When a gentleman arrives at Montalbano's station to report an armed robbery on his wife that ended with a kiss, the inspector's suspicions are aroused. But Montalbano finds that none of the witnesses' stories add up, and he can't help feeling they're not meant to. Meanwhile there's a case that keeps finding its way back to Montalbano's office. A locked door has appeared on a farmer's disused shed, and then, just as quickly, disappears. The anti-terrorist police intervene, but why are they so keen to keep this away from him? And why does he sense that this case is connected to him somehow?