big hug. And your lady friend was also very moved.” “Thanks, Gallu.”
“When do you want me to come by to drive her back to Montelusa?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it.” Their little family was growing without mercy. Now Grandma Aisha was also at Marinella.
o o o
He let the phone ring a long time, but nobody answered. The widow Lapecora wasn’t home. She must certainly be out shopping. There might, however, be another explanation. He dialed the number to the Cosentino household. The security guard’s likable, mustachioed wife answered, speaking in a soft voice.
“Is your husband asleep?”
“Yes, Inspector. Do you want me to call him?”
“There’s no need. You can give him my regards. Listen, signora: I tried calling Mrs. Lapecora, but there was no answer. Do you know by any chance if she—”
“You won’t find her in this morning, Inspector. She went to Fiacca to see her sister. She went today because tomorrow morning, at ten o’clock, she’s got the funeral of the dear—” “Thanks, signora.”
He hung up. Maybe this would simplify what needed to be done.
“Fazio!”
“At your orders, Chief.”
“Here are the keys to Lapecora’s office, Salita Granet 28.
Go inside and take the set of keys that are in the middle drawer of the desk. There’s a little tag attached to them that says ‘home.’ It must be an extra set that he used to keep at the office. Then go to Mrs. Lapecora’s house and let yourself in with those keys.” “Wait a second. What if she’s there?”
“She’s not. She’s out of town.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“In the dining room there’s a glass cupboard with dishes, cups, trays, and whatnot. Take something from it, anything you like, but make sure it’s something she can’t deny is hers.
The ideal would be a cup from a complete set. Then bring it here. And don’t forget to put the keys back in their drawer at the office.”
“And what if the widow notices a cup is missing when she comes back?”
“We don’t give a fuck. Then you must do one more thing. Phone Jacomuzzi and tell him that by the end of the day, I want the knife that was used to kill Lapecora. If he doesn’t have anyone who can bring it to me, go get it yourself.”
o o o
“Montalbano? This is Valente. Could you be here in Mazara by four o’clock this afternoon?”
“If I leave immediately. Why?”
“The captain of the fishing boat is coming, and I’d like you to be there.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. Has your man managed to find anything out?”
“Yes, and it didn’t take much. He said the fishermen are quite willing to talk.”
“What did they say?”
“I’ll tell you when you get here.”
“No, tell me now, so I can give it some thought on the way.”
“Okay. We’re convinced the crew knew little or nothing about the whole business. They all claim the vessel was just outside our territorial waters, that it was a very dark night, and that they clearly saw a vessel approaching them on the radar screen.” “So why did they keep going?”
“Because it didn’t occur to any of the crew that it might be a Tunisian patrol boat or whatever it was. I repeat, they were in international waters.”
“And then?”
“Then, without warning, came the signal to halt. Our fishing boat—or its crew at least, I can’t speak for the captain—thought it was our Customs Police making a routine check. So they stopped, and they heard people speaking Arabic. At this point the Tunisian on the Italian boat went astern and lit a cigarette. And got shot. Only then did the fishing boat turn and flee.” “And then?”
“And then what, Montalba? How long is this phone call going to last?”
1 8 6
14
Unlike most men of the sea, Angelo Prestia, crew chief and owner of the
But he was sweating because it was natural for him, not because of the questionsValente was asking him. Actually, in this regard, he seemed not only calm, but even slightly put out.
“I don’t understand why you suddenly wanna drag this story out again. It’s water under the bridge.”
