Death in Tuscany (14 page)

Or both of these, why not?

Either way, it all pointed to the influence of the Freemasons . . .

When Ferrara reached his floor, he did not stop but continued downstairs, went out into the street, and set off for the Verga bookshop in the Via Tornabuoni. In August, because of all the tourists, the shop stayed open on Sundays.

And given that he was going there, even if Massimo wasn't there, he decided to try calling him again.

'The number you have called is unobtain—'

'For fuck's sake!' he swore, angrily cutting off the call.

Rita Senesi, Massimo's assistant and factotum - it had never been clear whether she was more devoted to the shop or to its owner - greeted him in her usual cheerful and slightly flirtatious manner. 'Hello, Chief Superintendent! At least you aren't on holiday'

'No, Rita, if only' he replied. 'But your boss seems to be, and what's more he keeps his phone turned off so that no one can reach him.'

Ah, so you've noticed that, too?' she said, indignantly.

'I've been trying to reach him all day'

'He's a bit absent-minded - what can we do? He must have forgotten to switch his mobile on. But he has to be here tomorrow, whatever happens. We have to do the accounts! Is there anything you want me to tell him?'

'Just for him to get in touch, at least with the few friends he still has left.'

'Don't worry, Chief Superintendent, I will.'

'Good. Mind if I have a look around?'

'Be my guest. Can I help at all?'

'I'm looking for something about Freemasonry'

About time.'

'What do you mean?'

'That it's never too late . . .'

'For what, Rita? What are you talking about?'

'To join, of course.'

'Come on, don't talk nonsense. Do you really think—?'

'They all come in here pretending to be "scholars", researching the "phenomenon", as they call it. In my opinion, for what it's worth, they're swotting up for their exams! I don't know much about it, thank Heaven, but it seems to me that these days belonging to a lodge is worth more than having a degree.'

'You're not going to tell me that Massimo . . .'

Don't ask me, ask him!'

'Go on, show me the books.'

He arrived home with a bag full of books, feeling distracted and listless.

Petra had put on a CD of Italian arias sung by Cecilia Bartoli to accompany dinner, and that was fine with him. There was a kind of nostalgia in the air that put him in the mood for confessions.

'You know what I think?' he said, sipping his Terra dei Forti Pinot Grigio. The sounds of the city rose from the street, muffled by the rustling of the leaves in the arbour.

'What, Michele?' she asked, as considerately as ever.

'That I'm isolated. I don't
belong.'

'What do you mean?'

'I don't know, exactly. But it's as if everyone in this country is part of something: the church, a political party, the Mafia, the Freemasons . . . I'm not. The police, yes. I believe in that. But is it enough? Then you discover that perhaps the Commissioner is under pressure from God knows who, your best friend may be a Mason, the deputy prosecutor takes her instructions from some superior body we can't even begin to imagine, and I - I'm there, in the middle, like a skittle in a game of bowls I have no control over.'

'That's enough now, Michele,' Petra said sternly. 'I don't know what you're talking about and I don't care. I don't care because I know one thing: you do belong. You belong to me just as I belong to you. And we both belong to our families, and to our friends who are dear to us and count on us. It's all the rest that doesn't count. Why should it count when the rest of the world is at each other's throats for a piece of bread or an oil well? You want to talk about what's wrong with your country? It's my country, too, you know. And I love it. But I also love my Michele and I know, because I know him, that he'll do what his heart tells him to do. And that's enough for me, Michele. If only it were enough for you—'

He did not have time to reply because the phone cut into Petra's words, making them both jump. This daily interruption of lunch was becoming a habit. Not that she was doing it deliberately, but it was Anna Giulietti again.

'I think I've found the solution.'

'What is it?'

Ask Fuschi if it's possible to analyse just a small part of the stained fabric
...
It's important that he doesn't ruin the whole of it. Do you understand?'

'Yes, of course.'

