The Lydian Baker (Marcus Corvinus Book 4)

by David Wishart

  Bathyllus had never looked so beautiful.

  'But Marcus, where on earth were you?' Perilla dabbed with a damp cloth at the egg-sized bruise on the back of my head.

  I winced. 'Jupiter, lady, be careful! That hurts!'

  'Then it serves you right. We've had a terrible night. Bathyllus was frantic.'

  'Would you believe listening to a recitation of Pindar's "Pythian Odes" at the local glee club?'

  The cloth came down again. Hard. I winced a bit more.

  'Lady, please..!'

  'Don't you "lady" me, Corvinus!' Perilla snapped. 'And stop joking! I've been worried sick!'

  Worried sick or not, peeved or not, there was no way I was going to tell her I'd been belted from behind coming out of a brothel. Some things Perilla just wouldn't understand, and tonight I didn't need the hassle.

  'I was following a lead,' I said. 'I got jumped by muggers. End of story.'

  'Very well.' From the tone she didn't believe it, but to be fair not even my saintly old grandmother would've believed it, and I could run rings round her when I was five. Still, she obviously didn't want to press the matter either, for which I was duly grateful. 'So who brought you back?'

  'You tell me. You were the one who took delivery.'

  Bathyllus had come in with a tray. Thank the gods for well-trained staff. I grabbed the cup of Setinian and drank it down. The wine hit my empty stomach like a velvet club.

  'We didn't see either, sir,' Bathyllus said. 'The man had already gone.'

  'Uh-huh.' Understandable: I'd thought my Ethiopian pal might be the shy, retiring type from the way he'd dumped me. Well, whoever Hercules was he could wait because my head felt big as a melon and some bugger was trying to squeeze my ribs until they met in the middle. 'Are the baths hot?'

  'They should be, sir. They were on earlier. I'll check.'

  'You do that.'

  He left. Perilla was still frowning, which was bad news. 'Corvinus,' she said, 'you were bound and gagged and your purse was intact. I'm sorry, but that does not sound like muggers to me.'

  I sighed. So I wasn't off the hook after all.

  'Look,' I said, 'I've been through one interrogation this evening and I don't need another, okay?'

  'Interrogation?'

  So much for stonewalling. Well, I was never very good at it anyway, especially where Perilla was concerned. 'Okay,' I said. 'You've got me. Scratch the muggers. I was right, Melanthus is the guy we want. I've just had a talk with his right hand man. He thinks I know where the Baker is.'

  'Tell me,' she said simply.

  So I told her; not about the Scallop, just what happened afterwards. She was quiet for a long time. The frown was gone now. Now she only looked upset, which was worse.

  'Oh, Marcus!' She tried a hug, but I yelped and she let go. 'Can't you leave this alone? Please? Priscus wouldn't want you to get hurt, and if the statue's gone it doesn't matter.'

  'Sure it matters.' I massaged my bruised ribs. 'And the statue hasn't gone. It's still out there wherever Smaragdus left it.'

  'Then at least talk to Callippus. This is a matter for the Watch. If Melanthus is the killer then it's his job to track him down, not yours.'

  True. And Callippus probably had more brains than to get himself sapped and end up breathing weevils, what was more.

  'Okay,' I said. 'I'll do it tomorrow. Today, rather.' The light was already filtering through from the courtyard garden: dawn, or near enough. 'Whatever. Go to bed, Perilla. I'll have a quick bath and come right up.'

  'You're sure you're all right now?'

  'Comparatively. Anyone ever tell you first aid's not your strong point?'

  She kissed me and left. I filled my wine cup and drank slowly. My brain was beginning to turn over again. Hercules. I was missing something, sure I was, but what? The guy had had me cold, ripe for the sweating. Why risk his own life just to bring me home? Who was he working for, and how did he fit in?

  It made no sense. None at all.

  'The furnace was out but I've ordered it to be stoked up again, sir.' Bathyllus was back. 'The baths will be ready shortly.'

  'That's fine, Bathyllus.' I stood up. Shit, I was getting too old for this sort of thing. It felt like every bone in my body had been taken out and put back the wrong way round. 'You go off to bed too, okay?'

  'Yes, sir. Goodnight, sir.' He padded off.

