‘ Did I wake you, Giorgio? ’

‘Who’s this?’

‘ Gianpiero Rossi.’

‘Ah, good morning, Senator! No, I was working in the other office. No one ever believes it, of course, but we do work here at Central Office.’

‘ Listen Giorgio, I have a little problem I think you may be able to help me with.’

‘Consider it done.’

‘ You know about the Miletti kidnapping? ’

‘The tyre king from Modena?’

‘ Modena! What do you mean, Modena? Would I give a damn if he was from Modena? Miletti, Miletti! Radios, televisions! ’

‘Ah, of course. Excuse me. From Perugia.’

‘ From Perugia, exactly. And that’s my problem. Because some people there, friends of the family, feel that not enough is being done. You know how it is, everyone wants special attention. And these are people who are difficult to refuse. Do you follow? ’

‘Perfectly.’

‘ Like they say, the poor pray for miracles, the rich think they have a right to them. Now, I’m not trying to justify what cannot and should not be justified. I neither condone nor condemn. But the fact remains that I’m in a difficult situation. You see what I mean? ’

‘Of course. But what exactly do they want, these people? If you don’t mind my asking.’

‘ They want a name.’

‘A name? Whose name?’

‘ That is entirely up to you. It must be someone presentable, naturally. Don’t make me look like an idiot. If he’s well known so much the better.’

‘And what is this person to do?’

‘ Why, go and sort things out.’

‘Go to Perugia?’

‘ To Perugia, of course! ’

‘A police official?’

‘ Exactly. Can you help me? ’

‘Well, I must say that this is a particularly difficult moment, Senator. Since the Cabinet reshuffle the party’s relations with the Ministry have been…’

‘ When you’ve been around as long as I have, Giorgio, you’ll know that it’s always a particularly difficult moment. That’s why I rang you instead of some other people whose names came to mind. Now can you help me? ’