The Potter's Field

Here there can be only one answer. Giovanni was a courier for Balduccio. He must have been very good at it. And Dolores must have been well aware of this activity. One day, however, he “betrays” Balduccio, who then has him killed. Dolores therefore hasn’t the slightest doubt about who ordered her husband’s elimination.

Possible answer to Question three:

Dolores knows—because Giovanni has surely told her—how intelligent and shrewd old Balduccio is. She is moved by an irresistible desire for revenge. She wants Balduccio to pay, and she knows that the old mafioso is capable of beating the justice system, as he has done so many times in the past. With Mimì under her control, she hopes to avert this danger, since she will never let him give up the fight against Balduccio.

Dear Salvo, I have bored myself to tears writing to you. I’ve said the essential. Now it’s up to you.

Good luck.

Day was dawning. As he stood up from the table, cold shivers ran up and down his spine. He undressed and got into a tub so hot it filled the bathroom with steam. When he came out he was red as a lobster. He shaved, made a pot of coffee, and drank his customary mugful. Then he went into the bedroom, got dressed, took out an overnight bag, put in a shirt, a pair of underpants, a pair of socks, two handkerchiefs, and a book he was reading. Going back into the dining room, he reread the letter he’d written to himself, brought it out to the veranda, and set fire to it with his lighter. He glanced at his watch. Almost six-thirty. He went inside and dialed a number on the land line, slipping his cell phone into his pocket.

“Hello?” answered Fazio.

“Montalbano here. Did I wake you up?”

“No, Chief. What is it?”

“Listen, I have to leave.”

Fazio became alarmed.

“Are you going to Boccadasse? What happened?”

“I’m not going to Boccadasse. I hope to be back this evening or tomorrow morning at the latest. If I get back tonight I’ll give you a ring, even if it’s late. All right?”

“Whatever you say, Chief.”

“Don’t forget that thing I asked you about. You absolutely must find out why Pecorini left Vigàta two years ago.”

“Don’t worry.”

“This morning one of Alfano’s friends is coming to the station. I talked with two others yesterday evening. I want you to question the one today.”

“All right.”

“The keys Dolores gave you to the apartment in Gioia Tauro, where are they?”

“On my desk, in an envelope.”

“I’m going to take them. Oh, and listen. If you happen to run into Inspector Augello today, don’t tell him I’ve gone to Gioia Tauro.”

“Chief, the guy doesn’t talk to any of us anymore. But if he happens to ask me, what do I tell him?”

“Tell him I’ve gone to the hospital for a routine checkup.”

“You, go to the hospital of your own will? He’ll never believe it! Can’t you think of anything better?”

“You think of something. But he mustn’t suspect in any way that I’m doing something related to the critaru murder.”

“I’m sorry, Chief, but even if he does suspect something, what’s the problem?”

“Just do as I say and don’t argue.”

The inspector hung up.

Ah, how foul and swampy, how treacherous the ground was around the potter’s field!