The Ides of April

XXIV

I walked over and had a look at the Vicus Altus. Just a street.

Nothing unusual or significant. I walked back.

When I finally returned to the Stargazer, Tiberius was still there, with the draughtboard unused in front of him. The counters were still in their leather bag, as if he had never taken them out. He looked as if he had been depressing himself, perhaps continuing to think about the aediles failed marriage.

In the moment before he glanced up and spotted me, I had a chance to assess him. Some customers in bars are clearly vulnerable, especially if they are preoccupied; not him. I noticed, for instance, that Trinius the pickpocket made no attempt to sidle up, and I thought it unlikely any drunks would be troublesome.

In the few days I had known the runner, he can never have visited a barber; that unpleasant stubble of his had become full-face untended growth. Andronicus was bearded too-Hades, they must have more beards at their house than an academy of Greek philosophers. Andronicus' light gingery hair was carefully trimmed. From a short distance away, it was undetectable. In no way did it hide his features. The runner was darker. I could see nothing of Tiberius but those wary grey eyes.

"Sorry it took a while. I am surprised you are still here."

"I knew you would come."

I explained about going over to the other side of the hill to inspect the crime scene. "You know the Vicus Altus?" Tiberius bluffed, but I could see he was unable to place it. I enjoyed laying out my expertise: "It's a short, narrow street, above and parallel with the Embankment, back of the big Temple of Juno the Queen." Still no reaction. "It runs off the bend in Lesser Laurel Street." Tiberius sat up. "That's right," I told him quietly. "If we are looking for the same killer for the four odd deaths we have identified, this is his beat. Right by where Salvidia and Celendina lived. We don't know exactly where either of them was attacked, but the location is significant. They too may have been jostled by him in the Vicus Altus."

"But what about the oyster-shucker?"

"Still nearby. The stall is down on the flat, it's true-but it's in the Trigeminal Porticus-that's right below the Temple of Ceres. Every event we have identified happened in the Aventine's northwest area. It narrows the search."

While Tiberius was looking thoughtful, I told him I had warned Laia Gratiana that she and the other cult ladies should not walk about unless they had bodyguards present; she claimed they were using chairs or litters now. Inevitably, she said it as if I was exceeding my authority in giving her advice, especially as she had thought up the safety measure first.

The runner was drawn to murmur, "Sounds like her!" He made the comment to himself; there was no sharing with me.

I said what Laia Gratiana had told me about the incident with Ino. Tiberius let me talk in full, never interrupting. I finished. He remained silent.

"How did I do?" I queried, mildly satirical because I thought I had handled things excellently.

He sucked his teeth. "Did you question Laia Gratiana's own maid?"

Privately, I cursed. When I suggested this, Gratiana had snapped that it was unnecessary. "Oh, you would have insisted!" Tiberius nodded, so I*felt unprofessional. He was right; we had so few witnesses that I should have interviewed the girl as well, whatever her mistress wanted, just in case she saw something additional.

Some informers would have dashed this aside, but I admitted immediately that I was at fault. I said I could go back and do it.

He seemed to lose interest. I could tell by the way he was holding his hand that the wound I gave him with the skewer was hurting. I told him he should go home and rest up.

He stood up. For a tough man, he was visibly demoralised this evening. "Yes, this is sore. Don't trouble to apologise, Albia."

"I am not sorry."

Tiberius overruled me with one of his knowing looks. "You are!" he said.

He abruptly left the caupona without a goodbye. I thanked the gods I was not obliged to have a lot to do with him.