Time To Depart

L

THERE WAS VERY little time now. As soon as the body of Linus came home, we had lost our only advantage: that Balbinus had to lie low. Now he had much less to lose. Although he would have to remain in hiding, he could act much more freely. He faced the death penalty when we caught him, but he was so full of arrogance he probably thought he could evade capture. He was planning to rule Rome from some extravagant hiding place.

One thing he would want to do would be to carry on his campaign of vengeance against those who had brought him to justice. There was no doubt about it. Extreme peril threatened Petronius Longus. Apart from hating him for the court case, Balbinus would know Petro would be looking for him. Recapturing the big rissole was now Petro's sole task. Preventing him must be his enemy's chief goal. That, more than anything, was why I felt there was so little time to act.

I had had to tell Helena that I was persona non grata with the vigiles. For one thing she would soon notice me loafing at home instead of rushing out to crises. I had to explain the reason as well.

`Oh Marcus, this is terrible. I was so afraid it would happen… Will Petronius tell his men that you have been looking for corruption?'

`He's bound to tell his own team.'

`That means…'Helena paused. `The one who betrayed Linus will find out what your task is.'

`Don't worry.'

`It looks dangerous for you as well as for Petro.' `Love, this investigation was always dangerous.' `Are you carrying on with it?'

'Yes.'

`How are you going to manage if Petronius won't see you?'

`He'll calm down.'

Seeing that I did not intend to discuss the quarrel further, she stopped talking. One thing I liked about Helena was that she knew when not to pry. She had her own interests, which helped. Then if she ever did want to fight, she liked to blow up nonsense out of nothing. Things that were really important could be handled more sensibly.

Over breakfast, she seemed rather quiet. Maybe that was my fault. Even warm honey was failing to soothe me; I had had hardly any sleep and felt like sludge in the Great Sewer. I noticed Helena neither ate nor drank. That made me feel worse. She was pregnant, and I was ignoring it. The more bravely she endured her plight, the more guilt made me grouse.

`Are you still being sick?' She just shrugged. I had been decreed too busy to be kept informed. Dear gods, I wanted this trouble to be over so I could attend to my own life. `Listen, if I want to be companionable and concerned, you might try helping!'

`It's all right. You're a man. Just be yourself.'

`That's what I was doing. But I can probably be boorish, callous and insensitive if you prefer.'

`I'll bear with you while you're learning to do it.' She smiled. Suddenly she was winsome again.

I refused to be charmed. `Don't worry. I learn quickly.'

Helena Justina restrained herself, plainly making allowances for the tetchiness that had followed my falling out with my best friend. This only made me more angry, but she found a new subject to talk about: `I haven't had a chance to tell you, Marcus. Yesterday when I came home another message about Tertulla was pinned in a bag on the door. And this…' She reached to a shelf and produced a gold object. I recognised the overflown bulla that my sister Galla had hung around her daughter's neck, the amulet which was supposed to protect Tertulla from the evil eye. Its powers had been sorely overtaxed. Now some fool had sent the useless thing to me.

`So they're telling us this is genuine. What are they asking me to cough up?' Even to my own ears I still sounded gruff.

`A thousand sesterces.'

`Do you happen to know what they asked from your father?'

Helena looked apologetic. `Ten thousand.'

`That's all right. When they come down to a hundred I might consider it.'

.'You're all heart, Marcus!'

`Don't worry. I suspect they know they grabbed the wrong child this time. There's no money, but they don't want to lose face.'

`If they reduced the price once they may be weakening,' Helena said. `They seem like amateurs. People who knew what they were doing would pile pressure on us, then keep asking for more and more.'

`I don't belittle the situation, but we may as well not panic. Are there any instructions in the message?'

`No just the price. they want.' She was so reluctant to bother me she had not even let me see the message. Luckily I could trust Helena to tell me anything relevant. It was a relief to let her handle this. Even though I was in a filthy mood, I managed to feel some gratitude.

`We'll hear from them again, I'm sure. Sweetheart, if I'm too busy, do you think you can watch for the next contact?'

`Does that mean I should stay at home?' Helena sounded doubtful.

`Why? Have you an appointment to hear an epic poem in sixteen scrolls?'

`Certainly not. I did want to try that other house where a child is supposed to have been taken.'

`No luck yesterday?'

`I was told the woman was not at home.' `True, or a fable?'

`I couldn't tell. Since they were being polite they implied I could try another time, so I shall make sure I do.' She looked thoughtful. `Marcus, when the amulet was left there, I found myself thinking about the skip baby. Remember, he had a broken thread around his neck. Maybe it's a kidnap victim too. These people I haven't managed to see yet were supposed to have lost a baby. It was reported by the child's nurse. Maybe they will listen to me if I can tell them he's been found.'

Suddenly I experienced a huge pang of regret that she and I were not working together. I reached for her hands. `Would it help if I came with you?'

`I should say not.' Helena smiled at me. `With due respect,

Marcus, at the house in question an informer would be someone to eject. I'm trying to cross the private bastions of a very important magistrate.'

A thought struck me. `What's his name?'

Helena told me. My lawyers advise me not to mention it; I don't want a libel action. Besides, men like that get enough publicity.

I laughed throatily. `Well, if you can use the information, I last saw the most excellent personage in question having his fancy tickled by a high-class prostitute.'

She looked worried, and then perhaps offended. One of the reasons I had always loved her so dearly was that Helena Justina was absolutely straight. The idea of blackmailing a man who was entitled to wear the purple toga to show his distinction would never cross her mind.

`Which brothel was it, Marcus?'

`I promise I've only been in one you know about – Plato's Academy.'

`That's interesting,' said Helena. She was trying to make it significant.

I knew that game. I had been in the enquiry business longer than she had. I let her dream.