Illegally Dead (3 page)

5

When I got home mid-afternoon Perilla was sitting in the atrium with the two youngsters head-to-head over a game of Robbers.

‘Oh, hello, Marcus.’ Perilla put down her book. ‘Did you have a nice morning?’

‘Yeah. Yeah, it was okay.’ I planted the requisite smacker and pulled up a stool. ‘Libanius arrived yet?’

‘About fifteen minutes ago. He’s with Aunt Marcia and Hyperion in the study.’

‘Fine. Hey, Clarus!’

‘Yes, Corvinus?’ He looked up.

‘You know of anyone by the name of Fimus?’

‘Sure, he farms over by Six Cedars. Marcus Maecilius.’

‘Hear of a connection between him and Lucius Hostilius at all?’

‘Yes. Hostilius and Acceius are representing him in a court case against his brother.’

‘Acceius?’ Perilla said.

‘Hostilius’s partner.’ I turned back to Clarus. ‘You know what the case is about?’

Clarus grinned. ‘If I didn’t I’d be the only one in Castrimoenium.’

‘They’re wrangling over old “Lucky” Maecilius’s will,’ Marilla said.

‘Happen to know the details?’

‘Not as such,’ Clarus said. ‘But the gist of it is that although his elder son got most of the cash old Maecilius left all the land to Fimus.’

‘That so, now?’ Well, as a valid reason for litigation you wouldn’t get better, not somewhere like Castrimoenium. In farming districts like Latium they take land very, very seriously, and  there isn’t a surer way to split a family at a death than a spat over how the acres are divided. Besides, Pontius had said there was quite a bit of actual money involved, too, which might well’ve complicated matters. But it raised a question in its own right. If anything, barring a general parcelling-out - and I could see that that’d cause problems of its own - testamentary dispensations usually went the other way, with the property in toto going to the eldest son and the younger ones taking their share of the available cash. Maecilius was a farmer to his boots, he must’ve known a cack-handed arrangement like that would lead to trouble. ‘He have a reason for doing things that way, do you know? Old “Lucky”, I mean?’

‘Certainly. Or at least, it makes good practical sense. Fimus’s worked Six Cedars with his father all his life. Bucca’s no farmer, never has been.’

‘Bucca? That’s the other son?’ They did like their nicknames, the Castrimoenians: the word means ‘The Mouth’ or ‘Bragger’.

‘Yes. He’s got a carting and saddlery business in town. His name’s really Gaius, but Bucca’s what everyone calls him. It fits, too.’

‘Not a popular bunny, then?’

That got a grin. ‘Oh, no.You won’t find many locals who’ve much time for Bucca Maecilius. Nor did his father, for that matter. The general opinion is he was lucky to get as much as he did, and as far as the court case is concerned he hasn’t got a hope in hell.’

‘Why do you think Hostilius’d call -?’ I began, but I was interrupted by the sight of Marcia and Hyperion coming from the direction of the study with Quintus Libanius in tow. ‘Never mind, we’ll pick up on that one later.’

‘Ah, Valerius Corvinus, you’re here.’ Libanius came across, hand outstretched, and I stood up. ‘A pleasure to see you again.’

‘Likewise. How are you, Libanius?’ We shook.

‘Hello, Marcus.’ Marcia lowered herself carefully onto her usual stool and straightened a fold of her mantle. She looked old, even older than she usually did; but maybe that was just me noticing it more. ‘Now. Hyperion and I have discussed the situation with Quintus and he fully understands the position.’

‘Absolutely,’ Libanius said. He had that glazed, punch-drunk look about him that being on the receiving end of one of Marcia’s discussions leaves you with. ‘Hyperion’s quite right, Corvinus, the matter ought to be investigated. Consequently I’d be grateful for any help you can give.’ He paused. ‘However, there is the major problem of a formal charge. I’ve told the Lady Marcia that as representative of the town authorities I’m more than willing to provide you with authorisation for an investigation, but –’

He stopped. The guy looked unhappy, and I didn’t blame him. Yeah, that aspect of things had been worrying me too. Hell!

‘But Hostilius’s death wasn’t obvious murder.’ I filled in what he hadn’t said. ‘No obvious murder, no excuse for a public enquiry, certainly not without the family’s permission. Meaning, in this case, the guy’s wife. And if - what’s her name; Veturina? - doesn’t give it, and why should she because she’d be a prime suspect if not the actual villain, then we’re completely in schtook. Right?’

