The Disappearance of Signora Giulia Read Online Free PDF

wasn’t sure what to do.
    Noting his embarrassment, the woman began to breathe more easily. ‘So where are we?’ she asked. ‘What’s Italy come to if you can’t pay someone a visit without informing the police?’
    ‘Pardon me, madam,’ the Commissario humbly offered. ‘I’ve acted in accordance with a standard warrant. It’s just thatthere’s been an error. A partial error, since Signor Barsanti is under arrest and must accompany me to police headquarters. As for you, madam, I can only offer my apologies. Report to your husband, the MP, that there’s been a misunderstanding, a mix-up of persons, and that I’m sorry and beg his pardon. As far as I’m concerned, you can go now. Where may I take you?’
    ‘I don’t need any help!’ the woman screeched, heading towards the door.
    Sciancalepre sent Officer Muscariello behind her to tell Rotundo, still guarding the front door, to let her go undisturbed. Then he turned to Barsanti.
    ‘You and I are going to have a few words now at headquarters.’
     
    In an office at the station, Sciancalepre began the interrogation. First of all, identity: Luciano Barsanti, twenty-six years old, born in C—— near Livorno, company rep for colours and finishes, etc., etc.
    Then he asked, ‘So, you were living in viale Premuda in Milan?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And you were seeing women there as well!’
    ‘From time to time. I’m young…’
    ‘Were you seeing married women too?’
    ‘It might have happened.’
    ‘You’re right it happened, young man! You were seeing Signora Giulia Esengrini, and every now and then you wrote her a letter and sent it to M—— in an envelope addressed to Teresa Foletti. I have those letters right here in my hand. Go on, keep talking…
    ‘What’s to tell, if you already know everything? It’s true. I met this woman one afternoon on the train between M—— and Milan. Then – you know how it goes… we met a few times in a café, struck up a friendship…’
    ‘Go on, tell me about this “friendship”!’
    ‘The first time, we went to a pensione I know around via Mario Pagano. Then she began to feel uncomfortable, and I had to find a little apartment.’
    ‘With money she gave you?’
    ‘I don’t earn much as a rep. And she was the one who wanted it. I got bored right away, but she was sentimental and said that if I left her she’d throw herself into the lake.’
    ‘Well, lake or no lake, Signora Esengrini has gone missing, and it’s your job to tell me about it.’
    ‘Me? But what do I know! After the letter from the lawyer, I gave up the flat and left for Rome. I didn’t want any further trouble.’
    ‘What letter?’
    ‘A letter written to me by Signora Esengrini’s husband. He told me he knew all about the affair, everything, that he’d had us followed, and it was better for me to leave the area and forget about his wife. You get the drift! I was out of there in less than eight days. The rental contract had expired, so I sold the furniture and cleared out and came here to Rome. Actually, the day before I got the letter from the lawyer, his wife missed our usual Thursday rendezvous for the first time. It’s obvious that her husband stopped her coming. In his letter he warned me, “Make sure you don’t tell my wife I’ve written to you!” So I wrote to her acting the dunce. I feigned surprise that she hadn’t made the appointment and told her I was leaving for Rome. A few nice lines, to soften the blow…’
    ‘Where’s the lawyer’s letter!’ shouted the Commissario.
    ‘The letter? I don’t know. I threw it out. You think I’d carry something like that around with me? What good would it do? I throw all my letters away. Even the ones Signora Giulia wrote to me every week.’
    The interrogation went on for several hours, and Sciancalepre was convinced that Barsanti was telling the truth. He warned him, for caution’s sake, to register any future movements with the police and to make sure they could find him