Rossi stared at him, whispering, "Nessuna ricevuta?"
"I...no. I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Rossi closed his eyes.
As a forensic scientist, Rhyme could think of no greater sin among law enforcers than being careless with--much less losing--the evidence in a case.
Another string of words into the phone, Rossi's face growing more grim yet. He listened. "Grazie. Ciao, ciao." He disconnected, eyes on the floor, his expression one of incredulity. "It's gone," he said. "Vanished."
Rhyme snapped, "How?"
"I do not understand. It's never happened before."
Sachs said, "CCTV?"
"Not in the evidence room itself. It is not a public area. There's no need."
Spiro looked suspicious. "Charlotte McKenzie?"
Rossi considered. "Officer, you took the evidence there when I told you to."
"Immediately, sir."
"Charlotte was in custody by then. Stefan too. They could not have done it. Her associates--whoever they might be--might have been behind this. A theft from the Questura...that is something not even the Camorra would dare attempt. But American intelligence?" He shrugged.
Rhyme said, "We need the evidence. We have to find it." Without that, the cases against McKenzie and Stefan could proceed only with witness statements and confessions...and he knew that everything McKenzie had told them about the Alternative Intelligence Service and the operation here she would deny. And Stefan, of course, would not dare to contradict his muse.
In a stumbling voice, Ercole said, "Inspector, sir...I am sorry. I..." The voice faded to thick silence.
Rossi was looking out the window. He turned back. "Ercole, I must tell you that this is a problem. A serious one. It is of my making. I should have known that you were inexperienced, yet I asked you onto our operation."
His long face crimson, Ercole was chewing his lip. He probably would have preferred a tongue-lashing to this quiet regret.
"I think it is best you report back to Forestry Corps now. I'll send this matter to Rome. There will be an inquiry. You will be interviewed and make a statement."
Ercole seemed far younger than his thirty-some-odd years at the moment. He nodded and then his gaze dipped to the floor. He wasn't completely to blame, Rhyme supposed, though he recalled Rossi saying that the officer should "log in" the evidence, which suggested there would be a paper trail for the transfer.
Rhyme knew Ercole had hoped this assignment might be a springboard to a career with the Police of State.
And with this one incident, that chance was probably over.
Spiro asked him, "Ercole? The evidence against Mike Hill and Gianni? That receipt?"
He handed it to the prosecutor, who took it.
Ercole's eyes were sweeping everyone in the room. "I have been honored to work with you. I have learned a great deal."
His expression seemed to add the qualifier: But, it seems, I didn't learn enough.
Sachs hugged him. He and Rhyme shook hands, then with a last glance at the evidence board, he nodded and left.
Rossi's gaze followed the man's receding figure. "A shame. He was smart. He took initiative. And, yes, I should have been more attentive. But, well, not everyone is made out to be a criminal officer. He is better off in Forestry. More to his nature, I would think, anyway."
Tree cop...
Rossi said, "Mamma mia. La prova. The evidence..." He asked Spiro, "Where do we go from here, Dante?"
Regarding the inspector for a moment, Spiro finally said, "I don't see how we can proceed against Signorina McKenzie and Stefan. They will have to be released."