Murder in Megara

Chapter Forty-eight

“Peter and Hypatia don’t seem to be around.” Cornelia came back upstairs from the kitchen with a bowl of boiled eggs.

“Is something wrong?” John wondered. “Peter never fails to have breakfast ready.” He rubbed at the crick in his neck. Eventually he and Cornelia had fallen asleep in each other’s arms, which was good for the soul but hard on the neck, at least at their ages.

Cornelia put the bowl on the table and sat down beside John. “Everything seems quiet. Nothing’s on fire. The City Defender isn’t at the gate. Maybe Peter mistook the time. It’s easy enough out here in the country with nothing going on and no water clock.”

“We’re fortunate nothing is going on…”John shelled an egg slowly and took a bite.

Cornelia placed her hand over his. “I know this is difficult, John.”

“It shouldn’t be hard to bring a murderer to justice. You’re right, I no longer know this Alexis.” He shook his head. “An abbot…then again, the City Defender might not be so ready to see justice done.”

“Surely when you explain it all to him…?”

“Unfortunately, I have explanations but little evidence. Granted, once Georgios knows what happened, he could probably find the evidence easily enough with the resources he has, if he wanted to.”

“What about the basket, John? Alexis wanted to make the murder look as if it had pagan overtones by leaving that basket at the temple. That’s something you could take with you.”

“Yes, the sacred basket. Thinking about it reminds me-”

Cornelia interrupted his thought by leaping up and running to the window. “Goddess!” she cried. “I spoke too soon! The City Defender just arrived!”

John met Georgios and a contingent of armed guards in the courtyard. The City Defender looked tired. There were bags under the eyes of the big square-jawed face, and when he spoke it was with bemusement more than bluster.

“You are taxing my patience and my resources,” Georgios said. “I don’t have enough prison cells for you and your friends and your servants.”

“Why are you here this morning?” John demanded.

“According to the confessions I have just heard, that elderly servant of yours, who is apparently more spry than he looks, is responsible for the murders of both Theophilus and Diocles. Your female servant, however, only killed Diocles.”

“You don’t believe that, do you?”

Now Georgios looked pained now as well as tired. “In part, perhaps, but not all of it certainly. I realize the emperor sent you into exile here but did he order you to bring the crime in Constantinople with you?”

“That’s what people feared, so naturally that’s what they see. Isn’t it obvious my servants are trying to protect me?”

“Or trying to protect each other. The real question is which of you needs protecting? One, or two, or possibly all three?”

“None of us. Neither Peter nor Hypatia is a murderer.”

“In the grip of passion we can all become murderers if only for an instant, but an instant is all it takes to drive a blade into a man’s back. It is perfectly plausible the old man killed Theophilus. He tells me he was out by the temple that night, and likewise the woman was on the spot when Diocles was killed. Perhaps you ordered these deaths? At any rate, as owner of the estate you are equally responsible.”

“You are therefore here to arrest me?” John had noted the guards were blocking his path to the gate. The courtyard penned him in on all sides.

“It is necessary.” Georgios’ tone was curt.

“I think not. I know who killed Theophilus and Diocles.”

Georgios smiled in weary fashion. “If you killed them, of course you would know.”

At his gesture a couple of his men drew their swords and stepped toward John.

“I didn’t kill anyone, Georgios. But were I to reveal the culprit’s identity would you believe me on the evidence I have and act on it?”

“My interest is in maintaining public order in Megara. What is good for Megara is good for me. You have my attention.”

“Then allow me to continue my investigations. There is more to be done to ensure justice will be carried out.”

The guards who had stationed themselves on either side of John looked away from the man they were supposed to seize and looked toward the City Defender.

“I will allow you one day,” Georgios said, “and will leave a few men here with your lady to keep her safe while you continue to look into the matter. Meantime, your servants will remain my reluctant guests.”