Okay, so if Thupeltha was telling the truth suicide was possible, maybe even likely. What about murder, which was equally likely? In that case we were back to suspects. Thupeltha herself would've been capable, sure, physically and mentally, and she'd had both the motive and the opportunity. Papatius was an even better candidate in both categories, especially now; that claim to've been going into Caere had rung as fake as a lead penny. When he turned up Clusinus's road he could've left the track and taken to the higher ground to the right where the scrub would hide him. From there he'd be able to see what was going on; hear it, too, if the argument had developed into a shouting match. As for motive, the guy had that in spades. Forget the jealousy angle: Thupeltha had said it didn't figure, and I believed her. If Papatius had killed Navius it wasn't because the kid had been screwing his wife; it was because he'd just been threatening to spread the word around. And that got rid of the problem of the year's delay, too. Lastly, the fact that Thupeltha hadn't known he was following her – and she hadn't, that I'd swear to – meant that the lady could genuinely think the kid had killed himself like he'd said he would, because she'd no reason to suspect otherwise.
It would work. Sure it would, especially since there was still the outside possibility that Thupeltha might change her mind and marry the kid after all, taking the farm with her...
Yeah. I liked Papatius. I liked him a lot. He was definitely a possibility.
There was no sign of Perilla when I got back, but Bathyllus was waiting for me on the terrace with the wine tray.
'Hey, little guy.' I took the cup from him. 'Where's the mistress?'
'Getting changed, sir.'
He had his grave look on again. Uh-oh. This looked like trouble. I sat down on the nearest chair.
'Don't tell me, sunshine. Corydon's broken into the library and he's browsing through Flatworm's pornography collection.'
Bathyllus didn't smile. Not that I'd expected him to; the guy had all the sense of humour of a grapefruit. 'No, sir,' he said. 'It's more serious than that, I'm afraid.'
'Meton's put too much fish pickle in the sauce? You've run out of spoon polish?'
Not a flicker. Trouble was right. 'Neither, sir.' He cleared his throat. 'We've just had a message from Licinius Nepos. There's been another death. Your mother's doctor friend.'
'Hilarion?' I set the cup down.
Jupiter!
9.
They'd put Hilarion’s corpse in a corner of the wine cellar on the north side of the villa's ground floor, where it was nice and cool.
'One of my slaves found him in the hills just north of here.' Nepos was frowning down at the body on the stretcher.
I looked at the guy's head. Whatever he'd been clouted with had been pretty effective. The skull was stove in like an eggshell. 'What was he doing up there?' I said.
'Walking. He usually takes – took – a constitutional after lunch, and he went that way more often than not.'
'It couldn't've been an accident? He couldn't have fallen or been hit by a falling rock?'
'Not a chance.' Nepos shook his head. 'He was lying on the path. There're no overhanging cliffs there. No big rocks near the body, either.'
'This path you mentioned. That'd be the one that runs round the top of the farms and down by Clusinus's place, right?'
'That's it. I understand the fellow made the circuit and came back along the main road.'
So. He hadn't gone all that far before he was killed. And if he'd left just after lunch that put the time of death mid-afternoon at the latest; about the time, maybe, we were with Tanaquil and Ramutha. 'Would this be common knowledge?' I said.
Nepos shrugged. 'You knew him yourself. He lived by routine. And most of Vetuliscum uses that track, for one reason or another.'
Hell’s teeth, it didn't make sense! Who would want to kill Hilarion? Apart from being a pompous self-opinionated bugger with all the charm of a wet poultice he was a complete nonentity. And being a stranger he had no local connections at all.
Unless he'd seen something, of course. Like Navius's murder...
Only that didn't make any sense either. Navius had died half-way through the morning, Hilarion took his constitutional in the afternoon and besides the guy had been in Caere all day; to my certain knowledge he hadn't got back until the early evening. Mind you, that only covered one end of it.
'What time did he leave yesterday, by the way?' I said. 'You remember?'
'Yesterday?' Nepos gave me a sharp look. 'Ah. I see. Quite so. Very early, just after dawn, in fact.' His lips twisted. 'Something to do with cool air and the balance of the humours.'
