“This is an irrelevant topic.”

“It seems to me you were the one to introduce it during your cross-examination. I’m surprised that you now object to a question seeking to clarify it. Objection overruled. You may answer, Signor Arcidiacono.”

As happens when there are these skirmishes, the witness was confused, he didn’t know who to answer and wasn’t even sure what the question was. So I helped him.

“I just want you to recall briefly what I said to you when we talked a few days ago. First of all, where did we meet?”

“In your office.”

“What did I say to you?”

“That I had to come to court and testify.”

“What else?”

“That I had to tell the truth and there was nothing to worry about.”

224

22

Finally it was the turn of Gaetano Rafaschieri, Gaglione’s former partner. A man of medium height with lots of muscles, the kind you see even when he’s dressed, and an almost completely shaved head. Like most people who find themselves testifying in a court of law, he didn’t seem happy to be there.

After the ritual formalities, Consuelo began her examination. “Good morning, Signor Rafaschieri. Do you own a gym?”

“I did. I sold it about a year ago.”

“What do you do now?”

“I work in other gyms, or in people’s homes as a personal trainer. Let’s say I’m freelance.”

“For how long did you have a gym of your own?”

“Four years, more or less.”

“Why did you sell it?”

“It wasn’t bringing in much money any more.”

“Were you the sole owner?”

“At the end, yes. Before that I had a partner.”

“Who was this partner?”

“Mino Gaglione, I mean Cosimo Gaglione.”

“Were you equal partners?”

“Yes.”

“How did you split the running?”

“It wasn’t a big gym. I did mainly weightlifting, he did courses in kick-boxing and martial arts in general. But if it was needed, he helped me with the rest.”225

“Do you know the accused, the man who’s behind the bars over there?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know him?”

“He used to come to the gym, he was a pupil of Gaglione’s: mixed martial arts, he was actually quite good.”

“Obviously you know what this hearing is about?”

“Yes.”

“What terms were Gaglione and Cardace on?”

“They were friends.”

“Did they see each other outside the gym?”

“As far as I know, yes.”

“When did your partnership with Gaglione come to an end?”

“About a year before the … the thing happened.”

“Why did it end?”

“He was bringing in people I didn’t like, there were drugs going around, I wanted a clean place.”

“Did you quarrel?”