Umberto D'Alaqua was tall and elegantly dressed, probably in his mid-fifties. He radiated self-assurance and strength.

"Good morning. I'm sorry, I was looking at the Modigliani. It's stunning."

D'Alaqua merely smiled slightly. "We'll be more comfortable in my office, Dottoressa Galloni."

Sofia nodded and followed him to a nearby suite of rooms. D'Alaqua's office was comfortable, furnished with contemporary furniture that highlighted the magnificent works of art covering the walls: several da Vinci drawings, a quattrocento Madonna, a Christ by El Greco, a Picasso harlequin, a Miro… On a small table in a corner across from the large desk, the simplicity of a crucifix carved from olive wood drew her attention.

D'Alaqua gestured her toward the couch, and he seated himself in an armchair beside her.

"Well, Dottoressa Galloni, how may I help you?"

Sofia hit him without preamble. "Signor D'Alaqua, we suspect that the fire in the cathedral was not an accident. In fact, we believe that none of the unfortunate events that have occurred in the Turin Cathedral have been accidents."

Nothing in D'Alaqua's expression betrayed the slightest sign of concern, or even surprise. He looked at her calmly, apparently waiting for her to go on, as though nothing he was hearing had anything to do with him.

"Did you know the men who were working in the cathedral? And do you feel you can fully trust them?"

"Dottoressa Galloni, COCSA is one of many corporations I own or on whose board of directors I sit. You can understand that I don't personally know all the employees of those corporations. In this as in any other business, there is a human-resources office, which I'm sure will have provided you with all the information you need on the men working in the cathedral. But if you require more, I'll be glad to ask the head of that department to put everything you need at your disposal."

He picked up the telephone and asked to be put through to the head of personnel.

"Signor Lazotti, I'd appreciate your meeting with Dottoressa Galloni of the Art Crimes Department. She needs more information on the men working in the cathedral. My secretary will bring her to your office in a few minutes… Yes, thank you." He put down the receiver and looked at her calmly; clearly he considered the interview over. She'd blown it.

"Do you think what I've told you is utterly absurd, Signor D'Alaqua?" Sofia pressed.

"Dottoressa Galloni, you and your team are the professionals, and you do your job. I have no opinion at all with respect to your suspicions or your line of investigation. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Sofia raised her chin slightly and smiled. "We may have more questions for you as our inquiry proceeds, Signor D'Alaqua. We just wanted to advise you of our thinking and that therefore we're going to be doing a thorough investigation of your personnel."

"Signor Lazotti will give you all the help you need, I'm sure."

D'Alaqua wasn't going to say another word. Sofia stood up and extended her hand.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

'A pleasure to meet you, Dottoressa Galloni."

Sofia was furious with herself but managed to chat amiably with Moretti, D'Alaqua's secretary, as he walked her to Mario Lazotti's office.

Lazotti greeted her with a smile. "Tell me, Dottoressa Galloni, what is it you need?"

"I need all the information you have on the men who were working in the cathedral, including all the personal details you have."

"I gave all that information to one of your colleagues in the Art Crimes Department and to the police, but I'll be happy to give you a copy of the entire file as well. I've already asked my secretary to prepare it for you. As for personal information, I'm afraid we won't be of much help there; COCSA is a large corporation, and it's difficult to get to know each and every employee. The supervisor at the cathedral might be your best source in that regard."

A young woman came in with a large file folder, which Lazotti handed to Sofia.

Sofia thanked him and setded more comfortably into the chair he had offered her. "Signor Lazotti, have you had many accidents like the one in the Turin Cathedral?"

"What do you mean?"

"COCSA is a company that does a lot of work for the Church. You've made repairs and done maintenance work on almost every cathedral in Italy."

"Italy and most of Europe. And accidents, unfortunately, happen, even though we closely comply with all security and safety regulations and take strict measures of our own."

"Could you give me a list of all the accidents COCSA has had in the course of its work on cathedrals?"

"I'll look into it and do everything I can. It won't be easy. In every job there are problems, incidents of one sort or another-cuts, bruises, falls, broken arms, that sort of thing-and I'm not sure we keep a record of all of them. Normally, the chief engineer or supervisor files a report at the time, though, so… How far back would you want me to go?"

"Let's say the last fifty years."

Lazotti allowed himself an incredulous look, but he never lost his air of cool efficiency.

"I'll do what I can," he repeated. "Where do you want the information sent?"

"Here's my card, and here's my cell phone number. Call me, and if I'm in Turin I'll come by and pick it up. If not, you can send it to my office in Rome."

"I hope you'll excuse my asking, Dottoressa Galloni, but what is it you're looking for?"

Sofia measured him with a quick look, then decided to tell him the truth.

"I'm looking for whoever it is that creates 'accidents' in the Turin Cathedral."

"Sorry?" Lazotti seemed genuinely puzzled.

"We don't think these events are accidents. We're looking for the person or persons behind them."

"You're joking! But of course you're not. But who would want to damage the cathedral? You suspect our employees?"

"That's what we want to find out-who and why."

"But are you sure? On what evidence? You're di-recdy accusing COCSA's employees of involvement in this?"

"It's not an accusation, but it's something we need to investigate."

'All right. Of course. You can count on us to cooperate fully."

"I am counting on you, Signor Lazotti."

Sofia left the glass-and-steel building, mulling whether she'd chosen the right strategy in revealing her suspicions to COCSA's head of human resources as well as to D'Alaqua. At that very moment D'Alaqua might be calling the minister to complain. Or he might not be doing anything-either because he gave their suspicions no importance, or because he did.

She needed to call Marco immediately. If D'Alaqua was talking to the minister, she had to prepare her boss for what was coming.

She had also come to a decision about Pietro. She was going to break it off. Their relationship suddenly struck her as disgusting.