Marco Vichi - Inspector Bordelli 04 - Death in Florence by Marco Vichi

Author:Marco Vichi [Vichi, Marco]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery: Thriller - Inspector - Flood - Florence Italy
ISBN: 8860881846
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2009-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

He returned to Piazza Beccaria, headed for Piazza Donatello along Viali, which was clogged with cars advancing a few feet every ten minutes. The ambulances and fire engines struggled to get through the traffic, as a few mud-spattered traffic cops hastily tried to clear a path for them in the middle of the boulevard.

The flood waters had stopped just past the English Cemetery, so there was no problem walking down Viale Matteotti. It was a real pleasure not to have slime under one’s boots. He continued on as far as Piazza della Libertà. The newspaper kiosk was open, and people were queuing up. He went to have a look round the corner of Viale Lavagnini. No trace of flooding: Cesare’s trattoria had been spared. And what about Totò? He knew he lived in Via Pisana but couldn’t remember on what floor. He retraced his steps and turned on to Via San Gallo, picking up his pace. It was only two days since he’d last left the station in Via Zara, but it felt like ten years. The boy’s murder seemed a distant memory, buried by time. There was no way, of course, for him to keep up with his investigation in the midst of the catastrophe. There were far more urgent matters to attend to. With a bitter taste in his mouth, he had to admit that it had almost been a stroke of luck, since he hadn’t known which way to turn anyway.

Police headquarters had been spared as well. The courtyard was mobbed with people who’d had to leave their homes and didn’t know where to rest their weary bones. The back-and-forth traffic of military vehicles continued unabated. The atmosphere was a combination of patience and agitation. Small children looked around with fear in their eyes, while the oldest still hadn’t forgotten the disaster of the war. Mugnai was pale and looked as if he’d lost weight. He was keeping busy amid the confusion, along with several other officers. As soon as he saw Bordelli, he came running towards him.

‘Inspector! Aren’t you supposed to be at home with the flu?’ he asked, as if he’d seen a ghost.

‘I’m feeling much better … Where are they taking them?’ he asked, indicating a lorry that was boarding a group of evacuees.

‘Wherever there’s room … Barracks, convents, a few schools …’

‘Was your place flooded?’

‘Everything’s fine, Inspector. I live in Le Cure.’

‘What about Commissioner Inzipone?’

‘He was here for about half an hour last night, then he went to the mayor’s. At the moment he should be at the Prefecture.’

‘Have we got phone service?’

‘Everything got knocked out, electricity included. We’re making do with generators.’

‘Is Piras in?’

‘I really don’t know. It’s been total chaos here since yesterday morning.’

‘Go and get some rest, you’re pale as a corpse.’

‘Not now, sir,’ said Mugnai, and he turned and went back to the evacuees.

Bordelli went straight to the radio room. You could cut the smoke with a knife, and everybody’s face was drawn. Maps of the province and the city were spread out over the tables, and there were empty espresso cups scattered everywhere.

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