The Scent of the Night Read Free Page B

signorina, must also take into account the fact that a lot of money disappeared with Mr Gargano. We're talking about billions and billions of lire, you know.'
    ‘ Yes, I know.'
    'And you haven't the slightest idea where—' ‘ I only know that he invested that money. Where and in what he invested it, I can't say.' 'And you and he ... ?' Mariastella's face became a blaze of fire. ‘ What ... what do you mean? ’
    'Has he contacted you in any way since his disappearance?'
    If he had, I would have mentioned it to Inspector Augell o, when he questioned me. But I’ll repeat to you what I said to your assistant: Emanuele Gargano has only one goal in life, a nd that is to make others happy’
    ‘I have no problem believing that,' said Montalbano.
    And he meant it. He was convinced that ragioniere Gargano was making some high-class prostitutes, nightclub owners, casino managers, and luxury-car dealers very happy on some lost Polynesian island.
    Mimì Augello returned with a bottle of mineral water, a few paper cups, and his mobile phone glued to his ear.
    ‘ Yessir, yessir, I’ll put him on right away.'
    He handed the contraption to the inspector.
    'It's for you. The commissioner.'
    What a pain in the arse! Relations between Montalbano and Commissioner Bonetti-Alderighi could hardly be said to be characterized by mutual esteem and sympathy. If he was calling the inspector, it meant there was some unpleasant matter to discuss. And Montalbano, at that moment, had no desire for any such thing.
    'At your service, Mr Commissioner.'
    'Come here immediately.'
    'Give me an hour at the most, and ‘I’ll —'
    'Montalbano, you may be Sicilian, but surely you studied Italian at school? Don't you know the meaning of the adverb ''immediately''?'
    Just a second, ‘I’l l need to think that over. Ah, yes. It means, "Without interval of time." Am I right, Mr Commissioner?'
    'Spare me the wit. You have exactly fifteen minutes to get here to Montelusa.'
    He hung up.
    ‘ Mimì , I have to go and see the commissioner right away. Grab Garzullo's pistol and take it in to headquarters. And Miss Cosentino, allow me a word of advice: close this office right now and go home.'
    'Why? ’
    'Because in a very short while, you see, everyone in town will know about Mr Garzullo's stroke of genius. And it's not beyond the realm of possibility that some idiot will repeat the stunt, and that this time it will be somebody younger and more dangerous.'
    'No’ said a resolute Mariastella. ‘I’ m not leaving this place. What if Mr Gargano were to return? He'd find nobody here.'
    Imagine the disappointment!' said Montalbano, furious. 'And another thing: do you intend to press charges against Mr Garzullo?'
    'Absolutely not.'
    'So much the better’
     
    The road to Montelusa was jammed with traffic, and Montalbano's dark mood worsened as a result. He was, moreover, in a wretched state from all the sand scratching between his socks and skin, collar and neck. At one point, about a hundred yards up the road, on the left and therefore on the opposite side, he saw the 'Trucker s Rest Stop', where he knew they made first-rate coffee. When he was nearly parallel to the spot, he indicated and turned. A riot, a pandemonium of screeching brakes, blaring horns, shouts, insults, and curses ensued. By some miracle he reached the car park in front of the restaurant unscathed, got out of the car, and went insi de. The first thing he saw were two people he immediately recognized, even though they had their backs to him. It was Fazio and Galluzzo, each knocking back a glass of cognac, or so, at least, it looked to him. Cognac, at that hour of the morning? He wedged himself in between the two and ordered a coffee from the barman. Recognizing his voice, Fazio and Galluzzo turned around with a start
    'To your health,' said Montalbano.
    ‘ No ... it's just that...' Galluzzo began, trying to justify himself.
    ‘ We were feeling a little upset,'said Fazio.
    'And we needed