The Terra-Cotta Dog Read Online Free PDF Page B

commissioner.”
    â€œ Madunnuzza biniditta! Why not?”
    â€œDon’t be silly, Montalbano.”
    â€œWell, I’m sorry, but why should I be promoted?”
    â€œWhat a question! Because of what you did this morning.”
    Montalbano felt simultaneously hot and cold: he had sweat on his forehead and chills down his spine. The prospect terrorized him.
    â€œI didn’t do anything different from what my colleagues do every day, Commissioner.”
    â€œI don’t doubt it. But this particular arrest, when it comes to be known, will cause quite a stir.”
    â€œSo there’s no hope?”
    â€œCome on, don’t be childish.”
    The inspector felt like a tuna caught in the net, the chamber of death. He began to feel short of breath, mouth opening and closing on emptiness. Then he tried a desperate suggestion:
    â€œCouldn’t we blame Fazio?”
    â€œBlame?”
    â€œI’m sorry, I meant couldn’t we give him the credit?”
    â€œSee you later, Montalbano.”
    Â 
 
Augello, who was lurking behind the door, made a questioning face.
    â€œWhat’d the commissioner say?”
    â€œWe spoke about the situation.”
    â€œOh, right! You should see the look on your face!”
    â€œWhat look?”
    â€œLike you’ve been to a funeral.”
    â€œI had trouble digesting what I ate last night.”
    â€œAnything interesting?”
    â€œThree pounds of mostaccioli. ”
    Augello looked at him in dismay. Montalbano, sensing that he was about to ask him the name of the arrested fugitive, used the opportunity to change the subject and put him on another track.
    â€œDid you guys ever find the night watchman?”
    â€œThe one in the supermarket? Yeah, I found him myself. The thieves bashed him in the head, then bound and gagged him and threw him in a great big freezer.”
    â€œIs he dead?”
    â€œNo, but I don’t think he’s feeling very alive either. When we pulled him out, he looked like a giant frozen stockfish.”
    â€œAny idea which way they went?”
    â€œI’ve got half an idea myself and the carabinieri lieutenant has another. But one thing is certain: to haul all that stuff, they had to use a heavy truck. And there must have been a team of at least six people to load it, under the command of some professional.”
    â€œListen, Mimì, I have to run home and change my clothes. I’ll be right back.”
    Â 
 
Near Marinella he noticed that the reserve light for the gas tank was flashing. He stopped at the same filling station where there’d been a drive-by shooting a while back, when he’d had to bring in the attendant to get him to talk. Upon seeing the inspector, the attendant, who bore him no grudge, greeted him in his usual high-pitched voice, which made Montalbano shudder. After filling the tank, the attendant counted the money and eyed the inspector.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Didn’t I give you enough?”
    â€œNo sir. There’s enough money here, all right. I just wanted to tell you something.”
    â€œLet’s have it,” Montalbano said impatiently. If the guy went on talking, even a little, his nerves would give out.
    â€œLook at that truck over there.”
    And he pointed at a large tractor-trailer parked in the lot behind the filling station, tarps pulled down tight to hide the cargo.
    â€œIt was already here early this morning,” he continued, “when I opened up. Now it’s been four hours and still nobody’s come to get it.”
    â€œDid you look to see if anyone’s sleeping in the cab?”
    â€œYessir, I looked, there’s nobody. And another weird thing: the keys are still in the ignition. The first soul to come along could start it up and drive it away.”
    â€œShow me,” said Montalbano, suddenly interested.

4
    A tiny man with rat-tail mustaches, an unpleasant smile, gold-framed eyeglasses, brown