Friends of Guttadauro, the lawyer, whom you know well’
‘This is a nasty development, totally unexpected.’
It’s a lot nastier than you can possibly imagine. It so happens you’re being squeezed between me and them.’
‘Allow me to say that their reasons I can understand perfectly well; it’s yours that don’t seem so clear to me, unless you’re motivated by feelings of revenge.’
‘Now you try. to understand my position. I cannot, under any circumstances, allow the captain of the Montelusa Flying Squad to become a hostage of the Mafia. I can’t let you be subject to blackmail’
‘Look, Montalbano, all I wanted to do was protect the good name of my men. Can you imagine what would have happened if the press had discovered we killed a man who was defending himself with a shoe?’
Is that why you implicated Maurizio’s father, who had nothing to do with the case?’
‘With the case, no, but with my plan, yes. As for possible attempts at blackmail, I know how to defend myself.’
Tm sure you do. You can hold out, which isn’t a very nice way to live, but what about Culicchia and the other six who’ll be put under pressure every single day? How long will they hold out? All you need is for one to crack, and the whole story comes out. I’ll give you a very likely scenario: As soon as they get sick of your refusals, the mob is liable to give a public viewing of their tape or send it to a private TV
station that’ll jump at the scoop even if it means risking prison. And if that happens, the commissioner, gets fried too.’
‘What should I do?’
Montalbano looked at him in admiration for a moment, Panzacchi was a ruthless, unscrupulous player, but he knew how to lose.
‘You should disarm them, neutralize the weapon they’ve got in their hands.’ He couldn’t resist adding a malicious comment he immediately regretted. ‘This is not a shoe’ he said. ‘Talk about it, tonight, with the commissioner. Find a solution together. But I warn you: if you haven’t made a move by twelve tomorrow, I’ll make my own move, in my own way.’
He got up, opened the door, and went out.
‘I’ll make my own move, in my own way’ It had a nice ring to it. Just threatening enough. But what did it really mean? If, say, the captain of the Flying Squad were to get the commissioner on his side, and the latter in turn got Judge Tommaseo to join them, he, Montalbano, was as good as fucked. But was it possible that everyone in Montelusa had suddenly become dishonest? The antipathy a particular person might arouse is one thing; his character and integrity were another matter.
He returned to Marinella full of doubts and questions. Had he been right to talk that Way to Panzacchi? Would the commissioner accept that he wasn’t motivated by a desire for revenge? He dialled Livia’s number. As usual, no answer. He went to bed, but it took him two hours to fall asleep.
FOURTEEN
When he walked into the office, his nerves were so obviously frayed that his men judged it best to give him a wide berth. Of all things the bed is the best. ‘ If you can’t sleep you still can rest. So went the proverb, but it was wrong, for not only had the inspector slept only fitfully in his bed, he had also woken up feeling like he’d run a marathon.
Only Fazio, who was closest to him, ventured to ask a question, ‘Any news?’
‘I’ll be able to tell you after twelve.’
Galluzzo came in.
Inspector, yesterday evening I looked for you over land and sea.’
‘Did you try the sky?’
Galluzzo realized this was no time for preambles.
‘Inspector, after the eight o’clock news report, somebody phoned. He said that on Wednesday evening, around eight, eight fifteen at the latest, Mrs Licalzi stopped at his petrol station and filled up her tank. He left his name and address.’
‘OK. Well drive over there later’
He was tense, unable to set his eyes on a sheet of paper, and he kept looking at his watch. What if by twelve nobody had called from Montelusa?
At eleven thirty the telephone rang.
‘Chief’ said Grasso, ‘it’s Zito the newsman.’ ‘Let me talk to him.’
At first he didn’t know what was happening. ‘Bat-ta-tum, bat-ta-tum, bat-ta-tum, tum-tum-ttmitum’ said Zito. ‘Nicolo?’
“Fratelli d‘ltalia, l’ltalia s’e desta—’”
Zito had started singing the Italian national anthem in a booming voice.
‘Come on, Nicolo, I’m not in the mood for jokes.’
‘Who’s joking? I’m about to read you a press release that was sent to me just a few minutes ago. Plant your arse firmly in your chair. For your information, this was sent to us, to TeleVigata, and to five different newspaper correspondents. I quote:
Montelusa Police Commissioner’s Office.
For strictly personal reasons, Ernesto Panzacchi has asked to be relieved of his responsibilities as captain of the Flying Squad and to be placed on reserve. His request has been granted. Mr Anselmo Irrera will temporarily assume the position vacated by Captain Panzacchi. As some new and unexpected developments have emerged in the Licalzi murder case, Inspector Salvo Montalbano of Vigata police will assume charge of the investigation for its duration.
Signed: Bonetti-Alderighi, Montelusa Police Commissioner.
‘We won, Salvoi’
Montalbano thanked his friend and hung up. He did not feel happy. The tension had dissipated, of course; he’d got the answer he wanted. Still, he felt a kind of malaise, a profound uneasiness. He cursed Panzacchi sincerely, not for what he’d done, but for having forced him to act in a way that now troubled him.
The door flew open, the whole staff rushed in. Inspector.” said Galluzzo. ‘My brother-in-law phoned just now from TeleVigata, they just got a press release—’
‘I know, I’ve already been told.’
‘We’re going to go out and buy a bottle of spumante and…’
Giallombardo, withering under Montalbano’s gaze, didn’t finish the sentence. They all filed out slowly, muttering under their breath. He had one foul disposition, that inspector …
Judge Tommaseo didn’t have the courage to show his face to Montalbano and pretended to be going over some important papers, bent over his desk. The inspector imagined that at that moment the judge wished he looked like the Abominable Snowman, with a beard covering his entire face, though Tommaseo’s bulk fell short of the yeti’s.
You must understand, Inspector. As far as withdrawing the weapons possession charge, there’s no problem, I’ve already called Mr Di Bksi’s lawyer. But it’s not quite so easy for me to lift the complicity charges. Until proved to the contrary, Maurizio Di Blasi is self-convicted of the murder of Michela Licalzi. My prerogatives in no way permit me to—’
‘Good day,’ said Montalbano, getting up and walking out.
Judge Tommaseo came running after him along the corridor.
Inspector, wait! I want to clarify—’
‘There is nothing at all to clarify, Your Honour. Have you spoken with the commissioner?’
Yes, at great length. We met at eight o’clock this morning.’
‘Then you must surely be aware of certain details of no importance to you. Such as the fact that the investigation of the Licalzi murder was conducted like a toilet-cleaning operation, that young Di Blasi was ninety-nine per cent innocent, that he was slaughtered like a pig by mistake, and that Panzacchi covered it all up. You can’t dismiss the weapons charges against the engineer and at the same time not start proceedings against Panzacchi, who actually planted the weapons in his house.’