The first was this: Hi kid, sorry to delay answering but I’m having a party with these gorgeous Cuban dancers. Let’s talk when we have more time.

The second, immediately afterwards, was: I miss you too. Please come back soon.

43

5

I opened my eyes exactly six hours after switching off the light. I got up immediately, had a quick shower, made my usual black coffee, ate a few pieces of shortbread from the bakery near my building, then, to silence my health-freak conscience (which was a little fragile, to tell the truth), told myself I would have a fruit juice later in the morning and went back to the table and the case file. More specifically, to the transcript of Lorenza’s testimony.

I skimmed quickly through the preliminaries and moved on to the main part.

avvocato costamagna: Signora Delle Foglie, do you remember the day the police came to your home? The day you later learned that a murder had been committed and that your son was suspected of the crime?

witness: Yes, of course.

avvocato costamagna: Does your son Iacopo live with you?

witness: Yes, I mean, up until then, when he was arrested.

avvocato costamagna: Of course. Do you remember what you had been doing that afternoon?

witness: I’d been working.

avvocato costamagna: Can you tell us what work you do?

witness: Actually, I have more than one job. I’m a self-employed teacher, I do substitute teaching, sometimes for long periods, sometimes for a whole year. But I also 44do other things to make ends meet: I give private lessons and sometimes I keep elderly ladies company.

avvocato costamagna: Like a carer?

witness: Not exactly. I don’t provide what I’d call material care. I keep them company when they’re alone. These are old people who are completely self-sufficient. Sometimes I read to them, we talk…

avvocato costamagna: That afternoon, what had you done?

witness: I’d gone to see one of these old ladies.

avvocato costamagna: I see. Do you remember what time you got home?

witness: I can’t say the exact time, but my shift at that lady’s was from three to seven, from her home to mine is more or less twenty minutes on foot, so I’d say I got home roughly around 7.15.

avvocato costamagna: Was your son Iacopo at home?

witness: No, but he came in soon after me.

avvocato costamagna: Can you tell us how soon after?

witness: Ten minutes, maybe a little more.

avvocato costamagna: So is it correct to say that at 7.47 your son —

assistant prosecutor: Objection, Your Honour, defence is drawing conclusions, which he obviously can’t do at this point.

presiding judge: Avvocato, stick to questions. You can draw any conclusions you wish in your closing statement.

avvocato costamagna: I’m sorry, Your Honour, but you can’t stop me, I need to —