by Paolo Copparoni, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 7 – The Pink Handkerchief
The hotel porter welcomes Signor Ricetti politely. He is happy to help the detective, and will tell him everything he knows.
But in reality he has no new information on the murder as the police, having completed their investigation have archived the case and have not returned to the hotel .
The only objects retrieved from the scene of the crime are an earring, found outside Signora Rocchi’s door, and a pink handkerchief.
“A pink handkerchief?” That’s something new,” thinks Vittorio, “And for some reason it sounds familiar…. I wonder why?”
The porter doesn’t seem to think it important ; the handkerchief probably belonged to the dead woman.
But, on the contrary, it is very important!
Signor Ricetti suddenly slaps his forehead. “But of course! Now I remember! A murderer I arrested about 30 years ago always left a pink handkerchief at the scene of the crime It was his trademark. I can’t believe he’s back!”
After so many years Vittorio doesn’t remember the killer’s name, only his nickname “the Pink Handkerchief killer.”
He decides to call Mario and ask him to check the police records.
Mario, however, does not answer any of Signor Ricetti’s numerous calls. After a couple of days without any news from his friend he begins to worry and decides to contact the police headquarters direct.
He doesn’t want to tell them everything, but has to know if his old friend is all right.
But the officer who takes his call has terrible news for him; Mario has disappeared and has not turned up at work for two days.
Vittorio is horror -stricken. “Where can he have got to? Has the Pink Handkerchief killer got him?” I must find him! I must find both of them!”