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Rossi continued, "A good case. A press-worthy case. Kidnappings always are. Camorra? Albanians? That Tunisian gang from Scampia?" He grimaced. "I would have liked to find out, firsthand. But here you are. So, good luck to you, Giuseppe. We'll get back to Naples. Anything you need, please, let us know."
Rossi was giving away the case so easily? Ercole was surprised. But perhaps the Carabinieri wielded more power than he'd thought. Dante Spiro was looking at his phone.
Giuseppe cocked his head. "You're giving us the case?"
"Your organization is senior to us. You are senior to me. And it is clearly big. Kidnapping. Those reports you heard on the way over are wrong."
"Reports?"
Rossi paused. "The initial reports from Dispatch? Personally I think they were trying to downplay the incident."
"Massimo," Giuseppe said. "Please explain?"
"The youths, of course. That was pure speculation. I think this has to be Camorra. Or at worst Tunisian."
"Youths?" Giuseppe tried again.
"But it's not that. I'm sure."
"Still, your meaning?"
Rossi frowned. "Oh, have you not read? About the initiations?"
"No, no, I think not."
"It happens more in the north. Not in Campania." He gestured toward the scene. "That's why it could not be this."
The second Carabiniere asked, "Inspector, how does this scheme work?"
"Well, as I have read, it's university boys. The initiate must drive around, and when he sees someone he approaches on the pretense of asking directions or for change of money. Then when the victim is distracted, he is thrown in the car and driven for many kilometers and released. Pictures are taken and posted anonymously. A prank, yes, but there could be injuries. One boy in Lombardy ended up with a broken thumb."
"Broken thumb."
"Yes. And upon displaying the pictures, the perpetrators are allowed into the college club."
"Club? Not a gang?"
"No, no, no. But, again, it is the northern regions in which this is happening. Not here."
"Perhaps not yet. But kidnapping from a bus stop, way out here, nowhere close to a city center? It makes no sense."
Then a voice cut through the night: "Look what I have found." The Carabinieri lieutenant was pointing to the euros. "As he was counting out change for the bus driver."
Giuseppe walked to the rope Ercole had laid out and looked down. "Yes, so perhaps it does fit that category of offense."
Spiro watched silently.
"Hm. But a coincidence. Surely." Massimo Rossi nodded and stepped toward his automobile.
The Carabiniere turned to his associate and they had a quiet conversation. "Ah, Massimo, my colleague has reminded me that we have a drug operation in Positano. You are familiar?"
"Not aware of that."
"No? An interdiction planned for a few days. I think we'll need to let you have the kidnapping here."
Rossi looked concerned. "But I have no time for this, for a major criminal investigation."
"Major, is it? Pesky college boys?" Giuseppe smiled. "I will let you take all the glory, my friend. I will sign the case over to you formally back at the station."
