The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon Page B

however . . .’ Brunetti began.
    â€˜â€™What?’ Patta asked.
    â€˜The granddaughter.’
    â€˜I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    â€˜Well, sir, few people remember, but the Contessa – I know this only because my ­mother-­in-­law told me about it – is very troubled by something she thinks we’re responsible for.’
    â€˜You and your wife?’
    â€˜No, sir,’ Brunetti said with a smile he made sure looked nervous. ‘The police.’
    â€˜How can a woman of that stature have anything to do with the police?’ Patta demanded.
    Now that Patta had bit at the hook, Brunetti decided to give it a hard tug by using Paola’s mother’s title.
    â€˜Contessa Falier told us about it at dinner the other night. Years ago, Contessa ­Lando-­Continui, who is her best friend, told her how dissatisfied she was with the way the police investigated what she thinks was an attack on her granddaughter.’
    â€˜I know nothing about this,’ Patta said, as Brunetti knew he would. Brunetti was surprised he didn’t ring a bell and have Lieutenant Scarpa bring in a basin of warm water so that he could wash his hands of all responsibility.
    â€˜It was before you were here, Dottore. Of course you can’t know about it. But she’s apparently convinced there was some error.’ Brunetti held up his hands and shrugged, as if to suggest that his superior’s wife would have other opportunities to break into Venetian society.
    â€˜Have you studied the case?’ Patta demanded.
    â€˜I remember it from the past, sir,’ Brunetti said, lying more easily this time. He moved his head from side to side, either to give his imitation of an Indian actor he’d seen in a Bollywood film some weeks before or to express uncertainty.
    â€˜What?’ Patta asked, voice grown crisper.
    â€˜I think it’s possible that some details might have been overlooked during the original investigation,’ Brunetti answered vaguely.
    â€˜Could it be reopened?’ Patta asked.
    â€˜If you asked a magistrate to order it, I’m sure it could be, Dottore.’ Brunetti could not have been more helpful and accommodating.
    â€˜Right,’ Patta said in his voice of command. ‘Send me an email with all of the information: case number, dates, people involved, and I’ll see about finding someone who will authorize it.’ He paused for a moment and then added, ‘Gottardi would be the right one. He’s new, and he won’t give any trouble.’
    Brunetti knew when to disappear. He got to his feet. ‘That’s very good of you, sir. I’m sure Contessa Lando-­Continui will be pleased.’
    The very idea that a member of the aristocracy would be pleased with him brought a smile to Patta’s lips. Brunetti took his leave.
    Outside Patta’s office, uncertain as to whether Patta would call his wife immediately or wait to surprise her at dinner with the news, he was reluctant to linger and talk to Signorina Elettra. She, however, waved him nearer to her desk and said, ‘I’ve spoken to Giorgio. He’s just been promoted and is very busy, but he said he’d look into that matter as soon as he can.’
    So enchanted had Brunetti been by his exchange with Patta that it took him a moment to realize she was talking about the attempt to break into the emails of both the ­Vice-­Questore and the Lieutenant.
    â€˜What is it that he’s doing now?’ Brunetti asked. Her look assessed Brunetti’s right to know as well as his ability to be trusted with information. He must have passed both tests, for she said, lowering her voice, ‘He’s working on a way to erase all record of the numbers that have been called from a person’s phone as well as to erase any recordings that might have been made of actual