Illegally Dead (Marcus Corvinus Book 12) by Wishart David

Author:Wishart, David [Wishart, David]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2015-01-25T16:00:00+00:00

16

She was in her private sitting-room this time. The room was practically identical to the one further along the corridor, that Hostilius had used - big, light and airy, opening onto the portico and the garden - except that instead of bookcases stuffed with law books the place was full of plants, growing plants as well as vases of cut flowers. No couches, either, just the well-padded high-back chair where Veturina was sitting, a low table and a couple of stools.

‘Valerius Corvinus. Welcome. Do sit down. ’ The lady was still wearing her mourning mantle. ‘That’s all,’ she said to the slave who’d brought me. He bowed and exited.

I pulled up one of the stools and sat. ‘Veturina, I –’ I began.

She held up a hand. ‘First let me apologise for the...well, the scene I made two days ago when you were last here. I was overwrought, yes, but that’s no excuse. I behaved dreadfully.’

‘No problem.’ I cleared my throat. ‘Ah...I was just wondering about your brother. Whether he –’

‘Whether he’s at home this time? Yes, he is, actually.’

I stared at her. ‘Castor’s back?’

‘I’ve just said so.’ She was looking at me coolly. ‘He came back an hour or so ago. I’m sure he’d be glad to speak to you if you have the time.’

‘Where’s he been?’

‘Staying with a friend in Bovillae. But that’s something you can ask him about yourself.’

Jupiter! ‘You knew, last time I was here, that he’d been missing for eight days, didn’t you, lady?’ She said nothing, but her lips tightened. ‘Did you know where he was then?’

‘No. I might have guessed, but I didn’t think –’

‘He didn’t call back that evening? The day he had the quarrel with your husband in town? He wasn’t here when you had your own row with Hostilius and he told you he wanted him out of the house?’

Two red spots had formed on her cheeks. ‘Valerius Corvinus!’

Oh, hell; here we went again. None the less... ‘I’m sorry, Veturina,’ I said, ‘but this is too important for pussyfooting. I just can’t believe that Castor disappeared into the blue without telling you where he was going, or at the very least that you knew he’d gone and why. And that raises the question of why you tried to cover for him.’

She was glaring at me now. ‘If Scopas has told you –’ she began.

‘It isn’t Scopas’s fault,’ I said quietly. ‘He started by lying to me too, only I twisted his arm and threatened to ask you yourself. He was just saving you pain, or thought he was.’

‘Then I’ve nothing further to say on the matter.’ Her lips clamped shut.

I sighed. ‘Very well, lady. You’re being really, really foolish, but have it your way. I’ll just have to ask the guy himself.’ I stood up. ‘This is where you saw Cosmus from?’

‘Yes,’ she said stiffly. ‘He came out of the portico to the right and went down the garden towards the gate at the far end.’

I stepped out onto the portico and looked along it.

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