“You go search. Most of all, keep your ears open for any mention of someone who comes from Rome. This is important, get the lists and bring them to me. To me and me alone. Have I made myself clear?”

They both nodded again. “When do we start?”

“Right away, Deruta. This minute!” And he pulled open his office door to go through it. He turned again to look at the two officers, who still stood, anchored to the spot, in the middle of the hallway. “Well? What are you waiting for? Get going!”

“But if we’re going to do this job, though . . . then there’s something we need!” And Deruta looked at D’Intino in search of some sign of assent.

“What do you need?”

Deruta held up his right hand with four fingers in plain view. “Four highlighters!”

“One pink, one yellow, one green, and one blue!” D’Intino summed up.

Rocco furrowed his brow slightly. “Why, though, don’t you have any in the office?”

“No,” Deruta replied tragically. “They never approved them for us.”

Rocco threw both arms wide. “Will ten euros be enough?”

“Certainly.”

The deputy chief put his hand on his wallet. He didn’t have a ten-euro bill. So he gave them a twenty-euro banknote. “Buy yourselves four highlighters apiece!”

D’Intino and Deruta emanated joy from their eyes, from their skin, and from their hands as they hastily grabbed at the twenty euros. Effusively thanking him and already deep in conference, they hurried out of the office.

“Huh . . .” Rocco murmured and went into his office.

LUPA WAS STANDING BY THE DOOR. SHE WAS WAGGING HER tail, and it smacked rhythmically against the back of the couch she’d fallen asleep on. She’d heard the deputy chief’s voice. “Ciao, Lupacchiotta, how are you?” Rocco picked the puppy up and hoisted her in midair, gazing into her eyes. “Now you and I are going to have to have a serious conversation. Papà might have to go away for a few days. Are you going to be a good girl?”

Lupa licked his nose.

“I’ll take that for a yes. Now will you come with me to see the judge?”

Lupa licked his nose again.

“But you have to behave yourself, understood? Let’s go, forward march!” And he set her down on the floor, whereupon Lupa ran straight out of the office and disappeared down the hallway.

LUPA WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE FRINGE OF THE faux-Bukhara carpet in Baldi’s office. She was ripping the tassels of fringe one by one.

“Dogs aren’t allowed in the prosecutor’s office building,” Baldi told him.

“I know that. But downstairs they made an exception.”

“She’s stinking up my office.”

“Lupa doesn’t stink. If anything, she smells of popcorn. Especially when she’s asleep.”

Baldi shook his head. “Just tell me if you’ve come up with an idea, Schiavone.”

“First of all, let me extend my compliments.”