The Lydian Baker

'And given that fact, the next question's obvious: if the guy was in hiding, really in hiding, then who and what was he afraid of?'

'You have the ball, Valerius Corvinus.' Felix sat back. 'Carry on. This is fascinating.'

'Okay.' I sank another mouthful of the Caecuban. 'A scenario. Let's say Smaragdus has a third option. He approaches — or is approached by, or maybe he already has been approached by — another potential customer who we'll call for sake of argument Demetriacus and who is unquestionably as crooked as a snake's backbone. They talk and come to an arrangement. Smaragdus will sell Demetriacus the Baker at a bargain price. Say two-thirds of what he and Argaius were asking together.'

Felix's eyes narrowed. 'That's quite a drop, sir. And one — if I've followed you correctly — that Smaragdus was unwilling to make. Why should he do so now?'

'Wait. There's another side to the deal, and that's the clincher. In exchange, Demetriacus undertakes to murder Argaius in a way that'll leave Smaragdus in the clear and provide a red herring or two in the process.'

'Ah!' A nod. 'Oh, I see.'

'Only then comes the twist, because remember we're talking about crooks here. After the agreement's been reached both guys independent of each other proceed to go back on it. Sure, Demetriacus kills Argaius as per contract, but before he does he persuades the guy to tell him where the Baker is; the idea being, of course, to heist the statue under Smaragdus's nose and leave him high and dry with no comeback. Meanwhile, however, Smaragdus has staged his own heist and moved the gold elsewhere. And when Demetriacus finds Argaius's cave empty and realises he's been out-manoeuvred he is not a happy little criminal.'

'Hence Smaragdus's continued disappearance and Demetriacus's attempts to trace the statue before and after his partner's death.' Felix was beaming. 'Beautiful, sir. My congratulations.'

'Yeah, well. It explains the facts, anyway.' I paused. 'Or all of them apart from one, rather.'

'And that is?'

'Smaragdus is sitting pretty. Argaius is dead and he has the Baker to himself. His only problem is that now he has no one to sell to.'

Felix's smile froze. 'Yes. Yes, I suppose that's true.'

'He's shafted Demetriacus, and the guy may still want the statue but only with Smaragdus's giblets hung round its neck. Me, I'm out: like I said, Smaragdus had his chance to make a proper pitch when we met and he blew it, intentionally, by taking me to the wrong cave.' I paused, and then said slowly: 'So, pal, you were the only one left.'

Felix's smile was still there, but it was false as an octogenarian's curls. 'But I told you, Valerius Corvinus,' he said. 'I didn't see Smaragdus after our last encounter several days before his partner's death. And I certainly did not know where he was hiding.'

'Yeah. Maybe not. But when I went to see his boyfriend Harpalus to arrange the meeting Harpalus assumed I'd come from you. The implication is that Smaragdus was expecting some sort of contact to be made. If he wasn't in touch already.'

'Harpalus needn't have been aware that our relationship had ended.'

'That wasn't the impression I got. Another thing. When I talked to Harpalus after I'd found Smaragdus's body he said he hadn't described me to his friend, he'd just said I was a Roman. That seemed to be enough for Smaragdus.'

'But I'm not a Roman, sir. I was born in Corinth.'

'Come on, Felix! You know what I mean! I don't care if your mother had bandy legs and drank mare's milk. Smaragdus knew who you worked for. The day I met him he was expecting a Roman, sure. I just wasn't the one he had in mind.'

'Sir,' Felix faced me levelly, 'I give you my bonded word that I had no other dealings with Smaragdus than those of which I've informed you.'

We stared at each other. He was lying, we both knew that. Proving it on my side was another matter, and we knew that too. The silence lengthened…

Ah, hell; right or not, I was in a no-win situation here, and it probably didn't matter anyway because that particular deal had never gone through. I shrugged my shoulders and sank a bit more of the Caecuban. 'Fine, fine. Okay, we'll leave that as it stands.'

Felix gave a small grunt. Maybe it was indigestion, not relief, but I wouldn't've laid any bets.

'So,' he said, and his voice was cheerful again. 'What happens now?'

'I carry on trying to find the statue. Plus Callippus and me do our best to nail Demetriacus.'

'I see.' He paused and then said tentatively: 'Perhaps then, sir, we can work together on your first objective.'

'Gee, that'd be nice, Felix, but somehow I don't think it would be a terribly good idea.'

He looked pained. 'Valerius Corvinus! Our interests coincide here! And if we do find the Baker I'm sure we can come to some amicable arrangement as to its disposal.'

I hesitated; I didn't trust Felix above half, but he was smart, too smart to antagonise and too dangerous to ignore. Also if you made certain allowances — considerable allowances — he was straight enough to rank with the good guys, if only just. Lastly, I needed the help. Sure I did.

'Maybe,' I said finally. 'Give me a day or so to think it over.'

'If that's the way you feel, sir,' he drew himself up with great dignity, 'then there's no more to be said.'

Huff, huff, pout, pout. I grinned. 'Okay. So how does this sound? If I find the Baker I hand it over to the public auctioneer and we bid for it fair and square. Agreed?'

'Ah.' Felix's eyes glazed. 'You…ah…think that's necessary under the circumstances? After all this was a private arrangement and with both principals dead we are the only two parties involved.'

Oh, no: I wasn't going to let the bastard wriggle out that easy!

'That's the deal, pal, take it or leave it. Argaius and Smaragdus may be dead, but Argaius left a wife in Crete. I'd like her to get what's coming to her. And if you do outbid me in the end I'm sure Priscus won't be too disappointed to have lost out to an imperial.'

'It might be advisable for him to do so in any case.' Felix didn't smile. 'If you take my meaning.'

Jupiter! That was something I hadn't thought of. Maybe we were lucky to be living under the Wart after all; and in five years' time we wouldn't be. Gaius would be emperor, and he was the sort who'd bear a grudge until hell froze over.

'Yeah,' I said carefully. 'Yeah, I take your meaning, pal. I'll bear that in mind. So. Do we have a deal or not?'

'We have a deal.' Felix stood up. 'But I mustn't keep you. No doubt you have more important things to do. It's been a delight to see you again, Valerius Corvinus, and, as always, extremely stimulating. Please do keep in touch.' He held out his hand.

'I mean to.' Sure I did, if only to make sure the bastard didn't throw me a wobbler the first chance he got. We shook. 'My regards to Memnon, by the way. He isn't around?'

Felix didn't hesitate. 'I gave him the day off. Knowing that we would be talking. It's his choir evening at the local men's club, and he always likes to attend if he can.'

'Is that so, now?' Gods alive! 'A choir evening. Right. You…uh…intend suspending him from duty altogether, by the way?'

'That,' Felix said primly, 'very much depends on you, sir. And on your decision re locating the statue.'

Well, I couldn't expect anything different, I supposed. But it did mean that I'd have to be extra-specially careful over Tiny. Felix might be okay at base, but his loyalties were fixed. If he got a crack at the Baker without me holding his lead Chrysoulla had as much chance of getting her money as paddling back from Crete on a washboard. Still, it had been good talking to the little guy again.

Besides, now I had something to take back to Callippus.

Dida was still waiting outside with the Twins.

'You find the man, lord?'

'Yeah,' I said. 'In a manner of speaking.' I took out my purse and held out a gold piece. 'Thanks, pal. Split this with your friends. Don't spend it all in the one shop.'