They were silent for only a moment. Justinus got there first. "The waitress found out that you were working on the murder, and came to ask about the missing father of her son?"
"Smart boy. To celebrate, it's your turn to buy the drinks."
"Forget it!"Justinus exclaimed with a laugh. "I've a bride who thinks it's time we stopped living with my parents- and I've no savings."
The senator's house at the Capena Gate was a spacious spread but having many rooms to flounce off to only created more opportunities for quarrels. I knew Aelianus thought it was time that his brother and Claudia moved out. Well, he would. "We are not going to earn much on this, are we, Falco?" He wanted Justinus to suffer.
"No."
"I see it as an orientation exercise," Aelianus philosophised.
"Aulus," snarled his brother, 'you are so pompous, you really should be in the Senate."
I stepped in fast. "Informing is about days of nuisance work, while you long for a big enquiry. Don't despair," I chaffed them cheerily. "I had one once."
I gave them a few ideas for following up, though they were losing heart. So was I. The best ploy would be to drop this, but to store our notes handily under the bed. One day Gloccus and Cotta would return to Rome. Those types always do.
Whilst my runners pursued our uninspiring leads, I devoted myself to family issues. One joyless task was on behalf of my sister Maia; I ended her tenancy on the house Anacrites had trashed. After I gave the keys back to the landlord, I still used to walk that way, keeping watch. If I had caught Anacrites lurking in the area, I would have spitted him, roasted him, then thrown him to the homeless dogs.
In fact something worse happened. One evening I spotted a woman I recognised, talking to one of Maia's neighbours. I had told a few trusted people that my sister had moved away to a place of safety; I never mentioned where. Friends understood the situation. Nothing would be said to a casual enquirer. Her neighbour was now shaking her head unhelpfully.
But I knew the infiltrator. She had dangerous skills. Her paid task was finding people who were attempting to stay hidden. If she found them- that is, when she found them- they always regretted it.
This woman was called Perella. Her arrival confirmed my worst fears: Anacrites was having the place observed. He had sent one of his best operatives too. Perella might look like a comfortable, harmless bundle who was only after female gossip. She was past her prime; nothing would change that. But under the dark frumpy gown she had the body of a professional dancer, athletic and tough as tarred twine. Her intelligence would shame most men; her persistence and courage frightened even me.
She worked for the Chief Spy. She was damned good and she enjoyed that fact. She usually worked alone. Scruples did not trouble her. She would tackle everything; she was utterly professional. If she had been given the ultimate order, I knew that she would kill.
My solution was easy. Sometimes the Fates must have a drop too much to drink; while they lie down groaning with a headache, they forget to screw you.
A let-out arrived the same evening, when I reached home. The lads and I had arranged to hold a final consultation about the missing builders. Aelianus and Justinus had discovered something that day which made them think we should call off our search.
"Gloccus and Cotta are way out of reach." Aelianus used a nasty smirk sometimes.
I was too upset by Perella; I just rambled, with half my mind on it: "So where are they? A yurt in darkest Scythia? While some tradesmen dream of retiring to a tasteless southern villa, with a pergola that a Babylonian king would envy, do bath house contractors opt for being smoked to oblivion with filthy drugs in exotic eastern tents?"
"Worse, Falco." Suddenly I knew what was coming. Still too full of himself, Aelianus continued, "There is some large project overseas- building specialists are being sent from Rome. It is regarded as a hard posting, but we were told it is surprisingly popular."
"High rates of pay,"Justinus inserted dryly.
They were trying to be mysterious, but I already knew of a project that would fit.
"Do you want to guess, Falco?"
"No."
I leaned back, cradling my head. I sucked my teeth. This was normal man-management: I looked supercilious while they looked shifty. "Right. We'll go there."
"You don't know where it is," complained Aelianus, always the first to jump in blindly when he ought to suspect a catch.
"Don't I? They are builders, aren't they?" I knew where all the contractors were rushing off to currently. "Now. I owe this to your parents: one of you has to stay in Rome and mind the office. Agree between you who wins the chance to travel. I don't care how. Draw counters from an urn. Throw dice. Ask a dirty astrologer."
They were reacting too slowly. Justinus got there first: "Falco knows!"
"They've gone to a project known as the Great King's House. Am I right?"
"How do you know, Falco?"
"We are looking for two builders. I make sure I know what's being talked about in the building world." It was a coincidence but I could live with assistants who thought I had magical powers. "This is an enormous, glamorous palace being built for an old supporter of Vespasian's. The Emperor takes a personal interest. Unluckily for us, the great one who has an unpronounceable name which we must learn to say is king of a tribe called the Atrebates. They live on the south coast. That's the south coast on the wrong side of the Gallic Strait. It's an evil stretch of water, and it separates us from a ghastly province."
I stood up, "I repeat: one of you can pack a bag. Bring warm clothes, a very sharp sword, plus all your courage and initiative. You have three days to kiss the girls goodbye, while I finalise our commission."
"Falco! What commission?"
"One Vespasian has particularly begged me to accept. Our commission from Sextus Julius Frontinus, provincial governor of Britain, to investigate the Great King's House."
It was horrible but neat.
I would go; I would have to take Helena; that would mean we took the children. I had sworn never to go back, but oaths are cheap. Gloccus and Cotta were not the only lure. I would drag along Maia, removing her from Rome and from Anacrites' grasp.
I set it all up very quietly. I had to arrange things at the Palace so discreetly that Anacrites would not find out. Only then did I warn Maia.
Being one of my sisters immune to good sense, careless of her own safety, and thoroughly bloody-minded Maia refused to go.
VIII
my plan had been to slip out of Rome quietly. By now the Fates must have woken up with a real hangover. The journey took for ever and it was terrible.
The first time I went to Britain, I had the army looking after me. Nothing to worry about, except pondering why in Hades I had ever joined up. It was all easy. Kindly officers planned my every waking moment so there was no time to panic; practised supplies managers ensured that food and every kind of equipment accompanied us; good lads were with me, all wanting their mothers just like I did but not saying so.
The last time I went out there, it was me and a one-man travel pack. I prepared it for myself without a kit manual, while others added an imperial pass to see me through and a maps king showing the long road north. On the way back, it was me and a highly strung, furious young divorcee called Helena Justina. She was wondering what it would be like to go to bed with a brutal, outspoken informer, while I was very carefully avoiding the same thoughts. A thousand miles was a long way, trying to keep my hands off her. Especially once I started to sense that she wanted me to stop trying.