  Okay. Bath first, then bed. Tomorrow – today – I'd have a word with Callippus.

  21.

  I knocked and went in to Callippus's office. He was at his desk reading through a sheaf of reports. What with a split lip, multiple bruises and too little sleep I can't have looked my usual stylish self, because when he saw me his eyes widened and he set them aside.

  'What the hell happened to you?' he said.

  'I was slugged, tied up in a cellar and carted half way across the city by a crazy Ethiopian.' I pulled up a chair and sat down. 'So how was your evening?'

  He was still staring. 'Would this have something to do with the Baker?'

  Fast as a speeding snail; maybe he'd woken up too early. 'Sure,' I said. 'The gorilla who kidnapped me was under the impression I might know where it had got to.'

  'I see.' He reached for a wax tablet and pen. 'Would you like to give me the full details, please?'

  So we were being official here. I started to tell him, and when I got to Prince Charming he held up a hand.

  'This Prince Charming of yours.' Not a smile: the guy takes his job seriously, and he doesn't approve of nicknames for villains. 'He's the same man who met you outside Argaius's place?'

  'Yeah.'

  'Then he's the one who killed Argaius.'

  'Sure. He admitted as much.'

  'He admitted it?' Callippus sat back. 'Corvinus, you do realise, don't you, that you're very lucky to be alive?'

  'Yeah, I realise that.' I did: if things had gone any different this time it would've been me lying beaten to a pulp on that table next door. Assuming T was ever found, of course. 'You still don't know who he is?'

  'No. I've had the description you gave me circulated, but he's not one of the usual local toughs. We're still looking. Carry on, please.'

  I decided not to mention Melanthus, not yet, not until I'd softened him up first; knowing Callippus that bit was going to be tricky. Instead I told him what PC had said about Smaragdus and Harpalus.

  He nodded. 'That squares with my own information. My colleague in the Piraeus reported that the body of Argaius's partner had been delivered to a local undertaker two nights ago under very suspicious circumstances; and that a man whose description matches that of the person who delivered it was found dead last night in an alleyway near the docks. Badly beaten and with his throat cut.' He indicated the reports on his desk. 'I only got that part of the story a few minutes ago.'

  'Uh-huh.' So Prince Charming had been telling the truth when he said he'd got Harpalus. Well, I'd been expecting to hear that the poor bastard was dead sooner or later, but it didn't make the news any more pleasant. Or me feel less guilty. PC would've caught up with him eventually, sure, but that wasn't much of a consolation. 'By the way, you haven't come across an Ethiopian, have you? A big guy with a penchant for flashy jewellery and bright tunics?'

  'No. He was involved in your kidnapping?'

  'In a manner of speaking, although I was wrong about him. He doesn't work for Eutyches at all.'

  Callippus's head lifted. 'Eutyches?'

  Uh-oh; we'd got onto sensitive ground at last. I'd forgotten that Callippus hadn't known anything about Eutyches. Still, I couldn't fudge this; he'd just have to take it on the chin.

  'Prince Charming's boss. The man behind this whole business.'

  I had Callippus's full attention now. 'You know him? Who he is, I mean?'

  'In a way. The name's a pseudonym.' I paused. 'Eutyches is Melanthus of Abdera.'

  Callippus put down his pen slowly. 'The Academician? Corvinus, I don't mean to be rude, but that's absolute nonsense.'

  I
shook my head. 'No, it isn't. That was another thing Prince Charming admitted.'

  'He actually told you?'

  'I'd worked it out already. But he confirmed it.'

  Callippus was silent for a long time, and I got the idea he was weighing me up. Finally he said: 'You know, do you, that his head slave has reported Melanthus of Abdera as missing?'

  'Yeah, I knew that. The fact that he'd disappeared, anyway. So Timon reported it, did he?' That was significant: it showed that although an overnight stay wouldn't worry the guy unduly anything more prolonged was unusual. Which was fair enough. Even philosophers leave messages with the help when they go on extended junkets.

  'He informed me personally, yesterday afternoon. We were treating the case as kidnapping.' Callippus hesitated. 'Or perhaps as something worse.'

  'Forget it. Melanthus is our villain. He wants the Baker, and he's willing to kill for it. Has killed for it. Now that things are hotting up the bastard's gone to ground.'

