something that might belong to the girl who
was kidnapped.
The woman turned white as a sheet.
We got nothing to do with that, she said firmly.
I know. But youre going to be questioned. Tell them
about the car, but dont mention that people come to see you
at night. And dont let them see you dressed like that. Remove
your makeup and those high-heeled shoes. And put the cot in
the bedroom. All you sell here is eggs, got that?
He heard a car and went outside. The patrolman summoned
by Gallo had arrived. But with him was also Mimugello.
I was about to come relieve you, said Montalbano.
Theres no longer any need, said MimTheyve al
ready sent Bonolis over to coordinate the search. I guess the
commissioner didnt want to put you in charge for even a
minute. We can go back to Vig.
While Gallo was showing his colleague where the helmet
was, Mimwith Montalbanos help, climbed into the other car.
What on earth happened to you?
I fell into a ditch full of rocks. I must have broken a few
ribs. Did you report that youd found the helmet?
Montalbano slapped himself on the forehead.
I forgot!
Augello knew Montalbano too well not to know that when
he forgot to do something, it meant he didnt feel like doing it.
You want me to call?
Yes. Ring Minutolo and tell him what happened.
They had just started driving back when Mimwith an air of
indifference, said:
You know something?
Do you do it on purpose?
Do I do what on purpose?
Ask me if I know something. That question drives me
crazy.
Okay, okay. About two hours ago, the Carabinieri re
ported that theyd found the girls backpack.
Are you sure its hers?
Absolutely. Her ID card was inside.
Anything else?
Nothing. Empty.
Good, said the inspector. One to one.
I dont get it.
First we find one thing, then the Carabinieri find another.
Tie game. Where was the backpack?
On the road to Montereale. Behind the four-kilometer
marker. It was pretty visible.
In the very opposite direction from where we found the
helmet!
Exactly.
Silence fell.
Does your exactly mean youre thinking exactly the
same thing Im thinking?
Exactly.
Ill try to translate your brevity into something a little
clearer. Namely: All this searching, all this running around, is
nothing but a waste of time, one big fuck-up.
Exactly.
Ill translate some more. The way we see it, the kidnappers,
on the night of the kidnapping, got in their car and drove
around, throwing various things belonging to Susanna out
the window, to create a variety of phony leads. All of which
means
that the girls not being held anywhere near the places
where her things have been found, Mimoncluded, adding,
and were going to have to convince the commissioner of
this, otherwise hes liable to have us searching all the way to
the Aspromonte.
At the office he found Fazio waiting for him. He already
knew about the objects theyd found. He was carrying a small
suitcase.
Going away?
No, Chief. Im going back to the villa. Dr. Minutolo
wants me to man the phone. Ive got a change of clothes in
here.
Was there something you wanted to tell me?
Yessir. After the special edition of TeleVig News, the
phone at the villa started ringing off the hook
Nothing
of interest, though. Just interview requests, words of support,
people saying prayers, that kind of thing. But there were two
that were a little different in tone. The first one was from a
former administrative employee at Peruzzos.
Whats Peruzzos?
I dont know, Chief. But thats what he called himself.
He even said his name didnt matter. And he told me to tell
Mr. Mistretta that pride may be a good thing, but too much
pride is bad. That was all.
Hmph. What about the other one?
Some old lady. She wanted to talk to Mrs. Mistretta.
When I finally convinced her Mrs. Mistretta couldnt come to
the phone, she told me to repeat the following words to her:
Susannas life is in your hands. Remove the
was kidnapped.
The woman turned white as a sheet.
We got nothing to do with that, she said firmly.
I know. But youre going to be questioned. Tell them
about the car, but dont mention that people come to see you
at night. And dont let them see you dressed like that. Remove
your makeup and those high-heeled shoes. And put the cot in
the bedroom. All you sell here is eggs, got that?
He heard a car and went outside. The patrolman summoned
by Gallo had arrived. But with him was also Mimugello.
I was about to come relieve you, said Montalbano.
Theres no longer any need, said MimTheyve al
ready sent Bonolis over to coordinate the search. I guess the
commissioner didnt want to put you in charge for even a
minute. We can go back to Vig.
While Gallo was showing his colleague where the helmet
was, Mimwith Montalbanos help, climbed into the other car.
What on earth happened to you?
I fell into a ditch full of rocks. I must have broken a few
ribs. Did you report that youd found the helmet?
Montalbano slapped himself on the forehead.
I forgot!
Augello knew Montalbano too well not to know that when
he forgot to do something, it meant he didnt feel like doing it.
You want me to call?
Yes. Ring Minutolo and tell him what happened.
They had just started driving back when Mimwith an air of
indifference, said:
You know something?
Do you do it on purpose?
Do I do what on purpose?
Ask me if I know something. That question drives me
crazy.
Okay, okay. About two hours ago, the Carabinieri re
ported that theyd found the girls backpack.
Are you sure its hers?
Absolutely. Her ID card was inside.
Anything else?
Nothing. Empty.
Good, said the inspector. One to one.
I dont get it.
First we find one thing, then the Carabinieri find another.
Tie game. Where was the backpack?
On the road to Montereale. Behind the four-kilometer
marker. It was pretty visible.
In the very opposite direction from where we found the
helmet!
Exactly.
Silence fell.
Does your exactly mean youre thinking exactly the
same thing Im thinking?
Exactly.
Ill try to translate your brevity into something a little
clearer. Namely: All this searching, all this running around, is
nothing but a waste of time, one big fuck-up.
Exactly.
Ill translate some more. The way we see it, the kidnappers,
on the night of the kidnapping, got in their car and drove
around, throwing various things belonging to Susanna out
the window, to create a variety of phony leads. All of which
means
that the girls not being held anywhere near the places
where her things have been found, Mimoncluded, adding,
and were going to have to convince the commissioner of
this, otherwise hes liable to have us searching all the way to
the Aspromonte.
At the office he found Fazio waiting for him. He already
knew about the objects theyd found. He was carrying a small
suitcase.
Going away?
No, Chief. Im going back to the villa. Dr. Minutolo
wants me to man the phone. Ive got a change of clothes in
here.
Was there something you wanted to tell me?
Yessir. After the special edition of TeleVig News, the
phone at the villa started ringing off the hook
Nothing
of interest, though. Just interview requests, words of support,
people saying prayers, that kind of thing. But there were two
that were a little different in tone. The first one was from a
former administrative employee at Peruzzos.
Whats Peruzzos?
I dont know, Chief. But thats what he called himself.
He even said his name didnt matter. And he told me to tell
Mr. Mistretta that pride may be a good thing, but too much
pride is bad. That was all.
Hmph. What about the other one?
Some old lady. She wanted to talk to Mrs. Mistretta.
When I finally convinced her Mrs. Mistretta couldnt come to
the phone, she told me to repeat the following words to her:
Susannas life is in your hands. Remove the
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