Emanuele Stefanori & Michela Guida, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 1 – Murder!
“A murder? Are you sure?”
“Yes, Inspector, I’m sure! My wife and I saw a person killed!”
Inspector Benvenga is an older man, tall and burly with little hair on his head but a big, grey moustache. He has served in the police force for more than thirty years and has seen and heard many strange things during the course of his long career. By now he is used to even the most bizarre stories, so it takes a lot to make him lose his cool.
Signor Malintesi, on the other hand, is really worked up. He arrived at the police station with his wife at about 10pm, demanding to speak to someone urgently, to report a murder.
After ten minutes and two glasses of water, the Malintesis are now sitting in Inspector Benvenga’s office.
“You must do something quickly, Inspector! They’ve killed a man and would have killed us too! We escaped just in time!” Signor Malintesi takes his wife’s hand, adding “My wife is still in shock after what happened!”
The inspector looks at her. “How are you feeling Madam? You don’t seem to me quite as agitated as your husband says,” he observes.
“How can that be? Anyone can see she isn’t even able to speak.” replies Signor Malintesi indignantly. “Don’t worry, dear, I’ll make sure this brutal crime is properly investigated.”
“Ok, ok,” says Benvenga “Let’s start from the beginning, calmly and not forgetting anything.”
“That‘s right, Inspector. Well….”