The Lydian Baker

'Who?'

'It doesn't matter.' I waved the question away: I kept forgetting Demetriacus was an innocent after all. 'One of the owners of the statue. So who is this Glycus?'

'I mentioned my sister's appetites.' Demetriacus was frowning. 'Glycus is a freedman of hers, a slave she bought in Paphos before we left and manumitted last year. They have a…relationship.'

'Postdating Melanthus's?'

'Correct. Or so I believe.' The frown deepened. 'Corvinus, would you mind if we didn't go into that aspect of things? I find it very distasteful.'

Yeah, I'd believe it; I'd met the guy. And having your sister jump into bed with one of her slaves, manumitted or not, wasn't likely to go down a bundle with someone who hoped to be one of Athens's top Five Hundred one day either. 'No hassle, pal. There's one in every family. All I want to know is where I can find the bastard.'

'At the Scallop, of course. He has a room next to Hermippe's. But he won't be there at the moment.'

Something cold touched my spine. 'He won't?'

'No. I called round this morning to collect Antaeus: a precaution which I hope you don't resent. Glycus had already gone.'

'So where is he?'

Demetriacus looked up at his bodyguard. The big guy spoke for the first time. 'The Lady Hermippe sent him on an errand at first light, sir. To the Piraeus, I understand.'

I stared at him. Hell’s teeth! 'You happen to know where to in the Piraeus exactly?'

'No, sir.'

Tiny. It had to be Tiny. We'd been shadowed right enough. And first light meant that Glycus had at least a two hour start…

I put down my cup hard and yelled for Bathyllus.

'Yes, sir.' The little guy must've been hanging around outside.

'Tell Lysias I want the coach now.' I was on my feet. 'Make that as of ten minutes ago.'

'Of course, sir.'

'Is something wrong, Corvinus?' Demetriacus's eyes were wide.

The understatement of the century; but then he didn't know the details. 'Yeah. Your Glycus is just about to raise his total to four. Plus maybe one solid gold statue.' The little guy was still hovering. Gods alive! 'Bathyllus, will you get the fucking coach!'

'Take mine. It's waiting outside.' Demetriacus turned to Antaeus. 'Go with him.'

I hesitated, then decided: if I had Prince Charming to face then Antaeus would be useful to have along. 'Okay, sunshine,' I said. 'You're on the team. Give me a minute to get my knife.'

We set off for the Piraeus at a speed that nearly knocked my teeth loose. All the way I was praying to every god I knew that Tiny would still be breathing when we got there; but we were two hours behind, and I wouldn't've risked any bets.

37

We were too late. The boat shed door was wide open, and there was a crowd outside. I took the last stretch at a run and pushed my way through. Inside, two men were standing over the huddled body of a third. I stopped and stared…

The third was Glycus, and he was dead. Very dead; like he'd tried to stop a charging rhino with his bare hands and hadn't half made it.

'What happened?' I asked Bessus. No point in asking the last member of our little group; Tiny couldn't've answered.

Bessus's face was grey. 'He arrived half an hour ago, lord. There wasn't anything I could do alone, so I went for help. When I got back Tiny here had him in a bear-hug and it was all over bar the screams.'

Holy gods. I looked at the big guy in awe: he was crying. Bessus had said before that Tiny wouldn't hurt a fly. Well, maybe flies were safe but he'd done a fair enough job on Glycus. We could've slid what he'd left of the bastard under the shed door and not worried about the clearance.

'Why?' I said simply.

Tiny didn't answer. He just held out something he'd been holding. Cradling. A small fat dog with a severed throat.

I swallowed. Good sweet gods. Yeah, that would do it, okay, and with a bit left over: Glycon had signed his own death warrant and never known it. 'He wanted you to take him to the statue, right? And when you wouldn't he killed your dog to persuade you to change your mind.'

Tiny gibbered something at me. The tears were streaming down his cheeks, and I didn't think they were for Prince Charming.

'You know the man, lord?' Bessus said.

I nodded. Antaeus had come in behind me. He was looking down at the corpse, his face expressionless.

'That's Glycus, all right,' he said at last. 'It seems, sir, that you were worried about the wrong person.'

'Yeah.' I'd seen enough, more than enough; I turned away. 'Let's get some fresh air, okay?'

We went outside. So. Exit Prince Charming. I wasn't sorry. It couldn't've happened to a nicer killer.

The crowd of gawpers shuffled aside to let us through. Gods, I hate these ghouls.

'Somebody go for the Watch,' I said. 'Otherwise the show's over.'

The crowd dispersed, slowly and reluctantly. Bessus was heaving the door to behind us. 'It wasn't Tiny's fault,' he said softly.

'No.' I shook my head and tried to ignore the buzzing in my ears: reaction was setting in. 'No. I know that. Don't worry, I'll explain.'

If you don't need me now, Valerius Corvinus, then I'll be getting back to the master,' Antaeus said. His face was stiff, but he still had the air of a perfect butler. 'I'll leave that…carrion for you to dispose of.'

'Sure. Go ahead.' I sat down on a bollard and took a deep breath. 'Tell him thanks, okay?'

'Of course.' Antaeus gave me his best butler's bow and walked back to the coach.

We waited in silence for the local Watch officers to turn up. Tiny didn't join us. He sat apart, still cradling his dog. Every now and again he stroked it. Finally I went over to him.

'You want us to bury her for you, pal?' I said quietly.

He looked at me. One big hand touched my cheek. Then he shook his head, got up and shambled towards the harbour gates. I didn't try to stop him. I doubt if I could've, anyway.

It took half an hour for the Watch rep to arrive: not the boss, of course, just a young squaddie barely out of his teens. I led him inside, showed him Glycus and watched him lose his breakfast.

'Send a message to Callippus at Watch Headquarters in the City,' I said when we were outside again and he'd asked Bessus and me all the usual questions. 'He'll want to know.'

'Yes, lord.' The kid hesitated. 'And the man responsible? This Tiny? We'll need to talk to him. Purely a formality.'

'Sure.' I felt tired; well, they could try, anyway. 'Talk to him all you like when he gets back. He's off burying a dog.'

'A dog?' The squaddie's eyes widened, and he glanced quickly at the boat shed door. 'Zeus in glory! He squeezes someone to death then goes off to bury a dog?'

'Believe it.'

The guy obviously didn't, but he straightened. 'Very well, lord. If you'll take the responsibility.'

I sighed. 'Yeah. No hassle.'

'Fine. I'll send a cart for the remains. It shouldn't take long.' He looked again at the boat shed. 'You say he was a freedman. His ex-master will have to be informed, too.'

'Make that ex-mistress, friend. In both senses of the word. And frankly I don't think she'll want to know.' He was staring at me. 'Her name's Hermippe. Tell that to Callippus as well. He knows where to find her.'

There was a question in the squaddie's eyes, but he didn't ask it. He just gave me a salute, turned and left.

Tiny must've been laying low somewhere watching for him to go. He'd evidently buried the dog because when he came along the quayside towards us his hands were empty.

'You okay, pal?' I said softly.

He didn't answer, not even a grunt. He didn't stop, either. His right hand reached out in mid-stride and gripped my wrist. Hard. My spine turned to ice. I tugged. Nothing. I might as well have tried shifting the boat shed.