The Cyclops Case : A Judge Marcus Flavius Severus Mystery in Ancient Rome by Alan Scribner

Author:Alan Scribner [Scribner, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

XIII

JUDGE SEVERUS INVESTIGATES A THIRD MURDER

Early the next morning, Judge Severus and his assessor Flaccus drove to Baiae to confer with Judge Herminius prior to examining the clearing in the woods where Galba and his slave had been shot.

Technically, Judge Herminius explained, the murder of Galba was purely a local matter and completely outside Judge Severus’ jurisdiction, even as extended by “that document”, as Herminius called it. But since Galba had recently appeared in court before Judge Severus and since there was some possibility that the murders of Galba, Cyclops and the curiosi agent Bassianus might be connected, “the courtesy of the Baiae court would be extended to aiding Judge Severus in any inquiry he might wish to make.” To Severus that meant Herminius was looking for all the help he could get. The local judge confirmed it by trying to pick Severus’ brain.

“When we first talked,” began Judge Herminius, “we broached the possibility that there was a lunatic at large killing people in imitation of events in the Odyssey. Doesn’t the shooting of Galba by an arrow add credibility to that theory?”

“There may be a lunatic at large, at least where Cyclops and Galba are concerned,” replied Severus, “but most likely Bassianus was killed by General Cyclops.”

“Why do you say that?”

“From what we learned at the Blue Oyster Inn about Cyclops’ movements there that evening. He came in with a grim face, looking for someone. He went into the garden where Bassianus was later found murdered. He came out smiling, telling a bouncer that he had achieved success. I suggest that he came in looking for Bassianus, that he found him in the garden and killed him and then left. It fits together. But, truthfully, I can’t be sure until I learn what the motive may have been.”

“Then what about the man with the limp, the one you asked me and the Baiae vigiles to search for. Maybe he’s the lunatic?”

“Maybe.”

“And then what about this Odysseus mentioned at your hearing — the one Galba named as Cyclops’ accuser; the one Cyclops told Galba’s daughter he had recently seen at the Crater? Isn’t it possible that he is our killer, perhaps systematically murdering anyone who had something to do with that court-martial?”

“Except for Bassianus, of course, since he had nothing to do with that trial. Otherwise that’s also a possibility.”

“And what about this Persian spy, Meherdates? Maybe it’s him.”

“Maybe.”

“If you don’t mind my saying so,” commented Herminius. “I’m somewhat disappointed in your progress. You have a lot of theories, but no proof. You don’t even have the man with the limp or Odysseus or Meherdates.”

“You’re quite right, Judge Herminius. Unfortunately, quite right.”

Severus and Flaccus were provided with horses and escorted to the scene of Galba’s murder by one of Herminius’ staff, a local policeman named Eclectus.

“Galba was found here,” said Eclectus, pointing to the foot of a large, shady pine tree near the edge of a clearing in the woods. “There was an arrow in his throat. He had two slaves with him, one in charge of the dogs and the other to carry the hunting equipment.

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