Niccolo Mainoni

But instead, most of what Carlo wanted to talk about were these really, really down-the-rabbit-hole theories of the case. I'd ask him a question, and he'd go, oh, that's simple. And then he'd launch into esoteric connections between far-right antique stealers and wire transfers and terrorist bombings. None of it seemed to be an answer to the question I just posed to him.

But instead, most of what Carlo wanted to talk about were these really, really down-the-rabbit-hole theories of the case. I'd ask him a question, and he'd go, oh, that's simple. And then he'd launch into esoteric connections between far-right antique stealers and wire transfers and terrorist bombings. None of it seemed to be an answer to the question I just posed to him.

I could see as I spoke to him that his whole life had been, in some sense, about unlocking the mysterious death of his father. So my simplistic questions about how painful it must have been or what his dad was like, he almost didn't even hear them. At the end of the conversation, I asked to speak to him again, and he smiled and nodded.

I could see as I spoke to him that his whole life had been, in some sense, about unlocking the mysterious death of his father. So my simplistic questions about how painful it must have been or what his dad was like, he almost didn't even hear them. At the end of the conversation, I asked to speak to him again, and he smiled and nodded.

I knew I'd need many, many more chats because this one had made no sense to me. But that was okay. He agreed. I went off to do my research, to learn the ABCs of the story. But when I came back to Carlo, no response. Emails, calls, LinkedIn, you name it, he wouldn't answer. Like so much of this story, he disappeared.

I knew I'd need many, many more chats because this one had made no sense to me. But that was okay. He agreed. I went off to do my research, to learn the ABCs of the story. But when I came back to Carlo, no response. Emails, calls, LinkedIn, you name it, he wouldn't answer. Like so much of this story, he disappeared.

And all he left me with were notes from a frantic three-hour conversation that made no sense to me. That is, until I revisited the 2005 trial. Many hours into Carlo's testimony, I stumbled on something. To set the scene, Carlo's on the witness stand, and one of the defense lawyers was firing questions at him pretty intensely.

And all he left me with were notes from a frantic three-hour conversation that made no sense to me. That is, until I revisited the 2005 trial. Many hours into Carlo's testimony, I stumbled on something. To set the scene, Carlo's on the witness stand, and one of the defense lawyers was firing questions at him pretty intensely.

Gelli, Gelli, you hear that name mentioned a few times between the lawyer and Carlo? That's Licio Gelli, the grandmaster of the far-right P2 masons.

Gelli, Gelli, you hear that name mentioned a few times between the lawyer and Carlo? That's Licio Gelli, the grandmaster of the far-right P2 masons.

which is why this lawyer was pressing Carlo. Tell us who these shadowy associates are, he thundered. So Carlo said, Gelli, of course, of course, Gelli. But the attorney wanted more. Give us more names. And then it's right here, at this moment, that Carlo adds another name, almost under his breath. Marco Cerruti. I was so surprised I had to rewind and listen again.

which is why this lawyer was pressing Carlo. Tell us who these shadowy associates are, he thundered. So Carlo said, Gelli, of course, of course, Gelli. But the attorney wanted more. Give us more names. And then it's right here, at this moment, that Carlo adds another name, almost under his breath. Marco Cerruti. I was so surprised I had to rewind and listen again.

Cerruti was a big threat, Carlo alleged. He said, Marco Cerruti received money. But that was it. Blink and you'd miss it. The trial barreled on, never to return to Cerruti.

Cerruti was a big threat, Carlo alleged. He said, Marco Cerruti received money. But that was it. Blink and you'd miss it. The trial barreled on, never to return to Cerruti.

and why Calvi's son would offer this name with a metaphorical gun to his head. I racked my brain trying to remember if I'd ever heard that name before. I dug up my notes from my conversation with Carlo, and sure enough, there it was. Marco Cerruti. about how he got money from the Calvis Ambrosiano Bank, how Cerruti was allegedly connected to organized crime in London, maybe terrorism.

and why Calvi's son would offer this name with a metaphorical gun to his head. I racked my brain trying to remember if I'd ever heard that name before. I dug up my notes from my conversation with Carlo, and sure enough, there it was. Marco Cerruti. about how he got money from the Calvis Ambrosiano Bank, how Cerruti was allegedly connected to organized crime in London, maybe terrorism.

Carlo told me, look into Cerruti's wire transfers. Cerruti was moving really big amounts of money. But Carlo told me so many things in that conversation, it was completely buried. Now, with two years of reporting behind me, I could sense the outline of something significant, where before I'd honestly just seen chaos.

Carlo told me, look into Cerruti's wire transfers. Cerruti was moving really big amounts of money. But Carlo told me so many things in that conversation, it was completely buried. Now, with two years of reporting behind me, I could sense the outline of something significant, where before I'd honestly just seen chaos.

But since Carlo still wasn't responding to my messages, I needed to find a guide to help me crack this code. So I turned to a man who had already rescued me once. the man who'd entrusted me with the Rosone tapes and the tapes of Calvi's inner circle, the modern-day expert on Calvi, Philip Willen. He's interviewed Carlo multiple times, and he knew all about Marco Cerruti.

But since Carlo still wasn't responding to my messages, I needed to find a guide to help me crack this code. So I turned to a man who had already rescued me once. the man who'd entrusted me with the Rosone tapes and the tapes of Calvi's inner circle, the modern-day expert on Calvi, Philip Willen. He's interviewed Carlo multiple times, and he knew all about Marco Cerruti.