Libanius looked even more unhappy. ‘Indeed,’ he said. ‘And that is exactly where we’re likely to remain. As far as Veturina is concerned at present - assuming she wasn’t responsible - her husband died a natural death. Nothing and no one has suggested otherwise. It would be unreasonable to expect her to approve an enquiry even if she were completely innocent, and if we did hold one she’d have a perfect right to refuse her co-operation.’

‘I’ve told Quintus that, Hyperion being to all intents and purposes a client of mine, I would be prepared to bring a formal legal charge myself,’ Marcia said. ‘The drawback is that I would have to cite a specific person as the one responsible. Which of course in advance of a proper investigation would be a nonsense.’

‘Yeah. Yeah, right,’ I said. Bugger! This was not looking good.

‘So you see, Corvinus,’ - Libanius spread his hands - ‘we’re caught. No proof of murder - or no formal accusation - no investigation; no investigation, no proof of murder. Oh, yes: if Hyperion were to report the business with the medicine bottle officially, even now, I could take unilateral action myself. Unfortunately, in law that would immediately entail, ipso facto, at least the torture of the household’s slaves, and Hyperion will not accept this under any circumstances. Barring that, and given the Lady Marcia’s understandable scruples, I see no course of action but to leave things as they are.’

Shit. ‘So what you’re saying,’ I said, ‘is that you need some piece of evidence - some solid piece of evidence - besides the medicine bottle, that points to a murder.’

‘Yes. Until we have that then I’m afraid -’

‘Excuse me, sir.’ Bathyllus butlered in from the direction of the lobby. ‘But there’s a messenger arrived to speak to Quintus Libanius.’

‘Ah.’Libanius frowned. ‘I’m sorry, I left word with my major-domo that I’d be contactable here if I was needed for any reason. If you’ll excuse me a moment?’

‘Sure,’ I said.

He left. For a moment, there was silence. Then: ‘Corvinus, you can’t give up!’ Marilla snapped.

‘Marilla’s right,’ Clarus said. ‘Hostilius was murdered, you know he was. We can’t just -’

‘Princess. Clarus.’ Jupiter, this was a real downer. ‘You heard the guy. I told you, without some sort of official standing here my hands are tied.’

‘That hasn’t stopped you before,’ Perilla said quietly.

‘No, it hasn’t.’ Marcia glared at me. ‘Nor should it be stopping you now. Marcus Valerius Corvinus, I’m surprised at you. If Libanius says we need additional proof then we will simply have to think how it is to be got. There’s the Hostilius household for a start. One of the slaves might have seen something, or -’

‘You heard Libanius, Marcia. I can’t go questioning Hostilius’s slaves without his wife’s permission, and she isn’t likely to give it.’

‘Nonsense! Hyperion could arrange something easily. Couldn’t you, Hyperion?’

‘Certainly. Nothing easier,’ Hyperion said. ‘I’m sure under the circumstances Scopas - that’s the major-domo, if you recall - would co-operate fully, and I’d stake my life that he’s above suspicion himself.’

‘There you are. It’s a beginning. Also, Marcus,’ - Marcia’s chin lifted - ‘I may not get around as much as I used to, but I do have some influence not only locally but in Rome, which if necessary I am fully prepared to use.’

I was grinning despite myself. I didn’t underestimate that last bit of unsolicited support, either. Given the choice of having the authority of the Castrimoenian senate behind me or a damn-your-eyes war-to-the-knife commitment from the widow of the Divine Augustus’s friend and chief adviser, I’d take the second option any day. Like it or not, the steel-strong Old Boy and Old Girl network still runs the empire. A few carefully-worded letters from Marcia to her blue-blood, henna-rinsed epistolary pals in Rome and we’d probably have the head Foreign Judge in person tanking down here with the authorisation ready signed.

‘Yeah, well,’ I said. ‘Maybe –’

Which was as far as I got before Libanius reappeared. With that mass of facial hair getting in the way I couldn’t read his expression exactly, but from the change in his manner whatever the message had been it hadn’t come from his laundress.

‘I don’t know which particular god looks after the investigative proclivities of men like yourself, Corvinus,’ he said, ‘but I suggest that you owe him or her a whopping great sacrifice. That was one of the public slaves from the Town Watch office. Someone’s found a body.’

