer you something but you don't drink at work, do you?" "I only drink at work." " Neat Scotch, please." " OK." " Have you just arrived in Rome?" " You mean do I have an alibi?" "Yes." "My plane landed two hours ago." "Can I ask you something?" "If someone's killed with a Smith  Wesson revolver, do you interview Mr Smith and Mr Wesson?" "Thank you." "I've read all your novels except this one." "I started it today." "The first murder is committed with a barber's razor, right?" "Please don't tell me who did it." "Elsa Manni was killed with a razor and suffocated with pages from your book." "We found this on the floor." "It's for you." ""There was only one answer to the fury that tortured him."" " Isn't that a sentence from your book?" " Yes, it is." "I don't want to harass you, believe me, or ruin your stay in Rome, but we'll need your help." " I'd like to keep the letter." " Of course." "I think you'll receive another one soon." "And then another one." "Please let us know if this happens." "Very good." "Excellent whisky." "We'll get out of your way now." "Inspector, give them a card, please." "If anything happens, anything at all, call me on that number." "OK?" "Wait a minute." "There is something." "My bag." "It's in the bedroom, Gianni." "When I left yesterday..." "this morning, it was..." "It certainly wasn't like that." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Mr Neal, can I go and get you anything?" "I don't know what got ruined." "Toothpaste..." "I'll write you a list." "Thanks." " Do you mind if we take this?" " Please do." "Hello?" "Peter Neal speaking." ""Not anxiety or fear but freedom." You wrote these words." "Page 46." ""Freedom to strike again," Peter Neal." "Don't hang up." "We need to talk." "Peter Neal." "You taught me how." "You and me together." "We've only just begun." "Who's with you there?" "I can see a woman." "Is she your girlfriend?" "Maybe she'll be next." "I've got other plans." "You'll like them." "We need to meet." "I could tell you..." "you know, explain about the books." "Oh, yes." "We'll meet." "We'll meet." "We'll meet soon, Peter Neal." " The girl you killed was..." " How do you know?" "Who's with you?" " Well?" " He got away." "I need a male assistant who can run." "You don't." "Who would you have a go at then?" "Massimo, when are you going to take my picture?" "Never." "Hey, he's cute." "He's vulgar and disgusting." "I love you, Tilde." "But no jealous scenes." "You promised, OK?" "He doesn't have anywhere to sleep." "I invited him to ours." " Bloody hell!" " Hey, what's bugging you?" "I thought we'd agreed." "No ties, but you don't have to rub my face in it." "Not your face, honey." "Not tonight." "Give me an hour, then he's out." "See you later." " Hey." " Hi!" "You look like a turkey on Christmas Eve." " How are things?" " If you've got an hour, I'll tell you." "OK." "Oh, God, Bullmer's friends are a real drag." "And that dinner." "If there were Olympics for bores, those guys would win the gold medal." "Time for bed." "I'll see you at ten tomorrow." "Anne, let's have one last drink." "It's been a tough day." "One!" " Are you coming up, darling?" " Get lost." "Come on." "Listen, you little hooker," "I wouldn't come near you if my life depended on it." "You make me sick." "I drank too much." "I feel like throwing up." "If you have to, do it somewhere else." " I feel sick." " Get your pimp to look after you." "You want to know how it went?" "He was terrific!" "Compared with him, sex with you is pathetic." " For a start..." " That's enough!" "Fuck off!" "You hurt me." "One day I'll..." "Turn it down!" "Filthy pervert!" "Tilde?" "Porter's lodge." "Alboretto speaking." "Good morning, Mr Neal." " Everything OK?" " Dad?" " There is a switch." "I'll come up." " Can I have 5,000 lire?" " What?" " I need 5,000." "Turn on the hot water in 22." "The switch is either in the bathroom or under the kitchen sink." "5,000?" "Thank you." " Good morning." "I'm Maria." " Hello." "You sounded different on the phone." "That was my father." "Can I go in your bathroom?" " Of course." " Thank you." "It's not there, is it?" " No, it's over there." " Thank you." "Ah, there it is." "The switch must be in the kitchen." " You wrote "Out Of Dawn"?" " Yes." "It was terrific." " You read it?" " Too right." "Look, it's here." "Interesting." "The bookshop on the corner has all your