The Scent of the Night Read Online Free PDF

inspector extinguished the lighter. But he continued to hold it in his hand, just as he continued to hold the cigarette between his lips. He had, however, achieved the result he'd wanted, for the commissioner, frightened by the threat of the lighter about to spring into action, went straight to the heart of the matter.
    'Montalbano, I've unfortunately been forced to stick my nose into some dossiers on a rather malodorous investigation of yours from a few years ago, before I became commis sioner of Montelusa Police’
    Y our nose is too sen sitive for the line of work you’ re in.
    Th e comment had slipped out; he hadn't managed to hold it in. And he immediately regretted it. He saw Bonetti-Alderighi's hand come into the cone of light cast by the lamp and clutch the edge of the desk, knuckles pale from the effort he was making to control himself. Montalbano feared the worst, but the commissioner restrained himself. He resumed speaking in a tense voice.
    ‘I’ m talking about the case of that Tunisian prostitute who was later found dead, and who ha d a son by the name of Francois’
    The boy's name cut straight to his heart like a dagger. My God, Francois! How long had it been since he'd seen him. ’ He resolved, however, to pay close attention to the commissioner's words; he didn't want the surge of emotion to overwhelm him and leave him unable to defend himself. For it was clear that Bonetti-Alderighi was about to begin making accusations. He tried to recall to mind all the details of that distant case. Want to bet that Lohengrin Pera, that son of a bitch from the Secret Service, had found a way to take his revenge after all these years? But the commissioner's next words threw him for a loop.
    'Apparently you had originally intended to get married and adopt this child. Is this true?'
    ‘ Yes, it's true,' replied the inspector, stunned.
    What the hell did this personal detail have to do with the investigation? And how did Bonetti-Alderighi know these things?
    'Good. Later you apparently changed your mind about the adoption. And thereafter Francois was entrusted to the care of a sister of your second-in-command, Inspector Domenico Augello. Is that correct?'
    What was this damn son of a bitch getting at?
    ‘ Yes, that's correct.'
    Montalbano was feeling more and more worried. He knew neither why the commissioner was so interested in this story, nor from what angle the inevitable blow was going to come.
    'All in the family, eh?'
    Bonetti-Alderighi's sardonic tone contained a clear yet inexplicable insinuation. What on earth was going through the imbecile's head?
    'Listen, Mr Commissioner. It seems to me you've formed a clear idea of an affair I scarcely remember anymore. Whatever the case, please weigh your words carefully.'
    'Don't you dare threaten mei' Bonetti-Alderighi screamed hysterically, bringing his fist down hard on the desk, which reacted with a crack 'Come on, tell me: what ever happened to the booklet?'
    'What booklet?'
    He honestl y had no recollection of any booklet,
    'Don't play dumb with me, Montalbano!'
    It was those very words, Don't play dumb, that finally set him off. He hated cliches and stock phrases; they aroused an uncontrollable rage in him ’
    This time it was his turn to bring his fist down on the desk, which reacted with a crick-crack
    ‘ What damn booklet are you babbling about?'
    'Hey, hey!' the commissioner sneered. ‘ Nose not too clean, Montalbano?'
    He felt that if, after the playing dumb and the nose not too clean , the commissioner were to come out with another of these expressions, he was going to grab Bonetti-Alderighi by the neck and strangle him to death. By some miracle he managed not to react or even to open his mouth.
    ‘ But before we get to the booklet,' the commissioner resumed, 'let's talk about the boy, the prostitute's son. You, without telling anyone, brought this orphan into your house. That's illegal confinement of a minor, Montalbano! There's a court for these kinds