do work here at Central Office.’
‘ Listen Giorgio, I have a little problem I think you may be able to help me with.’
‘Consider it done.’
‘ You know about the Miletti kidnapping? ’
‘The tyre king from Modena?’
‘ Modena! What do you mean, Modena? Would I give a damn if he was from Modena? Miletti, Miletti! Radios, televisions! ’
‘Ah, of course. Excuse me. From Perugia.’
‘ From Perugia, exactly. And that’s my problem. Because some people there, friends of the family, feel that not enough is being done. You know how it is, everyone wants special attention. And these are people who are difficult to refuse. Do you follow? ’
‘Perfectly.’
‘ Like they say, the poor pray for miracles, the rich think they have a right to them. Now, I’m not trying to justify what cannot and should not be justified. I neither condone nor condemn. But the fact remains that I’m in a difficult situation. You see what I mean? ’
‘Of course. But what exactly do they want, these people? If you don’t mind my asking.’
‘ They want a name.’
‘A name? Whose name?’
‘ That is entirely up to you. It must be someone presentable, naturally. Don’t make me look like an idiot. If he’s well known so much the better.’
‘And what is this person to do?’
‘ Why, go and sort things out.’
‘Go to Perugia?’
‘ To Perugia, of course! ’
‘A police official?’
‘ Exactly. Can you help me? ’
‘Well, I must say that this is a particularly difficult moment, Senator. Since the Cabinet reshuffle the party’s relations with the Ministry have been…’
‘ When you’ve been around as long as I have, Giorgio, you’ll know that it’s always a particularly difficult moment. That’s why I rang you instead of some other people whose names came to mind. Now can you help me? ’
‘Well, despite the changes I’ve just referred to, we do have various contacts, of course. There’s one in particular I’m thinking of who may well be able…’
‘ I’m not interested in the details, Giorgio. I just want to know if you can help me. Or should I ring someone else? Perhaps you could recommend someone? ’
‘You must be joking, Senator. Anything that can be done, I’ll do for you. By this time tomorrow you’ll…’
‘ By this time tomorrow I’ll be in Turin. Make it this afternoon. I’ll be here till seven.’
‘Very well.’
‘ Excellent. I knew I did right to call you. I’ve got a nose for these things. Giorgio’s a man who can make things happen, I thought A million thanks. I’ll be expecting your call.’
‘ Yes? ’
‘Enrico?’
‘ Who’s that? ’
‘Giorgio Lapucci.’
‘ Christ, I thought it was his royal highness. Excuse me while I change my trousers.’
‘Why the panic?’
‘ He’s at a conference in Strasbourg, and every so often he phones me and demands a complete update on the situation here. All part of this new managerial style you’ve been reading about. Keeps us on our toes, he says. Anyway, what can I do for you? ’
‘I suppose this line is safe?’
‘ Giorgio, this is the Ministry of the Interior you’re talking to. Any phone tapping that goes on around here, we do it.’
‘Of course.’
‘ So what’s up? ’
‘Well, it’s the old story, I’m afraid. Someone’s leaning on someone who’s leaning on me.’
‘ And you want to lean on me.’
‘Isn’t that what friends are for? But it shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s a question of getting a senior police official transferred temporarily to Perugia to take over a kidnapping case.’
‘ That’s all? ’
That’s all.’
‘ No problem. I can lose it in the routine postings and bang it through at departmental level. No one ever looks at that stuff. The only headache could be finding someone. When are we talking? ’
‘Now.’
‘ Shit. Look, I’ll have to think a bit. Let me get back to you.’
‘Today, though.’
‘ I’ll do my best.’
‘I appreciate it, Enrico. Give my best to Nicola.’
‘ And mine to Emanuela. Listen, why don’t we all get together some time? ’
‘Yes, we should. We really should.’
‘ Personnel.’
‘Mancini. I need someone we can send up to Perugia on a kidnapping. Who do you suggest?’
‘ No one.’
‘What do you mean, no one?’
‘ I mean there isn’t anyone available.’
‘What about Fabri?’
‘ In Genoa on that bank job.’
‘De Angelis?’
‘ Sardinia. Where there were three kidnappings last week alone, in case you haven’t seen the papers. This weekend we’ve got the visit of the President of France plus an English football team, God help us. Are you getting the picture? If not, I can go on.’
‘Calm down, Ciliani. I know things are difficult. But there’s always somebody. Look harder.’
‘ There’s no one except Romizi, and he’s going on leave.’
‘Well, tell him he’ll have to put it off.’
‘ Excuse me, dottore, but you tell him! He’s booked a flight to America.’
‘What’s he doing going to America?’
‘ How should I know? Got relatives there or something.’
‘Well, what about people outside Criminalpol?’
‘ You said this was operational.’
‘We could always stretch a point. Isn’t there anyone who’s had some experience? Couldn’t stand the sight of blood and requested a desk job, that sort of thing. Use your head, Ciliani! I mean we’re talking about a gesture here, not a new chief for the fucking Squadra Mobile.’
‘ Doesn’t help.’
‘What about what’s-his-name, the one we’ve got doing Housekeeping?’
‘ Zuccaroni? ’
‘No, the other one.’
‘ Zen? ’
‘That’s it.’
‘ But surely he’s… ’
‘What?’