books in the window." "Really?" "You should go in." "The assistant loves you." "Sounds tempting." "One of these days I'll go." " Good morning." " Good morning." " I'll be off, then." " Bye." "You don't waste any time." " She's just a girl." " I noticed." " She was fixing the water heater." " Your personal plumber." "I guess I must wait two hours for a shower." " Do you know when I woke up?" " No, when did you wake up?" "At five?" "Oh, you poor thing." "Is your pillow too hard?" "I'll get you a feather pillow." "The pillow was too hard." "I'll get you a softer one." "I forgot." "Sorry." " It's on the top floor." " OK." "It's the second time it's broken." "I don't understand why." "The box is behind here." "Let's try and adjust it." " Pass me the small screwdriver." " Here you go." " There." "You bring that." " OK." "What about my typewriter?" " It's coming today." " Good." " When did this come?" " It wasn't there just now." " When?" " A minute ago." ""Sic transit gloria Lesbi."" ""Thus passes the glory of Lesbos."" "What does that mean?" "It means our killer has studied Latin." "I don't know, maybe he's killed again." "Lateral wound, 14cm, going diagonally from the carotid artery to the shoulder blade." "Lacerated edges." "Hi, doc." "It's nice to see you." "I don't like this place, though." "It's cold." "If it was warmer you'd complain about the smell." "What can you tell me?" "It was the same razor that killed another girl six weeks ago." " The wounds are terrible." "Want to see?" " No, I believe you." "The other girl had had sex an hour before she was killed." "With somebody whose blood was A-negative." "It doesn't mean the lover was the killer." "No, but often it's the case." "Golf ball typewriter, complete with correction key, at your service." "Perfect." " Where shall I put it?" " There." "Hello?" "It's Chief Inspector Germani." "Yes, Inspector?" "Who's been killed?" " Mr Bullmer, would you like a drink?" " Yes, please." "You go ahead." "Don't worry about me." " What about you?" " No, thank you." "Thank you, Angelica." " Shall we sit down?" " Yes." "Thanks." "I'd like to spend half an hour with you." " Here?" " No." "In the studio." "I was talking about the programme." "I'd like to do an in-depth interview." "They let me do it about twice a year." "OK." "Of course." "So, "Tenebrae" is about human perversion and its effects on society." "What do you think are the effects of deviant behaviour on our lives?" "Well, first of all the book isn't just about that." " Two of the victims are deviants..." " Hold on." "Who says they're deviants?" "One is gay." "So what?" "I mean, he's portrayed as perfectly happy." "His.." "The killer's motivation is to eliminate corruption." "The killer is insane." "What I mean by that is..." "that the only aberrant behaviour..." "What is aberrant behaviour?" "I was brought up a strict Catholic." " Were you?" " Yes, of course." "But I agree with abortion and divorce." "That makes me aberrant from a strict Catholic standpoint." "I see." "I thought this was an afternoon show." " You really want to get this heavy?" " Well, I guess not." "It's just that I'm really interested myself." "Well, I really appreciate it." "That's a great compliment." "The studio's ready, Christiano." "OK." "Shall we?" " It's down here." " Thank you." "Hey, my hat!" "There he is." "It's starting now." "It will last about half an hour." "Shall we take a stroll?" "Peter is a sensitive man and an interview is a delicate thing." " Let's not disturb him." " Isn't that Yves Montand?" " Yes." " I thought he was taller." "Can I help you?" "Peter has a busy schedule and he's starting a new book." " Are you a relative?" " I'm his agent." "Do you take ten per cent for his conversations with the police?" "Careful, I have feelings like a real human being." "Your client holds the key to this mystery." "These killings are like a tribute to Peter Neal." "How much is ten per cent of that tribute?" "You know what, I read lots of thrillers." "Agatha Christie, Mickey Spillane, Rex Stout, Ed McBain, and I'm a detective." " And you never guess the murderer?" " Never." "Remember, if you have any ideas, call me, OK?" "You deal in fantasy, I deal in real dead bodies." "Goodbye, Chief Inspector." "Goodbye." " How did it go?" " Really well." " I got his autograph." " Whose?" " Yves Montand." " And?" "Could it be somebody I