The Case of Vulcan: A Murder Mystery of Ancient Rome by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub

xi

Athitatus had said nothing by the time I returned to the Temple of Jupiter despite both my father and Scavolo being like a lion at his throat. We left him with a guard and retreated to my father’s room for an update.

“The house was almost empty of any furniture” I said, explaining that we’d searched every room to find only a single bed and very little of anything else. I told them we’d searched every corner, looked for loose stones and searched the one small chimney for secret doors but found nothing. It was another mystery. Why had the man reacted so violently to an empty house? I’d left Micus with Havitus and told him to continue searching and report anything he found.

My father rubbed his chin at my words. “I need you to speak to the Flamen Secundus, we’ll speak to the other man. See if you can loosen his tongue, you’ve been good at it before.”

It was praise coming from my father and I accepted it with a nod. They left and I realised I was suddenly thirsty so headed towards the kitchen area at the rear of the temple, finding Philus sat at a table and chatting to another slave. At my approach he jumped to his feet and bowed. Before I could ask for water he spoke.

“They’ll take five thousand less, master” he said with a thin-lipped smile.

I pouted my lips at the sudden words, taken aback slightly as the house had momentarily slipped my mind. “That’s good to know” I replied making the assumption that he believed I had sought him out with my answer to the meeting earlier. So there was a bargain to be had after all. I wondered if this was an opening gambit and there was more to come. “I’ll let you know later” I replied calmly. “Can I have some water and a small bowl of fruit.” He bowed and set off to gather the items, returning quickly. “When are they planning to leave the house?” I asked.

His gaze to me was calculating. “In two or three days” he replied. “They need to finalise their transport arrangements now that they have a potential buyer” he bowed again and gazed at me with a glance which suggested he had given away too much information and then departed hastily in case I quizzed him some more. So they were planning to move, which made my bargaining position stronger; it seemed there were no other bidders. I rummaged in my empty pockets and then remembered that my monthly allowance was due in a day so any devotions would have to wait. Nevertheless I sank the drink quickly and took my small fruit bowl to the altar and gave half to Jupiter Optimus Maximus and asked for his guidance in the matter of the house of Metilius.

Graccus was waiting for me in the corridor when I returned to the room where the Flamen was held, a jug of water and small cup in hand for the incarcerated man.

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