Death in Tuscany (20 page)

Subject 1

UGO PALLADIANI, originally Folco, born Florence 30/01/1940, resident there, at 680 Via della Vigna Nuova.

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Identity Card AE 6149065 issued Town Hall Florence

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Passport B 031285 issued Police Headquarters Florence [see appendix A]

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Driving licence AB Florence 0784612

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Weapons licence 468905 79 issued Police Headquarters Florence

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Administrative documents: see appendix B

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Various: see appendix C

REPORT:

Subject 1 comes from a family of rich Florentine textile merchants. Only son. Cavour Senior High School 1954-58, Bocconi University Milan, 1959-63. Studies interrupted by death of father. Takes over family business in crisis. Business declared bankrupt [see appendix B subsection 4] 1965.

1965-76: details missing at present time [presumably devoted to social life: see appendix C subsection 3].

1976: marries Susanna Spotorno, wealthy Roman retailer, owner of two clothing shops in the capital: one in the Largo Argentina and the other in the Via Cola di Rienzo.

Following his marriage, embarks on clothing business, successfully but briefly [Note: these are the years of the Gucci crisis and Ugo Palladiani appears to realise that new developments will be in casual clothing, as turns out to be the case. But he seems unable to adapt to the changes of the Eighties and the trend in designer casuals. He continues with mass produced clothing, inevitably losing out to more prestigious brands which capture the market during these years]. His financial failure does not prevent subject from continuing to lead an extravagant life [see appendix C subsection 2]-

1986: divorces Susanna Spotorno.

1989: marries Simonetta Tonelli [see subject 2].

1991: declared bankrupt by the court of Florence [see appendix B subsection 1] [Note: declaration is evidence of extent of Subject l's debts].

1994: subject settles debts and founds a public relations company, UP Communications Ltd, based at 680 Via della Vigna Nuova. Substantial profits up to and including year 2000.

Subject 2

SIMONETTA PALLADIANI NEE TONELLI, born Carrara 17/11/1967, residing 135 Via Roma, Marina di Pietrasanta (Lucca).

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Identity Card details requested from Town Hall Pietrasanta 07/08/01

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Passport B 031285 issued Police Headquarters Lucca

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Driving licence information requested Prefecture of Lucca 07/08/01

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Weapons licence: None

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Various: see appendix D

REPORT:

Subject 2 is a woman with an active social life [see appendix D].

At this stage of the investigation, there is no available

information on her family and education. 1989: marries Ugo Palladiani.

1996: moves from Florence to Marina di Pietrasanta. Active presence in cultural and social life of Versilia coast, not Florence [Note: civil marriage still valid. Maintains friendly relations with husband] [see appendices C and D].

Report compiled in accordance with your instructions Signed: Sergeant Nestore Fanti Florence, Tuesday 7 August 2001

Appendix A was an old, invalid passport that had been returned to Ugo Palladiani when he had applied for a new one. He opened it.

He studied the photograph for a long time. Despite his age, Palladiani looked relaxed, well groomed, a man who took care of his appearance. He wore his greying hair rather long, like an artist. Perhaps he had been one of those men who are convinced they will always be young.

But he did not recognise the face. He had certainly never met him: he had a photographic memory and would surely have remembered him. But it was strange, because the name . . .

The other appendices were a report that he owned three hunting rifles; the hunting licence itself; a report of the theft, two years earlier, of his car, a Mercedes CLK; balance sheets; declarations by the Bankruptcy Tribunal and various newspaper cuttings (appendices C and D), either showing him at various social occasions alone or with his wife, or reporting events on the Versilia coast, at which Simonetta Palladiani appeared with various people, but never with her husband.

There was no doubt that Simonetta was a very beautiful woman. She was tall and sensual, and in some of the photos she looked more like Ugo's daughter than his wife.

Even knowing Fanti's diligence and meticulousness, Ferrara could not help wondering how he had managed in less than twenty-four hours — six or seven if he had followed his advice and had gone to sleep the night before - to gather such an impressive body of information. Fanti had done an extraordinary job, and although Ferrara was usually sparing with his praise, this time he couldn't help telling him.

'Fanti,' he called.

Fanti came in looking anxious, as if expecting to be reprimanded. 'Yes, sir?' Fanti replied.

'Excellent work, Fanti. Congratulations!'

Fanti blushed visibly. 'But it isn't finished, chief

'I know. Don't worry about that. What I'd like to know is how you found out all these things. I don't mean what's in the documents. I'm talking about all these "notes", the story of his clothing business . . . Who did you get that from?'

'From a neighbour, the Contessa Servi,' Fanti said, with legitimate pride. 'Don't you remember, chief? The old lady who came to us in June to report a theft from her apartment.'

Ferrara remembered her well: a sprightly old lady, dressed the way women of good families used to dress. Commissioner Lepri had asked him to take her off his hands.

'The Contessa Servi's apartment,' Fanti continued, 'is in the very same building where Ugo Palladiani lives, on the same floor.'

'Lived,' Ferrara corrected him.

'Yes, chief, lived.'

'And his company also has its offices there, doesn't it?' 'No, the offices of the company are on the ground floor, and the apartment's on the second floor.' 'Did you go to the offices, too?'

'No. Or rather yes, but they're closed for the holidays.'

A thriving company, according to the balance sheets. I wonder how he managed to recover, after so many disasters . . .'

'Maybe his second wife was rich.' 'There isn't much about her, is there?' 'I'm still investigating, chief . . .' 'Didn't the contessa tell you?' 'What?'

'If she was rich.'

'I didn't ask her,' he admitted, mortified. 'Don't worry, it doesn't matter. You did an excellent job, as I said.'

'Thank you, chief.'

Ferrara fell silent, lost in thought.

'May I go?'

'Of course . . . Oh, just a moment, Fanti.' 'Chief?'

'I'd like you to get hold of Superintendent Rizzo. Tell him I'm sorry, but I need him to interrupt his holidays and get back here as soon as he can.'

As soon as he can? What does that mean?'

'It means as soon as possible, Fanti. In fact, right away'

'I'll get on to it now, chief.'

He left the room.

Ferrara went back to the file, concentrating this time on the financial affairs of Subject 1, as Fanti had dubbed him. He could not understand how he had managed to recover from a

setback which would have floored businessmen a lot more hardened than Palladiani seemed to have been, how he had bounced back and established his PR company. Even with a rich wife, it couldn't have been easy.

What if Ugo Palladiani had been in debt to a loan shark, and was murdered because he couldn't pay? he wondered. It was pure speculation, not too far-fetched - there were an alarming number of similar cases - but speculation nonetheless. It did have the advantage, though, of clearing Massimo.

Finding Massimo - finding him alive - was unfortunately another matter, he thought with a pang in his heart.

He dismissed the implications of this last thought and tried to concentrate on practicalities.

First of all, he had to ascertain if Simonetta Tonelli was a rich woman. It might be worth having a chat with the Contessa Servi, who gave the impression that she knew a lot.

'Fanti!' he called.

'Chief
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I haven't been able to reach Rizzo.' 'Keep trying. But that's not why I called you.' 'Go on, chief.'

'Phone the contessa and ask her if I can go and see her. Today, if possible.'

‘I’ll get on it right away'

Fanti went out and Ferrara looked at his watch, sighing as he did so. It was 4.01.