He might not feel itnow, but in future it could trouble him.I recalled a senator’s wife who’d once had an affair with Regulus.She’d believed her husband’s finances healthy and untouchable, until the senator discovered one of his clients had been embezzling from him for years.Their riches disappeared overnight, and the senator and his wife had moved to a remote province to make ends meet.Regulus had regretted the loss—she’d been generous with gifts.
“All has been well here?”I asked.“No more attempts on your life?”
“None.”Priscus gave me his beneficent smile.“As I say, Leonidas, the gods look after me.”
No,peoplelooked after him, and he didn’t realize.I wished I could question Nero closely—he must know exactly who wanted Priscus harmed.But I knew I would not be able to speak to theprincepsmerely because I wished it.
Cassia and I were left to find out for ourselves.
I said none of this to Priscus as I bowed and took my leave of him.
On my way home,I was followed again.I knew it with every step.Before I turned to the Vicus Longinus, which led toward our apartment, I ducked into a tiny lane, startling an elderly woman who sat on the pavement, weaving dried grass into a basket.I leaned against the wall, waiting.
My patience was rewarded when I heard rushing feet along the main street, and then a person in a cloak darted past, a male figure this time.
I stepped out right behind him.The man did not notice me but strode on past another few shops, before he halted in frustration, scanning the crowd ahead.
I leapt forward and seized him before he could react, dragging him into another side lane, my arm looped around his throat.
The cloak fell from a shaved head, and enraged eyes glared at me.It was Regulus.
Chapter 17
Regulus twisted from my hold, and I quickly stepped out of his reach.If he had a knife, he’d use it.We eyed each other uneasily.
People widened space around us, some moving on as rapidly as they could, others halting to stare.Two gladiators facing each other on the street was something to watch, or a danger to avoid.
An older man with half his teeth gone asked excitedly, “Are you going to fight?A denarius on Leonidas.”
Regulus beamed the man a huge, false smile and flung his arm around my shoulder.“Never.I’m thanking Leonidas for sparing my life.All hail the champion of the games.”
His hold on me tightened as those around us cheered.Some looked relieved there wouldn’t be a bloodbath on the cobbles today, some disappointed.
“Another time,” Regulus said into my ear.“Be waiting for me, Leonidas.”
“Why don’t you want to live?”I asked him.“Save your winnings, buy yourself free.”
“Idowant it … now.But that moment when I asked you, old friend, you denied me.I could have gone out a hero.Now you’re the gods-damned hero.”
“No.”I broke from him but without force, as the people around us continued to watch.“Now I’m no one.”
I turned on my heel and strode away.
I foundCassia hunched over the table at home, studying the markings she’d etched onto her wax tablets at the site of Floriana’s murder.She’d unrolled a piece of papyrus, already covered with writing, and had drawn in curving lines, labeling them with marks that looked Greek.I knew only one Greek letter, theta.A theta next to a gladiator in a mosaic or other picture meant he was dead.
Cassia did not look up when I entered, her focus entirely on her notes.Her dark hair made a precise curve over her cheek to the nape of her neck, where it was caught in a small knot.She’d claimed to know nothing of hairdressing, but not one lock of hers was out of place.
“Priscus’s wife owned Floriana’s building,” I announced as I discarded my cloak.“It was bought by a man named Sextus Livius.Priscus claims he’s never heard of him.”
Cassia raised her head.She touched her finger to the papyrus as though marking her place.
“His wife?”Her surprise melted, and her gaze went remote.“That is very interesting.”
I sat down heavily on my stool and rested my arms on the table.“Priscus knew nothing of the sale.His majordomo and scribe did it for him.I want you to look over his accounts.”
The surprise returned.“What is your idea?That Celnus and Kephalos killed Floriana in order to sell the building to a speculator?Perhaps because the speculator offered a large amount of money?”
I nodded.“And the two of them—or maybe only one—pocketed much of it.I wonder what the price was, and what Priscus actually got.”