  'I don't like this.' Callippus was frowning. 'I don't like it one bit. Melanthus of Abdera is a highly respected member of the academic community. A distinguished philosopher and scholar.'

  'Sure he is. I never said there was anything wrong with his brain. Not in that sense. But where the Baker's concerned he isn't rational. If you want more proof go over to the Academy and talk to Alciphron the librarian.'

  Callippus still didn't look happy, but I could see he was more than half convinced.

  'You're sure about this?' he said. 'Absolutely sure?'

  'Cast iron, swear on my grandmother's hoary old curls.' I paused. 'Also, for what it's worth, I've an idea where he's hiding.'

  'And where is that?'

  'The brothel where I was hit. Aphrodite's Scallop.'

  Callippus's eyebrows came down. 'Corvinus, as I've already said, Melanthus of Abdera is a respected academic. He would not patronise a brothel. Not even one as exclusive as the Scallop.'

  Jupiter! I didn't believe this! Talk about warped values! The guy might be willing to accept that Melanthus was a murderer, but not that he'd set foot inside a cat-house. Well, maybe Athenian Watch officers were less jaundiced and more narrow-minded than the Roman variety; or maybe it was just further proof if I needed it that Greeks just didn't think like us.

  'I hate to disillusion you,' I said, 'but the guy's a regular customer. He's been getting his rocks off at the Scallop for years.'

  'The truth of that remains to be seen.' The City's Watch Commander was staring down his aristocratic nose at me like an outraged dowager. 'But even if you're right, why should he choose a brothel to hide in?'

  I grinned. 'Callippus...'

  'Granted, of course, that he had any reason to hide in the first place.'

  Hell. We were back to square one. I was losing him, and I didn't want to do that. I should've known that using the jokey, all-lads-together approach was a mistake with someone like Callippus. He was even more married than I was, with three kids and a wife who'd have his guts for sandal-straps if she even suspected him of stepping out of line. More, he liked it that way: Watch Commander or not, Callippus came from a long line of no-nonsense tub-thumping moralists. I moved on to slightly safer ground.

  'You know the Scallop?' I said. 'Apart from just the name?'

  'Not personally, no.'

  Ouch! Maybe I should go away and come back later when the dust had settled. 'Fine, fine. Keep your wig on, pal, I meant professionally.'

  'Not professionally either. There is no conceivable reason why I should.'

  'Uh-huh.' I tried to keep my voice neutral. 'Who's the owner?'

  'A local businessman by the name of Demetriacus. Although he employs someone else to manage the place, as I understand.'

  'Yeah. I met her. A lady called Hermippe.'

  'Possibly. I really don't know. As I said, to my certain knowledge neither the Scallop nor its management has ever had dealings with the Watch. On any level. A fact which makes your theory even more unlikely.'

  Well, that made sense, I supposed: from what I'd seen of it, the place was squeaky-clean, and if Melanthus was typical of the clientele I couldn't see the local Watch officers being called in to break up fights over girls or handling complaints from neighbours disturbed by late-night punters singing dirty songs under their windows.

  'You say this Demetriacus is a local businessman?' I said.

  'Very much so. One with wide commercial interests, of which the Scallop is only a minor part.'

  'Is that so, now?' The back of my neck was prickling. 'Commercial interests, eh? Such as what, for example?'

  'The usual range. Shipping. Trading. Property...'

  'Black market statues?'

  'Corvinus!' That came out with a snap: I'd obviously pushed Callippus one step too far this time. 'That's enough! First you accuse Melanthus of Abdera of murder, now with absolutely no justification whatsoever you cast aspersions on Demetriacus. I told you, as far as the Watch is concerned neither he nor his business interests offer in any way a cause for suspicion. Incomer or not, he's a model of respectability.'

  This time I couldn't help grinning: Callippus was an okay guy in many ways, but he came from an old City family, and like in Rome old City families had ingrained prejudices that went back to Deucalion's flood. Some of them raised their ugly heads with monotonous regularity, however fair- minded the scion of a noble race was, or tried to be, and incomers were one of the biggies. Demetriacus's forebears could've come to Athens with Orestes, but as far as the top Five Hundred were concerned he was still a pushy foreigner. Being autochthonous has its drawbacks.

