‘Among other things’
Cataldo Barbera continued, ‘the one I gave to Michela Licalzi may have been of very modest value, but it rather looked like a Guarneri’
“Thank you. I’ll be seeing you.’
Montalbano started down the stairs.
‘What should I do with the Guarneri?’ the Maestro called out in a loud voice, still at sea, not having understood a thing.
‘Just hang on to it for now. And play it as often as you can’
They were loading the coffin into the hearse. Before the main portal of the church were many funeral wreaths lined up in a row. Emanuele Licalzi stood surrounded by a crowd of people expressing condolences. He looked unusually upset. Montalbano approached him and pulled him aside.
‘I wasn’t expecting all these people’ the doctor said.
‘Your wife inspired a lot of affection. Did you get the keys back? I may have to ask you for them again’
‘I’m going to need them between four and five o’clock, to take the estate agent to the house.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind.
Listen, Doctor, when you go into the house, you’ll probably notice the violin is missing from the display case. That’s because I took it. I’ll return it to you this evening.’
The doctor looked dumbfounded.
‘Is that of any relevance to the investigation? It’s an utterly worthless object,’
‘I need it for fingerprints,’ Montalbano lied.
In that case, don’t forget that I held it in my hands when I showed it to you.’
‘I won’t forget. And, Doctor, one more thing, just for curiosity’s sake: at what time did you leave Bologna yesterday evening?’
‘I took the flight that leaves at six thirty, with a change at Rome, and arrived in Palermo at ten pm’
‘Thanks.’
‘Excuse me, Inspector, don’t forget about the Twingo!’
Jesus, what a pain in the arse about that car!
Among the crowd of people already preparing to leave, he finally spotted Anna Tropeano talking to a tall, distinguished-looking man of about forty. It had to be Guido Serravalle. Then he noticed Giallombardo passing by on the street. He called to him.
‘Where you going?’
‘Home, Inspector, for lunch.’
‘I’m very sorry, but you can’t’
‘Christ, of all days you had to pick the day my wife made pasta ‘ncasciata.’
‘You’ll eat it tonight See those two over there? That brunette lady and the gentleman she’s talking to?’
‘Yessir.’
Don’t let the guy out of your sight I’ll be back at headquarters soon. Keep me posted every half hour.
Everything he does, everywhere he goes.’
‘Oh, all right’ said Giallombardo, resigned.
Montalbano left him and walked over to the pair. Anna, who hadn’t seen him approaching, brightened at once. Apparendy Serravalle’s presence made her uncomfortable.
‘Salvo, how are you?’ She introduced them. Inspector Salvo Montalbano, Mr Guido Serravalle.’ Montalbano performed like a god. ‘Of course, we already met over the phone!’ ‘Yes, I offered my help.’
‘How could I forget? You came for the late Mrs Licalzi?’
It was the least I could do.’
‘Of course. Are you going back today?’
‘Yes, I’ll be leaving the hotel around five o’clock. I’ve got a flight out of Punta Raisi at eight’
‘Good, good,’ said Montalbano. He seemed happy that everyone was so happy and that among other things, one could count on planes leaving on time.
‘You know’ said Anna, assuming a nonchalant, worldly demeanour, ‘Mr Serravalle was just inviting me to lunch. Why don’t you join us?’
‘I would love that,’ said Serravalle, absorbing the blow.
A look of deep disappointment came over the inspector’s face.
If only I’d known earlier.’
I’ve got an appointment, alas’
He held his hand out to Serravalle.
Very pleased to have met you. However inappropriate it may seem to say so, given the circumstances’
He was afraid he might be overdoing his perfect idiot act; the role was running away with him. Indeed, Anna was glaring at him with eyes that looked like two question marks.
‘You and me, on the other hand, we’ll talk later, eh, Anna?’
In the doorway to headquarters he ran into Mimi, who was on his way out.
‘Where are you off to?’
‘To eat.’
‘Jesus, is that all anyone can think of around here?’ ‘When it’s time to eat, what else are we supposed to be thinking of ?’
‘Who’ve we got in Bologna?’
‘As mayor?’ asked Mimi, confused.
‘What the fuck do I care who the mayor of Bologna is? Have we got any friends in their police’
department who can give us an answer in an hour’s time?’
‘Wait, there’s Guggino, remember him?’
‘Filiberto?’
‘Right. He was transferred there a month ago. He’s heading the immigration section.’
‘Go and eat your spaghetti with clam sauce and all that Parmesan cheese on top’ Montalbano said by way of thanks, looking at him with contempt. How else could you look at someone with tastes like that?
It was 12.35. Hopefully Filiberto would still be in his office.
‘Hello? Inspector Salvo Montalbano here. I’m calling from Vigata. I’d like to speak with Filiberto Guggino.’ ‘Please hold.’
After a series of clicks he heard a cheerful voice.
‘Salvo! Good to hear from you! How you doing?’
Tine, Filibe. Sorry to bother you, but it’s urgent, I heed some answers within an hour, hour and a half at the most. I’m looking for a financial motive to a crime.’
‘The only thing I have to waste is time.’
‘I want you to tell me as much as you can possibly find out about someone who might be the victim of loan sharks — say, a businessman, heavy gambler
‘That makes the whole thing a lot more difficult, I can tell you who the loan sharks are, but not the people they’ve ruined.’
‘Try anyway. Here’s his name.’
‘Chief? Giallombardo here.
They’re eating at the Contrada Capo restaurant, the one right on the sea. You know it?’
Unfortunately, yes, he did know it. He’d ended up there once by chance and had never forgotten it.
‘Did they drive there separately?’
‘No, they came in one car and he drove, so—’
‘Don’t let him out of your sight, I’m sure he’s going to take the lady home, then go back to his hotel, the Delia Valle. Keep me posted.’
Yes and no, the company that rented cars at Punta Raisi Airport told him after humming and hawing for half an hour about not being authorized to give out information, so much so that he had to get the chief of airport police to intervene on his behalf. Yes, the previous evening, Thursday, that is, the gentleman in question had rented the car he was still using. And, no, the same gentleman had not rented a car from them on Wednesday evening of the previous week, according to the computer.