The Lydian Baker

'Fine,' Perilla said. 'But there is just one small problem.'

'Yeah? And what's that?'

'Demetriacus didn't buy the statue. If what you're suggesting is correct then he would have openly bid against Priscus and acquired it legitimately.'

'He probably started off that way, sure. The two partners invented a single fictitious bidder called Eutyches…'

'Why should they do that? If the transaction was intended to be above board then it wouldn't be necessary, surely.'

'How the hell should I know?' I said. 'Maybe Melanthus was embarrassed about two-timing my stepfather. Or maybe they just wanted the gift to be a surprise.'

'Oh.' Perilla shelled another quail's egg. 'Oh, I see.'

Uh-oh. I hated it when she went demure on me. It meant I'd gone out on a limb somewhere and she had the saw ready and waiting.

'You got a problem with that?' I said.

'No. I was just making another silly observation. Ignore it, please. Carry on.'

'Okay.' I gave her a suspicious look, but she was dipping the egg. 'So. They approach Argaius. Only then Demetriacus — or maybe it was Melanthus — has a better idea. Five foot solid gold statues don't come cheap, and even Demetriacus is no Ptolemy. Both guys have expensive lifestyles to support, and a legitimate purchase would knock a hole in their savings you could sail a trireme through. Especially when there's no material return on the investment. So they decide to cut the corner. "Eutyches" invites Argaius to a meeting on Mounychia and Demetriacus has his Paphian sidekick Prince Charming lift the guy on the way in the hopes of persuading him to let the statue go for the asking. Only by that time Argaius's partner Smaragdus has pulled his double-cross, the Baker is missing again and our pair of public benefactors are in the sewer up to their eyeballs. Worse, a nosey Roman bastard called Valerius Corvinus is raising hell with the local militia and as a result half the partnership is a prime candidate for official scrutiny. Melanthus goes to ground at the Scallop while his pal runs round in circles trying to pick up the pieces.' I paused. 'How am I doing, Aristotle?'

'Very well,' Perilla said. 'There is just one small thing that puzzles me, though.'

'Sure. Spit it out.'

'A legitimately-bought gift to the city I could understand; but don't you think the Athenian authorities would be a little apprehensive about accepting a statue obviously acquired by skulduggery?'

'Uh…' Damn. 'Maybe. Put like that, I suppose…'

'Not to mention subsequent murder, kidnapping, grievous bodily harm…'

'Perilla…'

'Just a suggestion.'

'Yeah. Yeah, thanks. Point taken.'

Perilla leaned over and kissed me. 'Eat your dinner, Marcus,' she said. 'It'll all work out eventually.'

I bit savagely into a chicken leg. Ah, hell. She was right, of course. About the skulduggery angle, anyway. The Athenian governing class might turn a blind eye in public, sure, if it meant getting the Baker, but privately was another matter, and the private aspect was what Demetriacus was interested in. When the news got around the City's Beautiful and Good that the guy was a crook he'd've been lucky to find an invitation to the opening of the latest sewer branch line hitting his doormat, let alone a ticket for the archon's birthday bash. Still, I was on the right track, I knew I was. And whatever his reasons the bastard had been lying; Perilla couldn't get past that.

Nailing him for it, however, was another matter. I couldn't do that alone; I hadn't the authority.

Next day I'd have to go round and make my peace with Callippus.

28

He had company when I arrived. Well, maybe that was all to the good: at least he'd have to throw me out politely.

'Corvinus.' Not a smile. Callippus was evidently still gravely peeved. 'I was just going to send for you. Take a seat, please.'

Uh-oh. So it was rap-over-the-knuckles time right enough. I pulled up a chair.

'Hey,' I said. 'I'm sorry about landing you in it the other day, but — '

'This is Beryllus. He's an officer from the Melitides Gate station.' The other guy — he was standing — gave me a nod. 'There've been developments. The Melitides lads have found a body.'

A cold finger touched my spine. Oh, no! Not Cotile! I shouldn't've let her go back, especially in my carriage. These things get noticed.

'Luckily Melanthus of Abdera's description was passed out to all the stations in the city.' Callippus still looked serious as hell. 'Melitides were able to identify him and get in touch right away.'

My brain went numb. Shit. It was impossible.

'Melanthus?' I said. 'The corpse was Melanthus's?'

'We're fairly certain of that, sir.' Beryllus turned to me. 'Although it had been lying for some time. Naturally we're contacting his household for confirmation.'

'He was found by a courting couple late yesterday evening under some bushes on the Hill of the Nymphs.' Callippus was looking at the wall a foot past my left ear.

Oh, shit! Oh, Jupiter Best and Greatest! I shook my head to clear it. 'How long did you say he'd been there?'

'Three or four days, at least, from the condition of the body. It's a pretty out-of-the-way spot.' Beryllus's lips twisted into a grin. 'Hence the courting couple.'

'And this is the fifth day since Melanthus of Abdera disappeared.' Callippus stood up. 'Very well, Beryllus. You can go. Keep me informed.' The guy nodded and went out. Callippus waited until the door closed behind him. 'Corvinus, I ought to lock you up and throw the key away. If I could, I would, believe me.'

I was still in shock. 'Hey, come on, pal! Just because — '

'You've taken considerable pains to besmirch the name of one of Athens's most prominent citizens while all the time that citizen has been lying murdered under a bush at the edge of town. You've wasted official senior Watch time on fruitless wild goose chases in the course of which you've done your best on no grounds whatsoever to throw suspicion on other innocent citizens. You've behaved throughout in a boorish, high-handed and completely irresponsible manner which personally I find totally reprehensible. And you have the gall to come back this morning and off- handedly apologise for "landing me in it".'

'Uh…yeah.' Well, he had a point: maybe I had screwed things up a little in places.

'Exactly. That response sums you up.' He sat down and pulled a pile of reports towards him. 'Now I have work to do even if you haven't. As far as I'm concerned the case is closed. Melanthus of Abdera was attacked and killed by footpads and his body dumped. Can I say, however, that had we not, on your advice, wasted time and effort in trying to trace the living man we might have found the body before and had a chance of bringing his killers to justice. As it is, that is about as likely as your own chances of setting foot in this office again so long as I am Watch Commander. Now good day to you. Please ask my clerk to step in as you leave.'

I didn't move: I was getting pretty angry myself now.

'Okay,' I said. 'Sure. After you've explained one or two things. First. What the hell was Melanthus doing on the Hill of the Nymphs? Like you say, it's on the edge of town, and if he was jumped on his way home from the Scallop then he was going in the wrong fucking direction.'

'That was only where the body was found.' Callippus was glaring at me. 'He could have been killed anywhere. And, Valerius Corvinus, I will not have gutter language used in this station!'

'Yeah, okay. I'm sorry.' I swallowed hard. 'But just answer me this. You say Melanthus was killed by footpads. How many Athens muggers do you know who'll take the trouble to drag a corpse half across town after they've had the guy's purse off him?' I saw his eyes shift. 'His purse was missing, wasn't it?'