Well, it had been worth checking. And even if he had set out later Hilarion was no Priscus: he wouldn't've taken any wrong turnings. Still, it was a thought. And as far as I could see it was the only possible explanation.
'I don't know about relatives,' Nepos was saying. 'Nor does your mother. In any case a delay's out of the question this time of year. We'll arrange the funeral ourselves.'
'Yeah.' I sighed. I hadn't liked the guy, but I wouldn't've wished him ill, not with any seriousness. And there was something pathetic about the small figure on the stretcher. 'Okay. Let's go and join the rest.'
We went back up to the dining-room: it was practically dinnertime now, and this time Perilla and I would have to stay out of pure politeness. Oh, well; with a death in the house not even Mother would have the nerve to force any of Phormio's gunk on me.
There was a stranger on one of the couches: a big, handsome guy in his late thirties wearing a sharp mantle that must've come from one of the best shops in Rome. Wearing it well, too.
'Ah, Aternius, you've arrived,' Nepos said. 'My apologies. Your uncle did say you'd be coming today but what with poor Hilarion's death I quite forgot.' He turned to me. 'Gaius Aternius is the fellow I mentioned to you, Corvinus. The mayor's nephew. He'll be looking into our little problem. Aternius, this is Marcus Valerius Corvinus, Helvius Priscus's stepson.'
'And Vipsania's son?' Aternius looked at Mother, lying next to Priscus; death or not, she was stunning as ever. 'That I can hardly believe.'
Uh-oh. I had the feeling already that I wasn't going to like this guy one bit. He had the kind of built-in smarm that makes my skin crawl.
'Is that right, now, pal?' I said, taking my place next to Perilla. 'You like to see the birth certificate, maybe?'
'Marcus!' Mother snapped. Perilla was glaring at me too: female solidarity. Priscus was out of it as usual, communing with the ceiling inlay.
I held my hands up, palm out. 'Okay. Okay,' I said. 'Forget I spoke.'
Nepos had taken the host's couch. He gave a signal to the waiting slaves and the boys went out to bring in the eats. 'You'll be staying here, Aternius, until this business is concluded, naturally,' he said.
'For tonight, certainly, if it's not inconvenient under the circumstances. I'd be delighted. Especially with such charming fellow-guests.' His teeth flashed in Mother's direction in a hundred-candelabra smile. They were pearly-white and even, and I'd just bet he had all thirty-two of the little darlings. Although a reduction in the number could be arranged. 'I doubt if I need impose on you for longer.'
'You're very welcome however long you wish to stay. I'm grateful that your uncle is taking an interest in the affair.'
'Election coming up, is it?' I said. Needle, needle.
Aternius's eyes narrowed. 'As a matter of fact it is, Valerius Cercinus,' he said.
Bastard. 'That's "Corvinus", friend.'
'My apologies.' He turned to Mother. 'So. How do you like our little backwater, Vipsania?'
I'd've thought Mother would be pretty subdued with her doctor pal lying stiff and cold two floors down, but she was practically glowing. 'I think it's charming,' she said. 'So unspoiled. Of course with all this nonsense Titus and I haven't really had much chance recently to see around. No more than a tomb or two. Isn't that right, Titus?'
'Mmmaaa?' Priscus's eyes peeled themselves off the decor and blinked at her. 'C
ertainly, my dear. Just what I was about to say myself.'
'You haven't been up to Lake Sabatinus yet?'
'No, I don't think so.'
'Oh, but you must go there! It's absolutely beautiful, and no more than half a day's ride away. I have some friends with a villa at the lake edge. I'd be most happy to take you. And your husband, naturally. They'd be glad to put us up, I'm sure.' He gave another dazzling smile. 'We could go tomorrow, in fact.'
'I rather think we'll be burning poor Hilarion tomorrow.' Mother was dry.
'Ah. Yes, of course. The day after, perhaps?'
Jupiter, I didn't believe this! The guy had to have an ego the size of the Capitol. 'Hold on, friend,' I said. 'I thought you were here on a murder investigation?'
He didn't even have the grace to look fazed. 'Oh, that?' He waved his hand dismissively. 'I doubt if that'll be much of an obstacle, not now in the light of the wineshop woman's evidence. Your wife told me that you'd got the full story from her this afternoon.'
