Pisanelli got ahead of Lojacono's team by entering the Intrasit warehouse before the others. When they all arrive, they recognize his car.

The news that the kidnappers managed to escape taking little Dodo with them is spreading rapidly. While Lojacono is following the updates on television, his daughter surprises him with a visit.

Lojacono immediately goes to Laura's house, where she confides in him that she finally feels ready to take the risk and start a relationship with him, if he wants it too. Although Christmas has already passed, Marinella insists on wanting to put up the tree anyway, but just at that moment Giuseppe receives a phone call.

Everyone is gathered to bring in the New Year, when, amid the exchanging of greetings, the police commissioner makes his entrance, surprising everyone with an unexpected announcement.

It's almost midnight, and everyone goes out on the terrace to drink a toast and enjoy the fireworks while Pisanelli remains alone inside. His attention is caught by something on the TV screen.

Il Commissario Manara (Inspector Manara) is an Italian TV series set in the Maremma (southern Tuscany), which centers on Luca Manara, an unorthodox and highly seductive, newly arrived police inspector, played by Guido Caprino.

Commissioner Manara arrives on the scene of the supposed suicide. He questions a witness, and talks to the victim's doctor, and to the medical examiner, who turns out to be an attractive woman who has no problem with shyness.

Manara meets his new boss and from the outset there's tension. We learn that Manara was transferred to his new post because of an affair between Manara and the wife of his former boss.

Commissioner Manara meets up with Lara Rubino, his old classmate from the police academy. She's less than happy to see him and slaps him right across the face.

Rubino, the new inspector, can't stand being in the same room with Manara. And when he doesn't even remember why, she really gets angry. But then they get some interesting news from the morgue...

Manara arrives at his hotel, and the clerk is curt with him until she learns he's the new commissioner. Manara and the deceased are the topics discussed by Rubino and her aunt.

From the gardener, Michele, we learn that the dead professor was not well liked. Rubino lets us know about her soured friendship with Manara at the police academy.

The autopsy shows that the victim couldn't have pulled the trigger, but Manara's boss insists on suicide. Manara and his team have other ideas.

Lara Rubino visits Lenni's villa and finds that his wife has broken in. Manara uses his considerable charm on a vet.

Manara visits the dead professor's daughter and it becomes ever clearer to Manara that the mother's alibi won't hold.