See Delphi and Die

"That was fun!' Aquillius slapped his hands together. It was probably the first time in his tour of duty he had managed to take the initiative. I was unsure he had done the right thing, but Phineus had had previous experience of arrest. That showed in the resigned way he marched off, with no protest and no resistance. Whatever happened about this, he would take the episode philosophically.

"When in doubt, clap some bugger in chains,' I said."Even if he did nothing, other people may get jumpy when they hear him rattling.'

I was less than keen on the quaestor's reply."So what's your next move, Falco?' He managed to sound as if he thought I had run out of options. There was no need for him to be so pleased with himself. In Corinth I had indeed explored all possible avenues. But I had one last idea.

"Phineus is right about Delphi. We do need to reunite Statianus

with the others – and I need to ask him some hard questions. So, if you'll give me the transport I asked for in the first place, Aquillius, / will go to find him.'

"See Delphi and die!' quipped Aquillius. Some old travel joke, apparently. Then his amiable face clouded guiltily. He blushed."Well, not literally, I hope!'

PART FOUR DELPHI LEBADEIA

The city of Delphi is a steep slope from top to bottom, and the sacred precinct of Apollo is not different from the rest of it. Tliis is huge in size and stands at the very top of the city, cut through by a network of alleyways. I shall record those of the dedications that seem to me most memorable.. I do not think it is worth worrying about athletes or obscure musicians…

The entrails of most victims do not reveal Trophonius' mind very clearly, but on the night a man is going down they slaughter a ram at a pit… It makes no difference if all the earlier sacrifices have given good omens unless the entrails of this ram carry the same meaning. But if they agree, every man goes down with true hope…

Pausanius, Guide to Greece

XXXIX

Delphi. A mistake, perhaps. Once I decided on action, my brain cleared. Back at our lodgings that evening I made rapid plans for a trip across the Gulf. Helena insisted on coming with me, wanting to see that ancient sanctuary. I opted to leave behind most of our luggage, plus Albia, my nephews, Glaucus, and the still convalescent Nux. Travelling light, Helena and I would make a flying visit, retrieve Tullius Statianus, and return to Corinth.

It sounded good. Aquillius Macer was finding us a reliable ship, a fast one if possible. I reckoned on three days at most.

There were two reasons why I left behind the youngsters and the dog. Apart from my wish for speed, I gave Glaucus instructions that when Nux seemed her lively self again, he was to put her on a lead and walk her past the various members of the tour group."See if she growls at anyone. But if she reacts, don't tackle the suspect. Tell Aquillius, the quaestor.'

Glaucus looked nervous, but Albia and the boys were keen enough to do it. I wanted the test carried out, even though I doubted they would identify the killer of Cleonymus this way. For one thing, the odds were on Phineus, and he was now out of reach, under arrest.

One thing had struck me. Statianus was supposed to be in Delphi. If true, he at least could not have killed Cleonymus. Unless he had returned to Corinth secretly (making our Delphi trip an utter waste of time) then either Statianus was innocent – or if he killed his wife in Olympia, some second killer dealt with the freedman here. Our witness at Acrocorinth had described the mysterious"expensively dressed man' as older than the bridegroom. So did that make Statianus innocent? Was the bride's brutal killer this new man, the middle-aged smart dresser – and if so, did he have any connection with Marcella Caesia three years earlier?

The situation got more complicated at every turn. And worse was

to come. Helena and I were bidding our companions goodbye before our walk to the port at Lechaion, with our bundle of clothes, a money pouch, and my sword. As we stood outside our lodgings at the Elephant, we were accosted by Volcasius.

"I am very surprised to hear you are leaving Corinth, Falco!'

"Just a scenic trip.'

The bony fool stood right in the way of my hired donkey. That suited the donkey, whose reins I jerked to no avail."We have to make haste, Volcasius. Have you something to say?' asked Helena coldly.

"Hardly my place,' he sneered."Falco is the expert.'

"Say what you came for.' I encouraged my mount again, ready to shove Volcasius aside if I had to. The beast stretched out its nose to him, as if to a friend.

"There is an obvious clue you have overlooked.'

Knowing I was about to swear at him, Helena quickly answered for me."What is that, Volcasius?'

"Your dog was hurt during the events up on the acropolis. Either you don't know, or you have strangely discounted this. one of our party had a nasty dog bite previously.'

It was true, but I was none too pleased to find Volcasius making an issue of it."I know all about that. Marinus was bitten by a sacred dog at Epidaurus, the night Turcianus Opimus died. Marinus told me himself, so why don't you keep out of it?' I covered my frustration."Volcasius, stop being self-righteous. I always distrust the man who comes singing that one of his companions is the guilty party. I'll be looking at Marinus – but I'll be looking at you too.'

I kicked up the donkey and made it walk around him. Helena followed me on hers. We left Volcasius standing there, convinced of his own cleverness and our stupidity. Gaius, who was coming with us in order to return the donkeys to their stable after we took ship, leered at the man as he passed.

Not until we were aboard did Helena and I break our silence.

I kicked at a bulkhead."Cobnuts! I am completely slipshod. I missed that.'

"We both missed it.' Helena beat one fist against her palm, so hard I winced and gripped her wrists to stop her. I won't accuse women of talking themselves out of trouble – but Helena was quicker than me at rationalising this dog bite."Marcus, maybe Marinus was simply unlucky at Epidaurus. Nobody has suggested that the sacred dog bit

him because he had lashed out at it. The way Marinus told the story, he was asleep in a cell when he was bitten.'

"Perhaps he wanted us to think that.'

"He didn't have to draw attention to it. The bite was on his thigh – under his tunic. He had no need at all to show us. Still…' Helena began to analyse the clue, if clue it was."Suppose Volcasius has a point. Say Marinus silenced Turcianus and Cleonymus – or even just Cleonymus. Let's consider his motive.'

"He preys on women.' I was terse. But I stopped blaming myself, and my next response was balanced."He does it for money, not sex. Killing the bride – or even arranging a tryst with her – would be out of character. Valeria wasn't his type of victim. She was married, for starters. She had little cash in her own right; even as a couple, she and Statianus were travelling on a budget. One of the women commented that they were bad at managing their money.'

"And someone said Milo of Dodona was fooling himself if he thought they were possible sponsors for his statue. So,' Helena mused,"did Volcasius name Marinus to draw away attention from himself?'

I barked with laughter."Do you see Volcasius as a sexual predator?'

She thought about it, more carefully than me."He is certainly odd. I don't suppose he has had normal experiences with women.'

I was still dismissive."Prostitutes, most likely. If he bothers.'

"In that case, he might have gone up the acropolis to find gratification at the Temple of Artemis. We can ask the women there when we return to Corinth.'

"They won't tell us. By then, they will never remember. Whores have short memories; given their life, who can blame them?'