  'Uh-huh,' I said. 'That being the case, he wouldn't object if we asked to look the place over, right?'

  'What?' Callippus's head came up like I'd just dropped a rotten egg under his nose.

  'It's a reasonable question, under the circumstances.'

  'Corvinus, I've been very patient with you, but please understand this. I'll help you to the best of my ability in tracking down your assailant, certainly, but I will not harass private citizens simply on your say-so. Apart from the fact that you were attacked outside its doors the Scallop has provided no justification whatsoever for an official search.'

  'Even though it was the last place Melanthus was seen?'

  'Was it? Are you sure of that?'

  I was feeling a little tetchy myself now. 'Sure I'm sure. Like I said, he spent some time with one of the girls.'

  'Perhaps. But did he actually disappear while he was on the premises?'

  'No, the girl I talked to said he left early, but –'

  Callippus interrupted me. 'Let's get this clear, please. First of all, what proof do you actually have that the man in question was Melanthus?'

  Bureaucrats! I counted to ten before answering. 'Hermippe admitted as much when I talked to her, pal. And I'd already got a positive identification from another girl.'

  'Corvinus. Marcus.' Callippus sighed. 'If you tell me that as a friend then I must believe you; but if you want me to take this up officially then I have to be be sure of my ground. And that means collecting information myself, not at second hand.' Yeah, well, that was fair. 'However, you were told that after he had finished his...business Melanthus left the building to go elsewhere. Correct?'

  'Sure, but he could have –'

  He held up a hand. 'I'm not interested in speculation. Yes or no?'

  'Uh...yeah. Yeah, that's right.'

  'Very well. In that case we're certainly justified in interviewing the Scallop's owner, if only to get his permission to question his staff. As far as anything further goes I can and will ask, but I will not insist. And if Demetriacus refuses then that will be the end of it. For the moment, at least. Critias!'

  The door opened and the clerk came in. 'Yes, sir.'

  Callippus scribbled down a note and handed it to him. 'Have this delivered to Demetriacus son of Demetrius. His house, I think, is near the Diochares Gate, but you can find that out for yourself. And the messenger is to wait for a reply.'r />
  The clerk nodded and left.

  Jupiter! I didn't believe my ears! 'You're giving him advance warning that we're coming?'

  'Of course.'

  'Oh, great! Smart thinking, pal!' I was really angry now. 'Do want to find Melanthus or not? Because if he's at the Scallop he sure as hell won't be after Demetriacus gets that note!'

  'Now listen to me, Corvinus.' Callippus put the pen down carefully. 'I'm being very patient with you, but as Commander of the Watch there are certain rules I must follow, and I will not bend them for anyone. Demetriacus is in no way under suspicion. I have only your word for it – backed by no evidence whatsoever – that Melanthus of Abdera is a criminal and that he is concealed in one of Demetriacus's properties. These are very grave charges involving two prominent Athenian citizens. As far as I am concerned, Melanthus is simply missing. I've indulged you to the extent of asking Demetriacus to meet us at the Scallop so that I can talk to his staff in his presence, but that is as far as I will go. Do you understand?'

  There was nothing more to say. I stood up. 'Okay. Thanks for your help.'

  'Don't mention it.' He turned back to his reports. 'I'll let you know when a meeting has been arranged.'

  'Fine,' I said.

  I didn't slam the door as I left; but it took all the willpower I'd got.

  22.

  I was fuming as I left the building. Sure, Callippus was within his rights to let this Demetriacus guy know we were coming, but it made the whole thing a useless exercise. Worse, it was counterproductive. What I wanted was to go through the place like a dose of salts, and if Melanthus was there catch him with his metaphorical pants down. Preferably his literal pants, too, just to show Callippus how silly his notions of academic disinterest in fleshly pleasures were. Demetriacus needn't be personally involved in the Baker business, but that was no reason to tempt fate. And if the guy was bent then tipping him off was crazy.

  So what could I do?

  While I was thinking that one out I made the trip across town to the Piraeus Gate to ask Dida why he hadn't been waiting in the alley as per instructions. I thought maybe I'd have to hang around until he came back to the rank, but he was shooting the breeze with a few of his pals over a skin of wine and a loaf. He gave me a wave and I went over.