“Trajan,” I called as he reached the archway and turned. “Thank you for helping me.” I heaved out a sigh. “I know I don’t seem grateful. But I am.”
He stared a moment longer then ducked out of the room, presumably to his study.
It seemed strange he was so private that he kept all but one slave from entering his private chambers here in the back of the house. He didn’t trust them. But even Valerius had allowed all of us in any part of his home. Despite the fact that he had senate papers strewn about.
There was something more to Trajan’s secrets. Something that could get him punished if found in the wrong hands.
I returned to the sofa and picked up the green pear, wondering about the odd behavior of this former soldier, now tribune in the senate house.
XTRAJAN
“She’s anenergeticwoman,” Koska explained as to why he hadn’t yet gotten the information I needed from Fausta’s slave.
“I see.” We walked down the narrow backstreet toward Euphemia’s shop. “No time for pillow talk after?”
“I am trying, Tribune. But our meetings have been brief and mostly near public places. Not enough time to talk.”
“I understand.” I handed him some coin from the pocket of my tunic. “Get a room next time. Perhaps then you can keep her there for more than one round?”
His face colored pink. “I will ask her.”
“You like her, Koska?” I teased.
His blush darkened as he gave a nod, smiling.
“Good. Then it isn’t really work, is it? And the information you’re getting won’t hurt her mistress either, I can promise you that.”
“Yes, Tribune.” He stopped outside the shop as he usually did.
But as I walked up the steps, I realized there were chains looping through the door handle and a knot on the wood of the frame, keeping it closed. The sign above the door that readpharmakopoleswas also gone. I stared for a moment at the bolted door and shutters latched across the open window, wondering if Euphemia had been discovered. If she’d been caught by Caesar’s guards.
A jolt of fear coursed through me, knowing she held valuable secrets in her care. Ones that could get not only me killed, but my grandfather and allies as well.
“She left.”
I jerked my head to the prostitute who’d offered her wares to me last time. She wandered closer, scantily clad as always, a simpering smile on her face.
“I can tell you more for a denarius.”
“Hefty price for information.”
She grinned wider. “This information will be worth it.”
Reaching in my pocket, I pulled out a silver coin and held it up. “What do you know?”
Her gaze was on the coin like a dog to a bone. “Euphemia, Thea, and the big man who never talks closed up shop yesterday.”
“That isn’t enough information for this.” I held the coin up higher.
“All I know is some man, I don’t know his name, but he worked at the port, came around earlier that morning. Then soon after, she was packing up and boarding her windows.”
“Did she say she was coming back?”
“She talked to my madame and said she would. Asked her to keep a watch over her place so no busybodies came to try and take the shop. She owns the property like my madame does here. Doesn’t rent it from these bastard landlords.”
Something caused Euphemia to leave suddenly. “How do you know the man who came was from the port?”
She cackled, looking at the other woman next to her. “Smelled like fish, didn’t he?”