'Is that so, now?' I glanced at Perilla. Her ears were pink and she wasn't looking at me. Guilty; guilty as hell. So the smarmy bugger had got round her, too. Gods, wait till I got that lady home! 'Yeah, well, it could've been suicide, sure. But now Hilarion's got his head beaten in I'd say the odds on murder have shortened considerably.' I saw Mother wince; well, it served her right. 'I'm sure Perilla pointed that out to you too when she gave you her bootlegged run-down.'
'Actually she–'
He was interrupted by the slaves wheeling in the starters. I kept a leery eye on the plates, but most of them seemed all right: the usual crudities, olives, hard-boiled pea-hens' eggs, chickpeas with fennel. There was only one whacky dish that I could see, a sort of terrine made up of grey mush and green veins. It had "Phormio" written all over it.
'Ah...what's that stuff, Mother?' I pointed, keeping my finger well clear in case it bit.
'That?' Mother's perfect eyebrows lifted. 'Oh, that's fermented wild emmer purée in aspic with dandelion and burdock. Do be sure to have some. It's very good for you.'
Yeah. I'd just bet. Thank the gods I'd asked
'No, I'll pass, thanks,' I said and reached for a pea-hen's egg.
She sniffed. 'Suit yourself, dear.'
'I'll try some, if I may.' Aternius transferred a large spoonful of the glop onto his plate. 'It looks absolutely delicious.'
Mother gave him a beaming smile of approbation. Crawler!
I put the egg down. This was going to be good. I noticed that Nepos and Perilla, too, were looking on in horrified fascination. Aternius scooped up half the glop, opened his mouth, popped it in, closed his eyes and chewed. Any moment now...
Seconds passed. Nothing. I didn't believe this.
'Excellent.' He spooned up what was left and ladled more onto his plate. 'You must let me have the recipe.'
There was a terrible silence.
'You, ah, liked it, my dear chap?' Nepos said finally. He was looking slightly sick. 'Genuinely?'
Aternius's spoon paused and he frowned.
'Of course. Shouldn't I have?'
'Bloody hell!' Nepos muttered, and reached for the chickpeas.
Well, I'd seen everything now. The guy must have a palate like a strip of wash-leather. I dipped the pea-hen's egg in fish-pickle and bit into it...
Holy sweet immortal ever-living gods!
'Nice, aren't they, dear?' That was Mother, watching me while I choked. 'They're Phormio's latest discovery. Eggs stuffed with pepper, anchovies, stem ginger and crushed juniper berries.'
Luckily the wine slave had been doing the rounds. I grabbed my wine cup, sank a straight quarter pint and held it up for more. It didn't quite kill the taste, but at least it put out the fire in my throat. Some of it, anyway. I wiped my streaming eyes with my napkin. Jupiter, that had been a bad one! I wondered if whoever had brained Hilarion might be persuaded to take a free crack at Phormio. I might even add Mother to the list.
Aternius picked up one of the eggs and popped it into his mouth whole. Well, the guy had guts, I'd give him that. Or at least he had at the moment. Come four o'clock in the morning I wouldn't lay any bets.
'So, Valerius Corvinus,' he said, chewing, 'it's your view that Attus Navius was definitely murdered, yes?'
'Yeah,' I was watching him fascinated. 'I'd say that was a reasonable assumption.'
Nepos's spoon with its load of chickpeas paused half way to his mouth. I noticed he'd been pretty careful to sample one first. Quite right. With Phormio loose in the kitchen you didn't take anything for granted. And after the pea-hen’s eggs nothing was safe.
'Gentlemen,' he said, 'do we have to talk murder at the table?'
Mother selected an olive. 'Personally I find it fascinating,' she said. Holy Mars in spangles! That was news to me! Any time in the past I'd brought up anything visceral round the dinner table I'd been slapped down. But she had her eyes on Smooth-Chops Aternius, and they were looking positively melting. The way to Mother's heart is definitely through your stomach. Right through. 'You have a forensic connection yourself, Gaius Aternius?'
