‘I believe that’s pretty standard language in any deed of transfer,’ Brunetti said, summoning up a vague memory from one of his classes in civil law and hoping it was.

‘The part about physical state is, certainly, though that about legal is not. Nor is this following sentence,’ Rossi said, opening the folder again and searching until he found the passage. ‘ “In the absence of the condono edilizio, the buyer accepts full responsibility to obtain the same in a timely manner and hereby absolves the sellers of any responsibilities or consequences which might occur in regard to the legal state of the apartment and/or from the failure to obtain this condono.”‘ Rossi looked up, and Brunetti thought he saw a deep sadness in his eyes at the thought that someone might have signed such a thing.

Brunetti had no memory of that particular sentence. Indeed, at the time, they had both been so intent on buying the apartment that he had done what the notary told him to do, signed what he told him to sign.

Rossi turned back to the cover, where the name of the notary was listed. ‘Did you select this notary?’ he asked.

Brunetti didn’t even remember the name and had to look at the cover. ‘No, the seller suggested we use him, and so we did. Why?’

‘No reason,’ Rossi said, too quickly.

‘Why? Do you know something about him?’

‘I believe he’s no longer practising as a notary,’ Rossi said in a soft voice.

Finally out of patience at Rossi’s questions, Brunetti demanded, ‘I’d like to know what all this means, Signor Rossi. Is there some dispute about our ownership of this apartment?’

Rossi gave his nervous smile again. ‘I’m afraid it’s a bit more complicated than that, Signor Brunetti.’

Brunetti had no idea what could be more serious than that. ‘What is it, then?’