Read Online The Patience of the Spider by Andrea Camilleri - Free Book Online

it true you were left off the case, as that cornuto just said
on TV?
    Congratulations, Livia.
    Why?
    I can see youre becoming a true Vigatese. You called
Ragonese a cornuto. Calling people cornuti is typical of aborigines.
    I obviously caught it from you. But tell me, is it true you
were
    Not exactly. Im supposed to work together with Minutolo.
But the investigation was his from the start. And I was on
leave.
    Tell me about the kidnapping while I tidy up.
The inspector told her everything there was to tell. When
hed finished, Livia looked troubled.
If they ask for a ransom, will all your other conjectures
prove false?
    She, too, was thinking that they might have kidnapped
Susanna in order to rape her. Montalbano wanted to tell her
that a ransom demand didnt preclude rape, but he decided it
was better if she went to bed without this worry on her
mind.
    Of course. You want the bathroom first?
    Okay.
    Montalbano opened the French door giving onto the veranda,
sat down, and lit a cigarette. The night was as placid as a
babys sleep. He managed to stop thinking about Susanna and
the horror that this same night must have represented to her.
    After a short spell, he heard a noise inside the house. He
got up, went in, and froze. Livia was standing in the middle of
the room, naked. At her feet was a small puddle of water. Apparently
something had occurred to her halfway through the
shower and shed stepped out. She looked beautiful, but Montalbano
didnt dare make a move. Livias eyes, reduced to mere
slits, heralded an impending storm.
    You ...you ... said Livia, her arm extended, pointing
an accusing finger.
    Me what?
    When did you learn about the kidnapping?
    This morning.
When you went to the office?
No, before that.
How long before?
What, dont you remember?
I want to hear you say it.
When I got that call and you woke up and went in the
    kitchen to make coffee. Catarella told me first, but I didnt understand
a word of it, then Fazio explained that a girl had disappeared.
    And what did you do next?
I took a shower and got dressed.
Oh, no, you didnt, you disgusting hypocrite! You laid
    me out on the kitchen table! Monster! How could you even
think of making love to me when that poor girl
Livia, stop and think for a minute. When I got that call, I
had no idea how serious
    See? That newsman is right, whats his name, the one
who said youre incompetent and dont understand a thing!
Actually, no, youre worse! Youre a brute! A filthy pig!
    She ran out, and the inspector heard the key turn in the
bedroom door. He approached and knocked.
Come on, Livia. Dont you think youre overdoing it a
    little?
No. You can sleep on the sofa tonight.
But its so uncomfortable! Come on, Livia! I wont sleep
    a wink!
No reaction. He decided to play the pity card.
And Im sure my wound will start throbbing again! he
    said in a pathetic voice.
    Too bad.
    He knew he would never succeed in making her change
her mind. He had to resign himself. He cursed under his breath.
As if in response, the telephone rang. It was Fazio.
    Didnt I tell you to go home and rest?
    I couldnt bring myself to leave it all hanging, Chief.
    What do you want?
    They just phoned. Inspector Minutolo wanted to know
if you could drop by.
    He arrived in a flash in front of the locked gate. On the way
there, it occurred to him he hadnt told Livia he was going
out. Despite their quarrel, he should have. Even if only to
avoid another spat. Livia was liable to think hed gone to
spend the night at a hotel out of spite. Too bad.
    But now, how was he going to get somebody to open the
gate for him? By the light of the headlamps, he could see
there was no bell, no intercom, nothing. The only solution
was the car horn. He hoped he didnt have to keep honking
until he woke up the whole town. He started with a timid,
quick toot, and immediately a man came out of the house.
Fiddling with the keys, the man