since we let them off on that, I’ve figured he’s owed me a favour, so I went out to talk to him yesterday. I remembered that he went to school with Ruffolo. And he called me back about an hour ago. No questions asked. He just said that this other person had talked to someone who saw Ruffolo, and he wants to talk to us.’
‘To anyone in particular?’
‘Not to you, I’d imagine, sir. After all, you’ve put him away twice.’
‘You want to do it, Vianello?’
The other man shrugged. ‘Why not? I just don’t want it to be a lot of bother. He’s had nothing to do for the last two years but sit in jail and watch American police movies, so he’ll probably suggest that we meet at midnight in a boat on the
‘Or in the cemetery at dawn, just when the vampires are flying back to nest.’
‘Why can’t he just make it a bar, so we can be comfortable and have a glass of wine?’
‘Well, wherever it is, go and meet him.’
‘Should I arrest him when he shows up?’
‘No, don’t try it. Just ask him what he wants to tell us, see what sort of deal he wants to make.’
‘Do you want me to have someone there to follow him?’
‘No. He’ll probably be expecting mat. And he’d panic if he thought he was being followed. Just see what he wants. If it isn’t too much, make a deal with him.’
‘You think he’s going to tell us about Viscardi?’
‘There’s no other reason for him to want to talk to us, is there?’
‘No, I suppose not.’
When Brunetti turned to leave, Vianello asked, ‘What about the deal I make with him? Will we keep our part of it?’
At this, Brunetti turned back and gave Vianello a long look. ‘Of course. If criminals can’t believe in an illegal deal with the police, what can they believe in?’
* * * *
19
He heard nothing from Ambrogiani that afternoon, nor did Vianello manage to make contact with the boy on Burano. The next morning, no call had come in, nor had there been any by the time he got back from lunch. Vianello came in at about five to tell him that the boy had called and a meeting had been set up for Saturday afternoon, at Piazzale Roma. A car would come to meet Vianello, who was not to be in uniform, and would take him to where Ruffolo would talk to him. After he explained this to Brunetti, Vianello grinned and added, ‘Hollywood.’
‘It probably means they’ll have to steal a car to do it, too.’
‘And no chance of a drink, either, I suppose,’ said Vianello resignedly.
‘Pity they pulled down the Pullman Bar; at least that way you could have had one before you left.’
‘No such luck, I have to stand where the number five bus stops. They’ll pull up and I have to get in.’
‘How are they going to recognize you?’
Did Vianello blush? ‘I have to be carrying a bouquet of red carnations.’
At this, Brunetti could not restrain himself and exploded into laughter. ‘Red carnations? You? My God, I hope no one who knows you sees you, standing at a bus stop, leaving the city, with a bouquet of red carnations.’
‘I’ve told my wife. She doesn’t like it, not one bit, especially that I have to use my Saturday afternoon to do it. We were supposed to go out to dinner, and I won’t hear the end of this for months.’
‘Vianello, I’ll make a deal. Do this, we’ll even pay for the carnations, but you’ll have to get a receipt, but do it and I’ll fix the duty rosters so that you get next Friday and Saturday off, all right?’ It seemed the least he could do for the man who was willing to take the risk of putting himself into the hands of known criminals and who, more courageously, was willing to take the risk of angering his wife.
‘It’s all right, sir, but I don’t like it.’
‘Look, you don’t have to do this, Vianello. We’re bound to get our hands on him sooner or later.’
‘That’s all right, sir. He’s never been stupid enough to do anything to one of us before. And I know him from the last time.’
Vianello, Brunetti remembered, had two children and a third on the way. ‘If this works, you get the credit for it. It’ll help towards a promotion.’
‘Oh, fine, and how’s he going to like that?’ Vianello lowered his eyes in the direction of Patta’s office. ‘How’s he going to like our arresting his friend, Signor Politically Important Viscardi?’
‘Oh, come on, Vianello, you know what he’ll do. Once Viscardi’s behind bars and the case looks strong enough, Patta’ll talk about the way he was suspicious from the very beginning but remained friendly with Viscardi, the better to lead him into the trap that he himself had devised.’ Both of them knew from long experience that this was true.
Further ruminations on the behaviour of their superior were cut short by Vianello’s phone. He answered it with his name, listened for a moment, then handed it to Brunetti. ‘For you, sir.’
‘Yes,’ he said, then felt a rush of excitement when he recognized Ambrogiani’s voice.
‘He’s still here. One of my men followed him to his home; It’s in Grisignano, about twenty minutes from the base.’