know?" "I wish I'd never written that book." "You don't mean that." " Hi." " Hi." "Mr Bullmer left this for you." "I hope it works." "Well, if that one breaks..." " I'll come with you." " Is that a proposal?" "If you like." " If you need me I'll be at home." " Off you go." "Jane?" "That's Jane." " Jane McKerrow?" " I'll bet anything it was her." "What's the dialling code for New York?" "No, it's impossible." "She's in New York." "She's never more than ten miles from her shrink." "This is Jane McKerrow." "I can't take your call right now." "Please leave a message..." "It was Jane!" "She'd have called you, if only to scream at you." "She must have come to get you back." " Or to apologise." " Apologise for what?" "For ruining your..." "Oh, God." "Nothing." "My bag?" "You think it was Jane?" "I never said anything." "I need to go." "No more..." "Do you think it could have been Jane?" " Bye!" " Bye!" "No." "I told you I don't care." "Do you get it?" "Go to hell!" "Bastard!" "Is anybody home?" "Help!" "Help me!" "Is anybody home?" "Help!" "Oh, God." "RAZOR KILLER:" "TWO MORE VICTIMS" "Oh, God." "Please help me." "There was a dog, it attacked me..." "Dirty little spy!" "No!" "Please!" "What do you want from me?" ""Sorry about the girl." ""I had to eliminate her to continue my work." ""I will kill everybody who disgusts me." ""The perverts and soon the great corruptor himself."" "Me." "You must be careful." "This killer is very well informed." "He knew you were coming." "He wrote to you at your agent's office." "He knew it would be dangerous to bring the letter to your home because the girl, Maria, lived in your building." "Do you need me any more today?" "No." "No, Mr Neal, but I'd like you to stay in your apartment if possible because this last message threatens you personally." "Oh, I finished your book." "You know what?" "I knew by page 30 who the killer was." "That's never happened before!" "I give up." "Looking through your address book for a maniac is crazy." "Why me?" "Why?" "Because I corrupted him, so he says." " Or she." " Or she." "Sure." "Try to eliminate..." "Human perversion." "Christiano Berti, the critic, called "Tenebrae"" "a novel about aberrant behaviour and human perversion." "He seemed obsessed by it." "Gianni, give me that phone book." "B..." "Via del..." "Here!" "EUR." "Christiano Berti lives three blocks from here." "Wait a minute." "This is paranoia." "Maria's body was found in the EUR district." ""Tenebrae" is about human perversion and its effects on society." "Those were his exact words before we did the interview." ""Try to eliminate human perversion."" "Two words." "That's hardly a case against him." " You could tell the Chief Inspector." " How would that help?" ""Writer has an idea."" "They would love that." ""Peter Neal against the razor killer."" "On the other hand if Peter Neal got it right, that would be amazing." "The police are all over the place." "10:15." "They'll be gone soon." "The victim was 14-year-old Maria Alboretto." "What happened to her today between 2:45 and 7:00 remains a mystery." "Meanwhile, the murderer has sent another mystery letter warning that he'll strike again." "He says the next victim will be someone he calls "the great corrupter"." "This news is confirmed by the fact that many politicians and businessmen are leaving the city." "Jane?" "Jane!" "This is Jane McKerrow." "I can't take your call right now." "I last played hide and seek aged six." "Be quiet!" " This is boring." " Investigations are boring." "But if you cut out the boring bits and write the rest you've got a bestseller." "Look out!" "Damn!" "He's in the house." "We've got to get out of here." "I'll go round the back." "Peter!" "It was me." "I killed them." "Peter!" "Quickly." "Get up." "We've got to get out." "He's..." "The killer has an axe." "He must still be in the house." " Come on, quickly." " Oh, my head!" " What happened?" " I don't know." "I heard a noise, then..." "Did you see the killer?" "The light went off." "I can't picture him." " Was he tall, short?" "What was he like?" " I don't know." "I didn't see anything except the axe." "The killer..." "Christiano must have known him." "He said it was him." "He said he'd killed them all." "Then he killed him." "All that blood!" "You've got to tell the police." "This could solve the case." "I didn't see anything." "Just a dead man