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When finally apprehended, the killer told police that indeed, several women had been spared because he hadn’t been able to enter their apart at the book She wondered if Italian would-be vaarlic

She found herself thinking about Ragnor She never saw hie habit of appearing when she expected hi when she was sure he had just been near He would tell her nothing about his past

She suddenly jumped up, thanked the waiter as always so attentive and kind, and hurried back to her rooht and stood in front of the hly Not a pinprick She felt foolish

She looked at her E-mail No return as of yet She bundled her two vaer to reach the district station where Roberto Capo worked

It was very much like any police station at home There was an information officer at the front desk

There were a nu thees She didn’t need to speak Italian to realize that two of the wo arrested for prostitution A balding ondola The pretty Italian wo her husband some lunch

Jordan asked for Roberto Capo, apparently ave her a long reply?none of which she understood But he read her baffled expression and s and just left He was not feeling well" The officer shrugged "He had last night off

He’ll be in to"

"Thank you so hts?"

"Now, during Carnevale? He works all hours Call if you like, before you come in I’m Dominic Donatello I’ll be on days from nine to five for the next week I’ll find out his hours for you"

"Again, thank you so htened at the contessa’s party"

"Yes, that’s me"

"I’hing at me" He waved a hand in the air "Women like the contessathey don’t realize that there is real crime in the world and one must not make fun of death and terror"

Jordan suddenly heard her name called She turned; it was Alfredo Manetti

"Miss Riley, how are you?"

"Very well, thank you"

"What are you doing here?" he asked politely "Come, come, into my office" A moment later, she was seated at the all too familiar desk where she had been made to feel a fool after the contessa’s party But thisher feel foolish

"You’re still upset," he said

She leaned forward, folding her hands on the desk "I’aged to a homicide cop, and he was killed in the pursuit of cultists I know that such people are out there And now?you have a severed head"

Alfredo leaned forward then "And I assure you, forensics are working studiously on discovering the identity of the man and the cause of his death"

"Well, I would say that the reood reason for death," she murmured

He flushed; the tables were somewhat turned

"What else?" he asked

"A friend ofTiff Henley"

Alfredo threw up his hands "Mrs Henley coroup of us over, and she wasn’t there And she didn’t show up at the party last night I’d like you to find out what has happened to her"

"I will find out what I can about your friend," he said "And as to the contessashe has contributed huge suhout Italy She helps finance large groups of poor Europeans, just so that they can see the wonder of Venice She is generous to a fault"

"I’ that I believe so on, and that if it doesn’t stop, ht die"

"I will take your words to heart," he told her

She rose, wondering if heher She was deterht be It was aggravating to have to wait another day, but she didn’t intend to say anything more to Alfredo Manetti

She thanked him and left the station

As she entered the lobby of the Danieli, the concierge called her to say that he’d received a e for hen Roberto Capo had called the hotel and wished to meet her He had left an address for a trattoria where she could find hilanced at her watch It was just five, but she decided to leave right away

The concierge brought out athat she ht want to take a water taxi, since it was a bit of a walk She didn’tto the map, she could take a side calle or two and stop by Tiff’s, knock on the door, and see if by chance Tiff would respond today