so only the captain could hear, drawing him away from the light and his men, and strolling along the bridge. His boots clattered against the stones, his cape swirled around his ankles. ‘You have known me for a short time, sì? Ever since the Doge put me in charge of you. What you do not know about me, but what I will tell you to make things between us less complicated, is that I do not like puzzles, I do not like confusion and I particularly dislike ambiguity.’ He paused, waiting for an answer.
Captain Sansono swallowed. ‘Sì, your grace.’
‘Bene. We have a very serious situation on our hands, Sansono. One that is my responsibility to resolve. There’s an Estrattore loose in Serenissima and, according to the clues that the events on this very bridge, this very day, have uncovered, there has been for some time now. Possibly years. This has been happening under our very noses. The Doge will not like it. First his grandson, then the Morto Assiderato and now this …’
The Cardinale withdrew his arm and stood in the middle of the bridge, hands on his hips, facing the Candlemakers Quartiere. Captain Sansono remained behind, admiring the breadth of the man’s shoulders, the way the breeze tugged at his grey hair. ‘Somewhere, living in those casas,’ the Cardinale said pointing to the houses across the bridge and along the fondamenta, ‘are people who know the answer to the many questions I have, questions that you too, captain, and your very capable men, will soon also possess. I will give them to you so you can find me the answers.’
The Cardinale turned round and walked slowly to where the captain waited. The lamps behind the captain lit the Cardinale’s face, casting shadows that elongated his long nose and threw his eyes into darkness. Captain Sansono no longer knew where or at whom the Cardinale was looking. Not until he stood so close that the captain could feel the nobile’s scented breath upon his cheek. Cloves. He could see his eyes now – they glinted in the distant, flickering flames of the lamps.
‘So, Captain Sansono, you and your men must do whatever it takes to get me those answers. To help me piece together the puzzle, to remove the confusion and eliminate vague. Am I clear?’
‘Sì, your grace.’ Captain Sansono knew exactly what was required of him and his men. His heart quickened. Never did he think he would be responsible for something so important as uncovering one of the forsaken Estrattore – a creature of unholy horror.
‘You have the permission of the Church to use whatever means you must to get these, Captain Sansono.’ The Cardinale smiled. ‘You will report directly to me and, in turn, I will report to the Council of Ten, the Doge and the Great Patriarch.’ He extended his arms, the red cassock of his office appearing as his cloak fell away. His voice deepened as he offered a benediction, becoming rich and impassioned. Captain Sansono felt his flesh quiver, his breath come quickly. He glanced at his men. They were transfixed.
‘We will find this Estrattore,’ continued the Cardinale. ‘We will hunt him down and, when we find him, we will make an example of him and his protectors such as has never been seen before in Serenissima. The Estrattore will not return. Not in my lifetime.’ His last word echoed across the waters, resounding in a long expiration, as if the city itself was astonished by what was occurring. ‘Do you understand, captain?’ whispered the Cardinale.
The captain dropped to his knees, his eyes locked on the Cardinale’s. ‘Sì, your grace. Your words are my command.’
‘You, Sansono – you are my sword – God’s sword, and you must remember, it’s his work we do. Whatever it takes, you are to find the traitors who harboured the Estrattore and punish them. You must find out what the chandler’s family knows, why that young man died on this bridge. Only then can we find the boy and bestow upon him what he deserves – what all Estrattore deserve.’
Captain Sansono ignored the tiny niggle of doubt that tried to intrude upon his thoughts. He pushed it away and raised his shining face to the Cardinale’s, waiting for his final orders. As he did, the sky above opened and rain began to fall. He ignored it.
‘As God is our witness,’ said the Cardinale, ‘the hunt begins now, tonight – and it does not stop until we have caught our