How do you know what Brunnus thinks?" Petronius demanded. I feigned deafness. Zeno must have misunderstood what Lygon meant. Lygon was talking about the risk of being hunted down for murder, if any victims were accidentally given an overdose. In fact, Pullia may have overdosed herself instead. That time the boy took us to see his mother, she wasn't drunk, as we thought. I bet she got bored and sampled the drugs herself."
So by chance, we stumbled on the racket, way back!" Petronius sucked his teeth in annoyance.
Missing it doesn't matter. Now we can break the ring."
I'd like to hold back on that, Marcus. We need to gather evidence."
When did evidence feature in a vigiles arrest?" I scoffed.
Don't be like that! We need to be certain." Prevarication had never been Petro's style. I guessed his motive, however.
We are waiting until the Fourth Cohort arrives in Ostia?"
End of the week," Petronius said briskly, unaware that Rubella had already told me. I mentioned that Rubella might accompany the detachment. I had to explain why. Petronius Longus told me what he thought of me. His dissertation was not pretty. Eager for action now, we reached an accommodation. I'll get you for this, Falco!"
Fine. In the meantime, old pal, what's our plan?"
We can take turns to watch the old gatehouse. We'll establish whether Lygon and the woman are still living there."
It's just around the corner from where I saw Lygon with Cratidas."
Yes, the gatehouse is ideally positioned." Petro had quickly thought it out. It's near the river, when they snatch victims from Portus. It's also centrally located if they take them in Ostia, and good for returning the women after ransom."
I thought our involvement that time would put them off the place."
Pullia may never have owned up to the others about what happened. Even if she did, once the gang saw we were not suspicious of her, why sacrifice a good location? So we can observe the place until the next time they bring a victim back there. Then it's arrest time." As always when I had made a neat connection, I found myself wanting to test it. Pullia and the boy come from somewhere called Soli. Remember, Maia found that out. Do we know if this Soli is in Cilicia?" Helena Justina was reading, so quietly we had forgotten she was there. Now she looked up from the scroll. Yes," she said, as if she were already part of our conversation. Soli used to be on the Cilician coast."
Used to be?" I was sceptical. What happened? Did the town sprout wings and fly off into the puffy clouds? Sounds like an abstruse metaphor, in an Athenian satire." Petronius was grinning, too much, I thought. I was better acquainted with Helena's research skills. I gave her a look. Her dark eyes betrayed a modest triumph. Roman matrons do not gloat. Particularly over their spouses, of course. I brought a map of the Empire with me, Marcus."
Of course you did," I answered. We want to be equipped, if one of our very advanced children starts asking cute questions about remote provinces."
I expect," Petronius mocked us gravely, Julia Junilla Laeitana can already recite all the rivers in Germania."
Germania Ulterior and Inferior," I assured him. Rhenus and all its tributaries, in order, north to south."
Should be south to north, Falco. Go with the flow, man."
I know, but I was holding the map upside down when I taught her. We are working on Germania Libera, but the little sweetheart is frightened by the thought of untamed barbarians. Julia was three; she still had problems reciting all her own names. I had been rather carried away when naming my firstborn. Helena waited quietly for Petro and me to stop fooling.
I think you will like this; it fits your theories. Soli was officially renamed a hundred years ago." She lifted her right hand, a characteristic gesture, freeing up the group of bracelets she wore on her forearm. They tinkled against one another as she twisted her wrist, unconscious of the movement. Soli, you crazy pair of jesters, is now called Pompeiopolis. Now, Marcus, isn't that where your old pirate comes from too?" We took it in, then both graciously applauded her. Helena had just provided our first link between the kidnappers and Damagoras. Inspired, Petronius and I took turns at watching the gatehouse.