with his head split open." "You know what I saw?" "My mother putting me on the school bus in Rhode Island." "That's what I saw." "After that knock on the head." "Like in a film." " You should see a doctor." " No need." "I'm just dazed and very confused." "Peter, maybe you..." "Maybe we should go back to New York for a while." "Anne, will you sleep here?" " Keep me company." "I'll make up a bed." " I'll do it." "Of course I'll stay." "Six years and it's the first time we're sleeping in the same house." "Jane was around for four of those six years." " How's your head feeling?" " My head?" "How is my head feeling?" "I didn't expect that question." "I'm embarrassed." "My head?" "I'll pull through." "Peter, in the morning we both forget about this, OK?" "Nothing happened." "Nothing." "Nothing happened." "Peter?" " Thank you." " Would you like coffee, Mr Neal?" "Close the deal, then." "No, thank you." "All right." "Bye." "I am really upset about Christiano." "It's unbelievable." "Unbelievable." "Listen, I came to tell you..." "I'm thinking of leaving Rome for a couple of weeks." "Maybe I'll go to Paris." "You can't let me down now." "We're signing the contract in two days." "Can't you stay until Friday?" "My life is in danger." "No contract in the world is worth that risk." "You're right." "I'll book a suite for you at the Florio, out of town." "Say you're going to New York." "and stay there until you sign." "It's a million-dollar contract, you know." "Just you and I will know where you are." "It's safe." "Do it for me." "Yes?" "Sir Donald Otley is on line one." " Where is he?" " London." "One moment." "What do you say?" "I'll call you this afternoon." "As you wish." "Donald, how are you?" "Hello?" "Hello?" " Where is that old drunkard?" " He said he'll call back later." "Tell him I'm not here." "Everything's all right." "I feel so mean." "Hearing his voice while I'm hiding behind the door, wondering if he knows about us." "No, darling." "No." "It will be over very soon, I promise you." "Jane." " Will I see you for lunch?" " Yes." "Same place?" "Piazza Arduini at one." "I'm not going back to that house." "I can't." "You don't have to, Gianni." "You can wait outside." "The lights went out." "Somebody switched them off." "Not Christiano." "I heard him screaming." "Bloody idiot!" "Stop." "Stop here." "I feel like walking." "See you there later." "OK." "I called you because I want to look around before the magistrate has the seals removed." "Is it the same killer?" "I think so." "But he used an axe with Berti and Maria." "Has he sent you his usual letter?" " No." " He will." "You said that you only met Mr Berti twice." "Yes, at the press conference and the interview." ""Peter Neal, analyses of obsession."" ""Peter Neal, aberrant behaviour, the novels."" " "Peter Neal, personal."" " Personal?" ""Born in Rhode Island." "Graduate of Yale University." ""Practising Catholic." Look." ""Tall." "Piercing gaze." "We looked at each other but I didn't speak."" "Good heavens." "Somebody else who was interested in you." " Can we go outside?" " Sure." " Bless you." " Thank you." "I'm allergic to dust." "What happened to your head?" "It's being done in by this case." "Strange that yours isn't." "One thing's for sure." "The killer and Christiano Berti were both obsessed by your work." "Last time we talked I was a little sarcastic, but we really need your help." "I've been thinking about this business as you asked me to and as I do for my novels, and I've got the feeling that something is missing." "Something doesn't fit." "Somebody who should be alive is dead and somebody who should be dead is alive." "What does that mean?" "In one of his books Conan Doyle wrote," ""When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains," ""however improbable, must be the truth."" " "The Hound Of The Baskervilles"?" " Yes." "The impossible in our case is that this chain of killings doesn't make sense." "In "The Hound Of The Baskervilles" the impossible was a giant ghost dog." "The improbable in this case, as in the book, is similarly strange, unimaginable but possible." "That's what we have to find." "Truth is always possible." " Mr Neal." " I have to go." "I'm a voracious reader of your books, Mr Neal, and I'd like to think you'll write many more books for me to enjoy." "So I guess what I'm asking is selfish." " Could you leave