The Accusers

XLIX

Time: evening.

Place: patrol house, Second Cohort of Vigiles, Fifth Region.

Subject: conversation between an unknown squad member and M. Didius Falco, informer. In the presence of Q. Camillus Justinus, informer's associate.

Mood: angry.

'Be reasonable. We need to know what the door porter says.'

`He's unavailable.'

`Is he still getting the treatment?'

`I can't comment.'

`Can I speak to your persuasion officer?'

`He's busy.'

`Still in session?'

`We never reveal that.'

`You just invented that edict! Don't you think you owe us cooperation? I've heard all about how you got hold of this slave. If it wasn't for Justinus bringing him back to Rome, you'd have had to flog all the way to Lanuvium. We've saved you a long trip and a longer runaround – it took Justinus a three-day effort to root out the porter from where he was hiding up.'

`Get lost, Falco.'

`Listen -'

`No, you listen. Either leave this station-house right now – or you'll be flung into a cell.'

L

Time: evening.

Place: patrol house, Fourth Cohort of Vigiles, Aventine.

Subject: conversation between L. Petronius Longus and M. Didius Falco, in the presence of Q. Camillus Justinus.

Mood: tense.

`I've got the story for you.'

`Something happened. That's obvious.'

`Look, Falco -'

`You're sounding defensive.'

`I'm damn well not.'

`Well, damn well get on with it.'

`Perseus refused to tell them anything. And he's no longer available.'

`Translate that, Petro. What pretty vigiles excuse is "no longer available"?'

`He's dead.'

`They killed him?'

`It's not their fault.'

`Oh please!'

`The courts expect a high standard of battery, if it's to count as torture legally.'

`Oh I'd really call this a "high standard"!'

'They are not all as skilled as Sergius -'

`Oh Quintus, don't you like the comparison? Sergius is the penalty man in this cohort. Here, torture is no more dangerous than a sheep shearing picnic in the Apennines. Here they can squeeze your goolies off so delicately you stay alive and keep on making helpful statements for absolutely weeks.'

`Spare me your sarcasm. The Second slipped up, Falco. Sometimes it's a risk.'

`Some risk. These incompetents have removed the one witness who might have told us the truth.'