The Lydian Baker

I nodded. Her ship wouldn't be sailing for a couple of days yet, and it would've been better and safer if she'd stayed, but that was her decision. Maybe she had a friend or two somewhere in the Piraeus after all. I hoped so.

'So.' Perilla kissed me. 'How was your day? Apart from the parrot.'

'Not bad.' I gave the edited highlights. 'It sounds like this Smaragdus is lying low somewhere and using his pal Harpalus as a go-between with potential customers.'

'That would seem very sensible, under the circumstances. Considering his partner has been murdered.'

'Yeah.' I frowned. 'Apropos of which, Harpalus assumed that I'd been sent by a guy called Eutyches.'

'A rival bidder, perhaps?'

'Could be.' Bathyllus reappeared with the wine jug and a full cup. I took a long swallow. 'Only if so then why didn't Priscus mention him in his letter?'

'Is that so strange? A seller is under no obligation to provide a list of bidders, surely.'

'Maybe not, lady. But I got the distinct impression this was a one- horse race. So if Eutyches is a customer then what kind of customer is he? New or old? Bona fide or the type who goes to business meetings on Mounychia with a crowbar tucked under his cloak?'

'Oh, Marcus!' Perilla's eyes widened. 'You think he was the one who killed Argaius?'

'It's a working hypothesis. We know Argaius went to meet someone on Mounychia, and up to now Eutyches is the only game in town. Another thing. When Harpalus thought I was representing him the guy was jittery as a cat on a seesaw. Whoever the bastard is, customer or not one gets you ten he's no paragon of respectability.'

'But if Smaragdus even suspected that this Eutyches was responsible for his partner's death then surely he'd have nothing to do with him?'

'Not necessarily. To guys like Argaius and Smaragdus a customer's a customer. We're not shopping in the Porches now.'

'Marcus, this is all beginning to sound horribly risky.'

'You're telling me something I don't know?'

'Of course not. What I am saying is that perhaps you should leave this thing alone after all.'

'That won't get Priscus his Baker, lady. And I don't see why the old guy shouldn't have it, if he's willing to pay through the nose. Assuming it's genuine, of course.'

'You think it is?'

I hesitated. 'Perilla, I don't know any more. Maybe. However unlikely it seems. Because if it isn't then a lot of people are putting in a hell of a lot of effort for nothing.'

'Yes. That's true.' Perilla looked thoughtful. 'So what happens now?'

'Simple. Tomorrow, one way or another, I talk to Smaragdus. See the statue, get Priscus's pal Melanthus's opinion. After that we take it from there.'

'And Eutyches?'

'Eutyches is Smaragdus's problem. And maybe Callippus's.'

'No silly heroics? Promise?'

'Sure.' I kissed her. 'Now. You want to watch me waste away or should we scare up some dinner?'

She got up. 'Dinner.'

We went in for the eels.

8

I took the long hike down to the Piraeus again the next morning. This was getting monotonous; maybe I'd do better renting a flat somewhere and moving lock stock and barrel for the duration.

I checked at the cookshop and found that my kids had come up trumps. An hour after I'd left, Harpalus had put up the shutters and headed in the rough direction of Acte, the high ground at the end of the Piraeus peninsula. It seemed that Smaragdus — if the guy he'd visited was Smaragdus — had a beach hut on the coast a few hundred yards to the north of Themistocles's Tomb. Bull’s-eye. I took the carriage as close as I could then told Lysias to wait and walked the rest.

I spotted the hut right away, lying in the middle of a small cove at the head of a sandy beach. Jupiter knew why it was there; maybe some misanthrope had built it years back when places like that were fashionable, or it could've been some sort of clubhouse of the more disreputable kind that needed privacy. Now it was the usual blend of solidity and squalor that you saw all over town: a good stone base with a cheap modern superstructure and whatever would keep the rain off for a roof; in this case an old sail over a framework of planks. The place looked deserted, but there was a boat drawn up in the shallows opposite.

I checked the knife against my wrist and went on over. Before I could knock, a guy came out holding a length of two-by-four like he meant to use it. I stepped back and spread my hands to show they were empty.

'You're Smaragdus?' I said.

'Who wants him?' Not the friendly type, that was sure. But if I was right he had reason.

'My name's Corvinus. Marcus Valerius Corvinus. Your pal Harpalus probably said I was coming.'

'That's right.' His eyes were still wary. 'He didn't give a name, though.'

'He didn't get one.' I looked pointedly at the makeshift club. 'You want to put that down now we've been properly introduced, friend?'

'Not just yet.' He hadn't left the shadow of the doorway, either. 'So. You're Helvius Priscus's agent? The son-in-law who lives in the City.'

'Stepson,' I said.

'Stepson.' He didn't smile, but he did lower the two-by-four. 'Sorry. My mistake.'

'No problem.' 'Mistake', helclass="underline" it had been intentional, and he'd just checked me out; Smaragdus was no fool. What did surprise me, though, was that he spoke a good educated Greek. I'd never talked to Argaius, but I'd met Chrysoulla, and Cretan or not she was strictly Piraeus docklands bubblehead. This guy was another matter. 'Who's Eutyches, by the way?'

If I'd thought the direct question might catch him off guard I was disappointed. His eyes flickered, but he took his time answering.

'Just another customer.'

'A "prospective customer"?'

'Of course. Like your stepfather. You see, I believe in keeping my options open. Do you have any objections?'

'None at all. It's good business practice.'

'Exactly.' He stood aside. 'Come in. I'm sorry for the brusqueness of the welcome. I wasn't expecting you until later, and with Harpalus.'

'Uh…you mind if we stay out here?' Just the thought of going inside that pile of rubble gave me claustrophobia, and I wouldn't have trusted it not to fall down on top of us. Also, outside I could see any trouble coming before it arrived.

He shrugged and sat down with his back to the hut wall. 'Suit yourself.'

I settled down against a convenient rock. 'So,' I said. 'Where's the Baker?'

'Safe.'

'Can I see it?'

'Naturally. After we've talked.'

I nodded; well, that was something, anyway. At least I was still in the game. 'Fair enough. But no quick sales, right? I'm no expert, and I'll want it looked at professionally before I put in a bid.'

'By Melanthus of Abdera. Of course. That was understood from the beginning. Call this a preliminary viewing.'

'And Eutyches? Does he get one of these as well, or has he had it already?'

'Any arrangement involving Eutyches is my business, Corvinus. And I won't discuss one potential customer's affairs with another. It isn't ethical.'

Jupiter! You'd think we were in one of the fancy South Porch law offices here! The guy was too cocky for my liking. He needed shaking up.

'Speaking of ethics,' I said, 'one thing's bugged me from the start. Since I got Priscus's letter, in fact. If the Baker's legitimately yours and this is all above board then why the hole-in-corner stuff?'

'I'm sorry.' His eyes flickered. 'I don't follow.'

'Then try harder, pal. You could've lodged the statue with the City authorities and saved yourselves a headache. Not to mention a murder. You'd've had to pay commission, sure, but with what you'd be making off the deal you could afford it. So what stopped you?'

He took his time answering; not that he was rattled — a smart cookie like Smaragdus would've expected the question — but like he was wondering how best to explain two times two to an idiot.