He's a murderer!" squealed Albia. Don't let him escape." I was conscious that we were surrounded by a huge crowd, many of whom were this man's relatives. Slowly, people stood up, amidst a wave of muttering. Petronius Longus appeared at my side. Now they had two of us to attack. So far, they were holding back. Petro was larger than anyone else present. He was much larger than the man in the disputed boots, whom he now gripped with an arm up his back, lifting him by the neck of his tunic so his toes dangled. Let's have the boots offhim, Falco." I removed the boots. It entailed dodging wild kicks until Petro made sure, very efficiently, that his captive stopped struggling. This was entertainment for the crowd, who saw we could be violent and began to revel in the scene. The man who had been wearing the fine bronze-toggled boots, ended up white-faced and trembling; Petronius dandled him playfully. Helena stepped forward, took the boots and carried them to Rhodope. Are you quite certain these are the boots you bought for Theopompus?" As the centre of attention, Rhodope revived. Yes!" She tried fainting again, but again Albia dragged her upright, shaking her fiercely, like Nux with one of the children's rag puppets. Albia had a no-nonsense attitude to first aid. No slumping or whimpering would be allowed. Petronius told the captive not to give him any trouble, or he would end up as ashes on the pyre. By now members of the vigiles had become aware of the problem and were filtering towards us through the mourners. Petronius turned to the assembled groups of sailors. Thrusting the captive in one direction then another, he cried harshly,
Which of you brought this boot-thief to Italy? Whose is he?" Laughter came from Cratidas, surrounded by grinning Cilicians. Petro aimed the captive at him. He answered with his usual sneer.
Not ours." Lygon, who was alongside in his flamboyant coat, also shook his head quickly. Then they jeered at another group, who must be Illyrians. I pretended to watch the action, but I was searching the crowd. Eventually I found the man I was looking for. Cotys. I wanted to tackle him myself but there was too much opposition here. Edging up to Rubella, I muttered, Group over there by the food table. villain in the plum-juice cloak, can your boys take him?" The tribune appeared not to hear me. I had faith. Rubella himself strolled over to the buffet as if he wanted a fistful of skewered meat, nodding to one or two vigiles troopers as he made his way. He was fit and fearless; one thing you always had to say for Rubella was that when it came to action, he was utterly sound. A drunken innkeeper hit him once and said it was like punching masonry. Cotys sensed trouble. But he was still drawing his knife when Rubella, one-handed, knocked him flat. Then the tribune stood on Cotys" knife arm, and calmly ate his skewered titbits while he waited for the noise to settle down. There was a hush. When a heavy ex-centurion stood on someone's wrist with his whole weight, everyone could sympathise, but certainly not try to help the man on the ground.
This the one you want, Falco?" Rubella called conversationally, as if he had just picked out a flatfish at a fishmonger's. He cleaned his teeth with his little-finger nail. Who is he, and what has the bastard done?" I retrieved the boots from Helena. He's Cotys, an arrogant Illyrian. He took me on a forced ride on his leaky liburnian, tried to drown me, and he stole my sword, for starters. These boots come into the story. Yesterday, I saw the man Petronius has arrested clomping around in them. He and another filthy character carried a chest aboard the ship. Cotys claimed it was his sea-chest but, you'll be interested in this, tribune, it's the same one the two scribes brought to Ostia with their ransom for Diocles."
Thanks. I like a clear indictment!" Rubella bared his teeth in what passed for a grin. Then he lifted his foot and pulled Cotys upright by the arm with one strong movement, a movement Rubella must have known was liable to dislocate the man's shoulder. Cotys yelled with pain. Seems a bit soft," commented Rubella. The vigiles have simple rules. One is. always undermine gangster chiefs with insults when their men are watching. After my ordeal aboard the ship, that suited me.
So, you raided the ferry yesterday and stole the chest, did you?" Rubella demanded.
Nothing to do with me," whined Cotys.
You sent the ransom note?"
No! I told Falco This time he was truly indignant.
How did you know about the money then?"
A rumour at a brothel, a load of cash was to be exchanged at the Damson Flower."
So you decided to lift it before it got there? Who were you double crossing, Cotys? Your friends the Cilicians?" The Cilicians began muttering.
We would never cheat an ally!" Cotys was not convincing them. The Cilicians howled and grew ready to turn nasty.
