The elements that made up the killer’s portrait were becoming increasingly hazy. Teresa had never come across a psychological profile so full of contradictions, not in any case study, nor in her own career. The level of sadistic aggression in his attacks didn’t match his motivations for choosing his victims. He protected children, but at the same time he destroyed their families. It was likely that he felt some degree of guilt, which would explain why he had shown up at Lucia’s house with something belonging to her mother, and why he had brought the little girl a gift. It was also the reason why he had arranged the first victim’s body so carefully, let Melania Kravina go, and put Abramo Viesel’s clothes back on as if to hide that he’d skinned him alive.

“Do you have any idea what these might be?” she asked Hugo Knauss, taking off the gloves.

“No, Superintendent.”

“Are you sure? Someone in the valley with questionable hobbies, perhaps?”

“You mean with an interest in racist cults? Certainly not.”

So he’d made that connection, too. Teresa had a feeling everyone in the room must have thought the same thing.

“Would you even tell me if there was?”

“What exactly are you suggesting?”

“I never suggest, Chief Knauss . . .”

“Superintendent?” said De Carli as he walked in, interrupting their exchange. When he saw what they were looking at, he stopped and stared, forgetting what he’d come in to say. “Is that what I think it is?” he said.

“Who can say?” Teresa answered. “If you have any dazzling insights on the subject, please do share.”

“All I have for now is a report to hand in. It’s the interview with Lucia’s father.”

He placed the file on the desk. Teresa leafed through it distractedly.

“I don’t want that man going home any time soon,” she said. “The girl can be placed in her grandparents’ care for a few days.”

“We have enough to charge him, Superintendent. Besides, he’s already run away once, and he might do it again if we let him go.”

“Let’s hope the judge agrees with you.”

She didn’t mention that she’d already spoken to Judge Crespi herself and obtained his assurance that the man would not be allowed near his daughter for a while. He would need the support of the social care services first, to help him repair a bond he’d been on the verge of destroying—along with his own life.