A well-reputed retired Verona veterinary professor's fatally stabbed corpse was dumped in a Venice canal. He worked in a slaughterhouse belonging to tycoon Maurizio De Rivera, who funded the grand party for vice-questore Patta's recent prestigious Italian republican order, managed by his son in law Lino Papetti. Brunetti's imp daughter caused a scandal at the party, crying bribery and protesting against animal abuse with Angelo Animale, whose leader Francesco is later beaten in hospital by man who stole their evidence video obtained by illegally intruding the slaughterhouse. .