The Day of the Owl Read Free Page B

captain, as though continuing an interrupted discussion, 'how people in this part of the world let themselves go in anonymous letters. No one talks, but luckily for us-I mean us carabinieri, of course - everyone writes. They may forget to sign, but they do write. After every murder, every hold-up, there are a dozen anonymous letters on my desk. Even after a family row or a fraudulent bankruptcy they write. And as for my men's love-affairs ...' He smiled at his sergeantmajor, and the Santa Fara members thought he might be alluding to the fact that Carabiniere Savarino was having an affair with the daughter of Palazzolo the tobacconist, as was known in the whole town where an early posting for Savarino was expected.
    'As for the Colasberna case,' went on the captain, 'I've already had five anonymous letters; quite a crop for something that only happened the day before yesterday -and there'll be more to come. One nameless correspondent says that Colasberna was killed out of jealousy and gives the name of the jealous husband
    'Nonsense,' said Giuseppe Colasberna.
    'I agree,' said the captain and went on: 'According to another he was killed by mistake, because he happened to resemble a man called Perricone, who - my anonymous informer says - deserves what's soon coming to him.'
    'That might be,' said Giuseppe Colasberna.
    'No, it mightn't,' said the captain, 'because the Perricone mentioned in the letter got a passport a couple of weeks ago and right now happens to be in Liege, Belgium. You didn't know that, maybe; certainly the writer of the letter didn't; but the fact could hardly have escaped the notice of anyone intending to bump him off... I won't waste your time with other even more ridiculous information, but there is one aspect of the case to which I would ask you to give serious thought... In my opinion, it might be the right track. I mean your own work, competition, contracts. That's where we should start.'
    Another quick glance of consultation. 'That can't be,' said Giuseppe Colasberna.
    'Oh, yes, it can,' said the captain, 'and I'll tell you exactly how and why. Apart from your particular case, I've a great deal of inside information on the contracting business, only hearsay, unfortunately, but if I had proof... Well now, let's just suppose that in this district, in this province, there are ten contracting firms operating. Each firm has its own machinery and materials, that lie by the roadside or on the building site at night. Machines are delicate things. All you have to do is remove a piece, even a single bolt, and it will take hours or days to get it running again. As for the materials, fuel oil, tar, timber, it's easy enough to lift those or burn them on the spot. True, there is often a hut near the machinery and materials where some workmen sleep, but that's just it; they sleep. Well now, there are other people - and you know who I mean - who never sleep. Wouldn't it be natural to turn to these people - these people who never sleep - for protection? Especially when protection has been offered you at once and, if you've been unwise enough to refuse it, something has happened to make you decide to accept it... Of course, there are the stubborn, the people who say no they don't want it, and wouldn't accept it even with a knife at their throats. From what I can see, you're stubborn ... or perhaps only Salvatore was ... '
    'This is all new to us,' said Giuseppe Colasberna, and the others, with taut faces, nodded assent.
    'Maybe it is, maybe it isn't,' said the captain, 'but I haven't finished yet. Now, let's say that nine out of ten contractors accept or ask for protection. It would be a poor sort of association - and you know what association I refer to - if it were to limit itself to the functions and pay of night-watchmen. The protection offered by the association is on a much vaster scale. It obtains private contracts for you, I mean for the firms which toe the line and accept protection. It gives you valuable tips