This guy really is out of his skull, Caterina decided. “Are you crazy? You could fall over the side!”

The deputy chief looked around. “No. This canopy is just three feet below my window.”

“Sure, but then if you fall off the canopy, it’s at least ten feet.”

“But I’m not going to fall.”

“What are you putting in your pocket?”

“I just dropped some spare change.”

Caterina shook her head.

“Oh, and, Caterina? Could you add one more pain in the ass to the chart?”

“Certainly. Name it.”

“People who don’t mind their own fucking business. And put it at the eighth degree.”

“Got you loud and clear . . .” And the deputy inspector walked into police headquarters.

Schiavone got both hands on the windowsill and pulled himself up. He was struggling to clamber through the window to get back into his office when Italo threw open the door. “What on earth are you doing, Rocco?”

“Oh, so it’s a family defect, then . . .”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your wife asked me the same thing just a minute ago.”

“She’s not my wife. And anyway, since when is it a defect to ask questions?”

“No, Italo, it’s a defect not to mind your own fucking business. What’s up?”

“Apparently there have been dozens of phone calls for you. But why don’t you turn on your cell phone?”

“To avoid receiving dozens of phone calls. And I can see that you persist in the error of your ways, failing to do what I just instructed you to do.”

“Namely, to mind my own fucking business?”

“Exactly!”

“Okay, but still, call the judge back. Otherwise, he’s going to ruin my life.”

Rocco let himself drop into his chair. “Are you afraid of being transferred? It’s not so bad. After all, take a look at me: a new police headquarters with lots of interesting people to spend your days with, cheerful folk, likable, extremely stimulating. I’d never have met a D’Intino or, say, Deruta, to say nothing of Casella. Who wouldn’t want to work with people like that? And then there’s this city! Warm, welcoming, lively, full of vim and vigor and sunshine! Let me say it to you with my hand on my heart: I wouldn’t trade it for any other city on earth!”

Italo looked at him for a couple of seconds in silence. “Are you making fun of me?”

The deputy chief didn’t answer.

“You’re wrong, Rocco. Just think how much worse it could have gone.”

“Oh, really?”

“You could have wound up in Sacile del Friuli!”

“Which is where I could suggest Baldi send you! Okay, I’ll call him later, and that’s a promise.”

Italo leaned on the desk. “But aren’t you afraid, Rocco?”

“Of what?”

“The way that guy tried once, he could try again.”