town today?" " Yes, that's what I'm about to do." "Good." "Let me know where you're going." "FOR YOU, JANE" "Thank you." "You've pissed me off." "I've had enough." "I'm saying goodbye." "So you're here, you bastard." "Get off me!" "I'm saying goodbye." "You think you're a bloody superwoman." "Do you know what that means?" "I'm leaving you." "I've had enough." "Bye." "Come on." "Were you hiding?" " Bye." " Bye." "What..." "What's going on?" " Passport?" " Passport?" "Passport." " Passport!" " OK." "The bank's wired money to the Raphael in Paris." "I've booked." "Excellent." "Hello?" " The Chief Inspector." " No." "I'm afraid he's at the airport already." "Yes?" "Is there anything I can..." "All right." "Goodbye." "He wanted to know if you'd left." "He said something happened and he was worried." " Hi." " Hello." "Anne's driving me to the airport." "OK." "I'm going back to that house." "I think it holds the key to everything." "If I can remember and visualise it." " Where are you going?" " Top secret." " Sorry, but if no one knows..." " Sure." "I hope to see you again soon." "I'm really sorry that you had to get caught up in this business." "I haven't enjoyed it, but I'm glad we've met." "I hope to see you again when it's over." " I'll come down with you." " Let's go." "I killed them." "I killed them all." "Christiano..." "But how..." "I killed them all." "He's the murderer." "So..." "So who killed him?" "Hello?" "Anne, I'm sorry." " I wanted to speak to Peter." " He's gone already." "I've done some things..." "It's like there are two Janes inside me and sometimes the other one..." "Where are you, Jane?" "In Rome?" "Yes." "Help me." "I don't want to kill myself." "Where are you?" "I'll come round." "In a little villa on Via Appennini, number 11." "I'll be there in half an hour." "I am so sorry!" "I didn't mean to..." "Please come." "I want to explain..." "Explain why I did those things." " Who are you arresting?" "I'm innocent." " Stay still." "What are you doing?" "Leave me alone." "I've got nothing to do with it." "How many times?" "Two, three?" "Two or three times." "Wait here." "OK." "Bloody hell." " Who's that woman?" " The maid at the house Bullmer rented." "She's Filipina and has lots of interesting information about him." "For a start, Bullmer had a steady girlfriend." " What language does she speak?" " Only Tagalog and Spanish." "You question her." "The murderer has killed again." "I've got to go." "See you later." " Have you got anything of Mr Bullmer's?" " Yes." "Thank you very much." "Goodbye." "This way, madam." "Anne?" "Is that you, Anne?" "Anne?" "I didn't know..." "I didn't know that Anne was..." "No!" "No, don't look." "Stay back." "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." "Bullmer's maid told Inspector Altieri he'd had an affair with your fiancée." "Altieri made a rash move and came over here by herself to check." "She didn't know that you are mad." "Completely mad." "It cost her her life." "I don't know if I should hate or pity you." "No, I didn't kill the other women." "I didn't kill them." "I know." "That would have been impossible." "When I realised Christiano Berti was the killer..." "It didn't take me long to realise." "The rest, Chief Inspector Germani, was like writing a book." "A book!" "Perfect revenge." "You kill the Razor Killer but you let him live long enough to be blamed for the murder of your fiancée and her lover." "The two people you hated most." " Come on, get up." " No." "Go on, turn round." "You know the routine." "Get up, quickly." "Go on." "No!" "Stop!" "No!" "No!" "Peter!" "It's not working." "I'll call from the car radio." "Don't stay here." " Wait." " Come on." "Let's go." "Come on." "OK." "Be quick." "Peter..." "Peter..." "It can't be..." "I didn't want to believe it either." "Not until I got a telex from Interpol this evening." "When Peter Neal was a boy in Rhode Island, a girl he knew was stabbed to death." "He was accused but there wasn't any evidence and he wasn't even charged." "But if it was him he committed an act which marked his mind forever." "There's a sentence in his novel..." ""He didn't feel anxiety or fear, but freedom." ""Every humiliation which stood in his way..." ""...could be swept aside by this simple act of annihilation: murder."" "No!" "Calm down, it's all over now." "Don't move." "Wait for me here." "It was fake."