'If that's okay, tell him to come and see me tomorrow, at eight on the dot, and I'll give him the order to proceed according to Article 359 of the code of criminal procedure, not Article 360. In other words, I'll ask him to ascertain the exact nature of the biological or organic stains on the jeans and anything else he can find, like the blood group, the DNA . . . That way we'll at least have something we can use in the investigation. Then, if need be, for the rest of the material, we'll follow Article 360 to the letter.'

She seemed even more excited than he was.

'I understand, Anna - it's an excellent solution!'

'But please make sure he comes tomorrow at eight sharp.'

'Without fail. Have a nice Sunday.'

'You, too.'

Then he phoned Gianni Fuschi, who was not at all pleased.

8

At the Monday briefing, all the men Ferrara had at his disposal for this case were present: Ascalchi, Violante, Sergi, Inspector Venturi and the head of Narcotics, Luigi Ciuffi, whom he had decided to involve directly after Ascalchi had filled him in that very morning. Plus, of course, Fanti in his usual capacity as secretary.

At the end of a brief run-down of the facts and his own deductions and theories, Ferrara asked, Anything new on your side?'

'We haven't yet received authorisation from the Prosecutor's Department to get hold of the medical records,' Violante said.

'I know Deputy Prosecutor Giulietti is very busy. We can't rush her, we just have to be patient. For the moment we have to concentrate on what happened before the girl was found. To start with, Violante, see if you can find out who made the call to the emergency services. Then talk to the paramedics, ask them how the girl was dressed, and if they noticed anything suspicious in the vicinity. Anything else?'

There was a brief silence, then Fanti cleared his throat.

'Yes, Fanti?'

'I don't know if this is the right moment. . . but you asked me to look for that name "Steaua Rosie", you remember?' 'Yes, of course. Well?'

'It's Romanian, chief. It means "red star". I found out it's the only company in Moldova making T-shirts, blouses and underwear, and its head office is in the capital Chisinau.'

'Good work, Fanti - how did you manage that?'

'The internet, chief, and a few calls to colleagues in Interpol.'

'Excellent. Well, this may not be absolute proof, but it does tend to confirm the hypothesis that we're dealing with an illegal immigrant - if not actually Moldovan, certainly from some country in Eastern Europe, perhaps a slave of one of those damned people traffickers. I can't really see an Italian tourist going to buy clothes in Moldova, can you?'

They all shook their heads.

'I have a suggestion,' Ascalchi said. 'Instead of constantly calling her "the girl" or "the immigrant" or whatever, why don't we call her "Stella"?'

Ferrara liked that touch of humanity on the part of the sceptical, easy-going Roman.

'We could call the case "Operation Stella",' Luigi Ciuffi said.

'Done,' Ferrara approved, smiling. Then, addressing all of them, Any other theories, ideas, leads to follow?'

'I've given this case top priority' Ciuffi resumed. ‘I’ll see if my boys can get anything more specific from the dealers. Most of them are Tunisians, Algerians, Moroccans, and Albanians. We'll start with the areas best known for dealing - Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, Santo Spirito — and then radiate outwards to cover the whole city and surroundings. It won't be easy work.'

'When is our work ever easy?' Ferrara observed, more to himself than to his men.

At the moment I have a team keeping an eye on two

Albanian brothers,' Ciuffi went on. According to one of my informers, who I trust, the two of them are supposed to be going outside Florence to get new supplies. It seems they're rising stars, for what it's worth.'

'Let's hope so. Is that all?'

'Yes, as far as I'm concerned.'

'Good. Venturi, I want you to link up with the Juvenile Division and find out all you can about what's happening on the paedophile scene. Check up on the youth gangs, too, see if there have been any sexual crimes reported recently, even just suspicion of attempted gang rapes.'

'Yes, chief,' the inspector replied.

Ascalchi, I want you to link up with Vice and check out the prostitution angle, especially where immigrants are involved.'

Considering that he had covered all the main areas of inquiry and happy to see the newly christened 'Operation Stella' properly launched, he closed the meeting with his customary Any other questions?' to which, as usual, no one replied.