'I'm a practising lawyer, yes.' The bastard was chewing on his egg like it was something actually edible. 'Although mostly I deal with the property side. Conveyancing and so on. I'm only doing Uncle Quintus a favour here.'
'Good qualifications,' I said. 'Shuffling paper and an uncle who's the local mayor.'
Perilla gave me a glare. She'd been pretty quiet since I'd nailed her for blabbing, but she was obviously coming out of her shell now. 'Marcus, what is wrong with you?' she said. 'You've been terribly rude all evening.'
I grinned. 'Don't exaggerate, lady. The evening hasn't started yet and I'm just warming up.'
She sniffed and turned away.
'Marcus, stop it.' Mother again, and seriously peeved. She turned to Aternius. 'He's really a lot more intelligent than he sounds. Or rather, not quite so unintelligent.' Ouch. 'And he does seem to have the sort of warped mentality that makes him good at solving puzzles.'
'So I understood from your wife, Valerius Corvinus.' This time I was the one who got the teeth. A shame his uncle couldn't take that white and bottle it. He'd have every political candidate in Italy beating a path to his door with his electioneering mantle under his arm. 'In fact she tells me that you've already solved this particular one.'
'Come again?' I said cautiously.
'Forgive me, Aternius.' Perilla's voice cut across his. There was a flash of movement as a spider in the corner scuttled up its web and disappeared into a crevice. 'But I said nothing of the sort, and well you know it.'
'Not in so many words.' Smile. 'But the conclusion was inescapable.'
I sat up. I was seriously worried now. 'Hang on there, pal! I haven't solved anything!'
'Of course you have.' Smile again. 'And in only two days. I was most impressed, as my uncle will also be. I'll be taking Larth Papatius into Caere first thing tomorrow.'
'You're arresting Papatius?’
'Of course. He murdered Navius, didn't he?'
'Uh-uh.' I shook my head. 'He could've murdered Navius. There's a slight but significant semantic difference there, friend. In case you didn't notice.'
Aternius sighed. 'Corvinus, you're being far too cautious.' He counted on his fingers. 'One: Papatius was seen by two reliable witnesses following the dead man. Two: his wife was having an affair with same. Three: he has a history of violence, possibly even involving murder. Four: his wife owns the property they jointly occupy. Should they divorce it will revert to her absolute control. With that amount of evidence against him any court in the empire would convict him.'
Shit, that wife of mine had been busy right enough. One application of smarm and she'd passed on the lot. We would definitely be having words. 'Okay,’ I said. ‘So what about Hilarion? He couldn't've known anything about the murder. He wasn't even in Vetuliscum at the time. So why did he die?'
Aternius's brows went down. 'How the hell should I know?' he said.
Well, at lea
st the guy was human after all, or part-human: the exasperation was genuine. 'That's my point, sunshine. Before you can claim to have solved anything you've got to be able to answer all the questions. And that one's the biggie.'
'I would have thought you'd be relieved that the second murder clears your stepfather absolutely of suspicion. And no doubt we'll find out the whys of the case when we interrogate the man.'
My blood went cold. 'Torture?'
Aternius looked pained. 'He's a citizen, Corvinus. Torturing citizens is illegal.'
'Yeah. Yeah, sure.' If you've got a stripe to your mantle, or if it's the best lambs-wool and freshly laundered like this guy's. Hicks from the sticks with calluses on their hands whose normal sartorial level is a sweaty tunic are something else, especially if they're murder suspects. 'Okay, I'll rephrase that. You mean after he's accidentally fallen down a few flights of stairs in the local militia building.'
'I think we can assume the relevant authorities know their own business best.' That came out stiff as hell. 'And I'm afraid I rather resent your tone.'
'Stick around, pal. It gets worse.'
'I think perhaps we should change the subject.' That was Nepos. 'These friends of yours with a villa by Lake Sabatinus, Aternius. They wouldn't be young Oppius Mucro and his wife, would they?'
Ah, hell; I was obviously outnumbered here and I might as well save my breath. I settled back on my couch and reached for the olives. Smooth-Chops here had made up his mind, and there wasn't anything I could do about it for the moment. Besides, he might be right.
Old Bones (Marcus Corvinus Book 5) Page 6