Several heads turned to see the gorgeous Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 NTX bounding along the uneven roadway. Astride was an athletic-looking man, with thick hair, clean-shaven. He wore close-fitting jeans, boots, a black shirt and a leather jacket, dark brown. On his left hip was a badge of the Police of State; on the right, a large Beretta, a Px4 .45. No-nonsense, it had been dubbed by officers who carried it, though Ercole had always thought that use of “nonsense” and any firearm was largely contradictory.

Ercole watched the man skid to a stop. He was Silvio De Carlo, assistant inspector, young—about Ercole’s age. He strolled up to the inspector and gave a nod that was the equivalent of a salute to a commanding officer. Rossi and De Carlo began discussing the case.

The assistant was the epitome of a young Italian law enforcer—handsome, self-assured, surely smart and quick-witted. Clearly in good shape, too, and probably an ace with that powerful gun of his. Karate or, more likely, some obscure form of martial art figured in his life. Attractive to the ladies—and skilled in those arts, as well.

De Carlo was a citizen of that rarefied world alien to Ercole.

Fashionista…

Then Ercole corrected himself. He was selling De Carlo short. He’d earned his slot with the Police of State, obviously. While, as in any policing organization anywhere in the world, there would be dross at the top—officials coasting on their connections and glad-handing—a young line officer like De Carlo would only have risen on merit.

Well, Ercole decided, he himself had done his job—brought the attack to the attention of the investigators, informed them of the Composer. The truffle counterfeiter was long gone, and it was time to get home to his small flat on the Via Calibritto, in the Chiaia district. The neighborhood was far more chic than Ercole would have liked, but he’d come upon the place for a song and had spent months making it charming and comfortable: crammed full of family heirlooms and artifacts from his parents’ home in the country. Besides, he had the top floor and it was a short climb up from his den to his pigeons. He was already looking forward to a coffee on the roof tonight, gazing over the lights of the city and enjoying his partial view of the park and the bay.

He could already hear the cooing of Isabella and Guillermo and Stanley.

He climbed into the front seat of his Ford. He pulled out his phone and sent several email messages. He was about to replace the unit when it sang with the tone. It was not a reply but instead a text from his superior, wondering how the operation was going.

The operation…

The capture of the truffle counterfeiter.

His heart sinking, Ercole texted he would report later.

He couldn’t discuss his failure now.

The engine engaged, he pulled the seat belt strap around his chest. Did he have any food in the kitchen?