I stared at him. Marilla whispered: ‘Oh, great!’

‘Whose body, Quintus?’ Marcia said.

‘A young slave belonging to Hostilius’s household. His name was Cosmus.’

‘Ah,’ Hyperion said.

‘You know him?’ Libanius said.

‘Of him, yes. Well, well. Now that’s interesting.’

‘He had certain articles in his belt-pouch that he could only have stolen, and stolen only from Hostilius’s bedroom. They included, crucially, the dead man’s signet ring. Taking that fact together with your suspicions over the medicine bottle, Hyperion, we now have a prima-facie case for murder.’

‘You think this slave murdered Hostilius for the sake of a ring and a few bedroom trifles?’ Marcia said. ‘It seems rather unlikely, doesn’t it?’

‘Of course it does.’ Libanius frowned. ‘That isn’t the point. What’s important is the existence of the technicality: that Hostilius died to someone’s advantage under what can now be revealed as ambiguous circumstances. That’s all I needed. You have your investigation.’

‘And the slaves?’ Hyperion said.

Libanius hesitated. ‘There,’ he said carefully, ‘I think I’m entitled to use my discretion. Again technically, the murderer is already caught. If we don’t push the letter of the law too far - and I’m trying very hard, at present, not to think too deeply about likelihoods and legalities here - then putting the rest of the household’s slaves to the torture is neither strictly necessary nor - because it would seriously affect their value as commodities - would it be economically justified. You’d agree, Lady Marcia?’

‘Oh, well done, Quintus!’ Marcia murmured. ‘Very neat!’

‘It’s brilliant!’ Marilla was beaming. ‘Isn’t it, Corvinus?’

‘Yeah.’ It was, too: a beautiful piece of legal doublethink with a nice slice of good old-fashioned hard-headed business practice thrown in. I was beginning to have a lot of respect for Libanius. ‘Uh...where was the body found?’

‘In a well on the old Bavius property, not far from Hostilius’s villa.’

‘In a well?’

‘It was sheer luck. The property’s been empty since Bavius’s widow died a year ago, and the new owner - he’s a cousin, lives in Rome - hadn’t shown much interest. Now, seemingly, he wants to sell it as a holiday home. He contacted two local builders to check the place over. One of the things they checked, of course, was the well, and - there you are.’

‘So this Cosmus was murdered himself and dumped?’

‘It’s a possibility, Corvinus. That’s for you to determine. However, it’s also possible that his death was an accident. Seemingly the surrounding wall is very low, and broken completely in places.’

‘Where’s the body now?’ Hyperion said.

‘At the Town Watch-house.’

‘Could I see it, do you think?’

Libanius’s eyebrows rose. ‘Of course. If you like. Though why you should bother to –’

‘I may be able to tell things from it.’

‘Indeed? Well, suit yourself, Hyperion, you know best, I suppose. One more thing I should tell you, though, Corvinus, although I’d rather stay out of your investigations altogether, if you don’t mind.’

‘Yeah?’

‘The body was only identified as Cosmus’s because one of the men who found it knew him by sight. As far as I know - and I would know - Veturina hasn’t reported the boy missing, as would normally happen with a runaway slave. Nor had she reported any theft.’

Ah. ‘Interesting,’ I said.

‘Isn’t it? Well’ - Libanius turned to Marcia - ‘I think this has been quite a successful meeting after all. I’ll be getting back now, if you’ll excuse me. Hyperion? You wanted to inspect the corpse. And Corvinus, of course, if you’d care to join us. I can confirm officially, naturally, that from this moment on the investigation is yours and you have the full backing of the Castrimoenian senate.’ He held out his hand, and I shook it. ‘The best of luck to you.’

Clarus and Marilla stood up. ‘I’ll fetch Corydon,’ Marilla said. ‘Clarus, you brought Aster, didn’t you?’

‘Now just a minute, Princess –’ I said.

‘But of course we’re coming,’ Clarus said.

‘Clarus, pal –’

‘What?’ He grinned. ‘Look, Corvinus, I’ll bet that I’ve seen more corpses than you’ve had hot dinners. Also, that thanks to Dad I can tell a lot more about them than you can. And Marilla – well, if I go then so does she.’