All Roads Lead to Murder by Albert A. Bell

Author:Albert A. Bell [Bell, Albert A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ingalls Publishing Group, Inc
Published: 2012-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

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WE FILED OUT TO OUR SEVERAL places. Luke, Tacitus, and I concealed ourselves in a room next to the tablinum. After Chryseis entered the room, we would take up positions outside the door, to be able to hear what was going on and to allow Luke to intervene if he felt Chryseis was being endangered. Melissa had selected two of Apelles’ slaves who matched the general size and appearance of Cornutus and the other slave woman who had assisted her. In that poorly lighted room, she said, they would serve the purpose. She had given them specific instructions about where to stand, what to say and do. A brazier had been filled with hot coals and a branding iron was glowing in it. With all of us in our places, Melissa went to fetch Chryseis.

They returned in a few moments. I could hear Chryseis asking tiredly where they were going. Melissa, according to the script, told her that her master wanted to see her. Once they were in the room, Luke, Tacitus, and I tiptoed over to the door and flattened ourselves against the wall. What I heard cut into my heart.

Chryseis was crying. “What are you doing? Please, let me go.” In the original incident she was gagged, but we couldn’t gag her here. We had to hear what she was saying, to know if her memory was returning.

She let out a scream so piercing I could hardly bear to listen. I stood away from the wall and turned to the door, about to rush in and rescue her. Luke, on the other side of the doorway, made a gesture with his hand as if to hold me back. His face displayed as much anxiety as I felt.

“No!” Chryseis cried again. “No!” From the thuds of furniture being kicked around, I realized that they were trying to tie her to the table. If the real Cornutus was her father, how could he have stood to put his child through this?

“Shut her up,” I heard the fake Cornutus tell the other slave woman. He spoke his lines with no conviction at all.

But then Chryseis called out, “Mel . . . Mel . . . Melissa!”

Luke’s face brightened as Melissa said, “Stop! She knows me.”

I bolted into the room ahead of Luke and grabbed the branding iron from the hand of the fake Cornutus. He was holding it just inches from Chryseis’ face. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my hand wrapped in a cloth, as he did, and the handle was almost as hot as the brand. The searing pain helped me to avert my eyes from the sight of Chryseis nude, stretched over Apelles’ table, her ankles and one of her wrists tied to its legs. Melissa threw a blanket over the sobbing girl and untied her.

I dismissed the two slaves. Luke told the woman to bring some oil for my burned hand. Melissa wrapped the blanket around Chryseis and hugged her. I longed to hold her myself, but I knew she needed the comfort of Melissa’s familiar presence.

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