time.
âMay I begin?â he asked.
âYes.â
âDo you have any enemies?â
âEnemies?â she said, squinting a little. She was quite feeble minded from the drugs.
âSomeone who hates you so much they might wish to harm you in this fashion?â
âNo.â
âWhat sort of work do you do?â
âSales.â
âWhere?â
âWith the big wholesalers.â
The woman replied slowly, and always with that hint of a smile on her lips. Bordelli left long pauses between questions, so as not to tire her.
âAre you married?â
âNo.â
âDo you have a boyfriend?â
âI donât have anyone.â
Although she was thin, she sat as if her body felt very heavy to her.
âAnd Valentinaâs father?â
âHe lives in Turin ⦠He was already married with children, but I discovered that a little late.â
âIs that why Valentina doesnât have her fatherâs name?â
âWhen she was born, he didnât want ⦠how do you say it?â
âTo acknowledge paternity?â
âYes â¦â she said, shrugging slightly.
âWhy not?â
âHe didnât want any trouble for his real family,â the young woman said, a furrow between her eyebrows.
âForgive me for asking, Signora Panerai ⦠But didnât he help you at all?â
âHe sent me a little money every month. Though that certainly wasnât what I had in mind when I met him.â
âSo, you couldnât say youâve maintained good relations with him,â the inspector said.
The woman shook her head.
âI tried every way I could to make him say that Valentina was his daughter. A few years ago I even filed a complaint against him ⦠We ended up in court, but he kept on denying everything. He could afford a good lawyer, and so it all came to nothing ⦠In the end I gave up,â she said, looking at him through empty eyes. Saying more than a few sentences seemed to have tired her out.
âDid he ever come and see Valentina?â
âThree or four times a year.â
âWas he fond of her?â
âWhat?â
âValentinaâs father ⦠was he fond of her?â
The woman nodded faintly.
âHer, yes ⦠He wrote her many letters and was always giving her presents,â she said.
âHas he been told what happened?â
âYes.â
âHow did he take it?â
âHe cried â¦â the woman said, her eyes vacant. Bordelli left her alone for a bit, to let her rest. Then he resumed.
âIâm sorry, signora ⦠but I have to ask you a few questions about that afternoon.â
âAsk whatever you like,â she said, seeming tired.
âDid you notice immediately that your daughter was missing?â
âNo.â
âHow did you lose sight of her?â
âShe did it all the time.â
âRan away, you mean?â
âYes.â
âWhy did she do that?â
âShe liked to hide,â the woman said, staring at the wall with an unhappy smile. Her eyes looked huge in her gaunt face.
âWhat time was it when you last saw Valentina?â
âI donât know ⦠about half past five, I guess.â
The girl was found around six. And in that half-hour she had been killed.
âDid you go often to the Parco del Ventaglio with your daughter?â Bordelli continued after another pause.
âWhen it wasnât raining â¦â
âDo most of the people who go to the park know each other?â
âYes.â
âLately, had you noticed anyone you hadnât ever seen there before?â
âNo,â she said, shaking her head repeatedly. Bordelli waited for her to calm down, then continued.
âDo people sometimes come to the park alone â¦? I mean, people without children?â
âA few old men with dogs.â
âAnd had anyone ever bothered your
âMay I begin?â he asked.
âYes.â
âDo you have any enemies?â
âEnemies?â she said, squinting a little. She was quite feeble minded from the drugs.
âSomeone who hates you so much they might wish to harm you in this fashion?â
âNo.â
âWhat sort of work do you do?â
âSales.â
âWhere?â
âWith the big wholesalers.â
The woman replied slowly, and always with that hint of a smile on her lips. Bordelli left long pauses between questions, so as not to tire her.
âAre you married?â
âNo.â
âDo you have a boyfriend?â
âI donât have anyone.â
Although she was thin, she sat as if her body felt very heavy to her.
âAnd Valentinaâs father?â
âHe lives in Turin ⦠He was already married with children, but I discovered that a little late.â
âIs that why Valentina doesnât have her fatherâs name?â
âWhen she was born, he didnât want ⦠how do you say it?â
âTo acknowledge paternity?â
âYes â¦â she said, shrugging slightly.
âWhy not?â
âHe didnât want any trouble for his real family,â the young woman said, a furrow between her eyebrows.
âForgive me for asking, Signora Panerai ⦠But didnât he help you at all?â
âHe sent me a little money every month. Though that certainly wasnât what I had in mind when I met him.â
âSo, you couldnât say youâve maintained good relations with him,â the inspector said.
The woman shook her head.
âI tried every way I could to make him say that Valentina was his daughter. A few years ago I even filed a complaint against him ⦠We ended up in court, but he kept on denying everything. He could afford a good lawyer, and so it all came to nothing ⦠In the end I gave up,â she said, looking at him through empty eyes. Saying more than a few sentences seemed to have tired her out.
âDid he ever come and see Valentina?â
âThree or four times a year.â
âWas he fond of her?â
âWhat?â
âValentinaâs father ⦠was he fond of her?â
The woman nodded faintly.
âHer, yes ⦠He wrote her many letters and was always giving her presents,â she said.
âHas he been told what happened?â
âYes.â
âHow did he take it?â
âHe cried â¦â the woman said, her eyes vacant. Bordelli left her alone for a bit, to let her rest. Then he resumed.
âIâm sorry, signora ⦠but I have to ask you a few questions about that afternoon.â
âAsk whatever you like,â she said, seeming tired.
âDid you notice immediately that your daughter was missing?â
âNo.â
âHow did you lose sight of her?â
âShe did it all the time.â
âRan away, you mean?â
âYes.â
âWhy did she do that?â
âShe liked to hide,â the woman said, staring at the wall with an unhappy smile. Her eyes looked huge in her gaunt face.
âWhat time was it when you last saw Valentina?â
âI donât know ⦠about half past five, I guess.â
The girl was found around six. And in that half-hour she had been killed.
âDid you go often to the Parco del Ventaglio with your daughter?â Bordelli continued after another pause.
âWhen it wasnât raining â¦â
âDo most of the people who go to the park know each other?â
âYes.â
âLately, had you noticed anyone you hadnât ever seen there before?â
âNo,â she said, shaking her head repeatedly. Bordelli waited for her to calm down, then continued.
âDo people sometimes come to the park alone â¦? I mean, people without children?â
âA few old men with dogs.â
âAnd had anyone ever bothered your
Similar Books
