‘First of all, you can’t have it both ways: either the accident on the quayside was a deliberate attempt to kill Tullius or it was just that, an accident. If it was the former, then there must have been a prior reason. Can you think of one?’
I shook my head. ‘Uh-uh. Not offhand, certainly. But then I don’t have to.’
She looked at me in surprise. ‘Why not?’
‘Because I think it was just an accident, pure and simple. Oh, sure, if it’d been someone at the Rome end of things who killed him – his partner Poetelius, or his wife, or her brother, individually or in any combination you like – then the earlier shot would square: any of the three of them could’ve known he’d be on that particular quayside that particular morning, and they’d’ve had plenty of time to set the thing up, no problem. If – and it’s a major point, because it’s a big “if” – they could find a suitably venal crane operator. Which I’ll grant you they might’ve done, because Agron hasn’t traced our elusive Siddius yet. Only it looks like the reason Tullius died is connected with whatever scam the two Nigrini and Correllius were involved in, and we’re looking for a killer at the Ostian end. Tullius had no interest in the Porpoise at the time; it just happened to be berthed at the same quay as the boat he’d arranged his own shipment for. Pure fluke. My bet is that, as a result of the accident, Tullius suspected that something screwy was going on and decided there was money to be made.’
‘Blackmail, you mean?’ Perilla was twisting a lock of her hair.
‘Yeah. Or something like it. Again, the details aren’t important, but I think that’s a fair assumption. Remember what Annia said: when he told her about the accident and she responded that he might’ve been killed, Tullius laughed the thing off and said he’d just been lucky. Strange thing to say, right? Particularly the way she told it. The guy sounded actually pleased about what had happened.’
‘Hmm. Yes.’ She was looking thoughtful. ‘Yes, it is strange, at that.’
‘OK. So the theory is that after the accident Tullius made enquiries and put the bite on. Or he may even have put the bite on there and then, if Nigrinus Senior was on board. Whichever it was, it got him stiffed, PDQ; Agron’s right, these are not boys to fool around with.’
‘The actual killer being Nigrinus?’
‘Yeah; my money would be on him rather than Doccius, if only because he’s already shown form. And if so then Nigrinus would’ve been a natural for the phantom Pullius too, always assuming Correllius himself had never met the guy. Which is a distinct possibility if he’d run to type and left the piddling day-to-day admin details such as contracting hitmen to his subordinate.’ I took a smug mouthful of the wine. ‘So. What other aspect of the case are you having problems with, lady?’
‘Mmm?’
‘You said, “First of all”. When you told me none of it makes sense.’
‘Oh, yes. Correllius’s stabbing itself. I’m sorry, dear, but that doesn’t seem to fit in in any way whatsoever. Not with the Porpoise business, certainly, because if Correllius was part of the scam, as he would have to be, then why on earth should Nigrinus kill him? Or Doccius, or any of them?’
I frowned; yeah, she was absolutely right, and to be fair I’d been dodging the issue myself. If the guy’s death – or at least planned death – was connected with the trade scam, and so with Tullius’s, then I couldn’t for the life of me see why or how.
‘Maybe it isn’t connected,’ I said. ‘Not with the Tullius side of things, anyway. It could just’ve been a coincidence of timing.’ Then, when she opened her mouth to say something: ‘Oh, sure, my money’s still on Nigrinus as being the hitman, because it keeps things nice and tidy, but I reckon we have a parallel plot here. For whatever reason – sexual attraction or good business practice – the guy’s wife and his rival Fundanius decided that the guy had outlived his usefulness, and like I say these people play rough. The original plan is to set him up – probably through Doccius – with a phoney business meeting where Nigrinus can take him out; minimum risk, because the thing’s done well away from Ostia and the phantom Pullius can disappear into the long grass, while everyone concerned can hold up their hands and deny all knowledge. Only then things go wrong: the killing turns out not to have been necessary after all, but the result is that shortly afterwards a nosey Roman shows up at the door and insists on an investigation. Complicated by the fact that there is an eyewitness who can give a description, and that the nosey Roman in question is also the guy shoving his nose into the other killing their hitman’s recently been involved in. Hence Nigrinus’s orders to take me out. That make better sense to you?’
‘Yes, actually, it does. Complete sense.’
‘No comeback?’
‘No. None whatsoever.’
Glory and trumpets! Well, there was always a first time. I grinned and finished my wine.
‘So. What’s the next step?’ she said.
‘Perilla, I don’t know,’ I said. ‘If the theory holds good then like it or not the case is stitched up as far as I can take it. Nigrinus is dead, so if he was the actual perp in both instances then he’s out of things. The same goes for Correllius, if he was the one who gave the original order to kill Tullius. Mamilia and Doccius could well have been involved, sure, they probably were, particularly him, but how I’d go about proving that I’ve no idea.’
‘There’s still the other Nigrinus brother. Titus, was it? The captain of the Porpoise.’
I blinked. Hey! Right! I’d mentally factored him out of things, because he wasn’t in Ostia to talk to, and if anyone still above ground knew the ins and outs of the Tullius business, then Titus Nigrinus was the lad. The Porpoise had been headed for Aleria in Corsica, or so the clerk in the shipping office had told me. No great distance, in other words. It could’ve been a blind, of course, on the captain’s part – like I say, I didn’t have any details, yet, of what the trading scam involved, so he could’ve given a false destination – or Corsica might only have been an intermediate stop; but if not, and it was a round trip, then he might well be back in Ostia by now. I doubted he’d be very cooperative, quite the reverse, particularly after his brother’s death, but beggars can’t be choosers, and he was the only game left in town. Maybe I could lean on him a little.
Clearly, another chat with the harbour-office clerk was in order.
I stood up and kissed the lady full on the lips.
‘Perilla, you’re a genius!’ I said. ‘I’ll find out tomorrow if he’s around yet. Meanwhile, you fancy a walk?’
‘Where to?’
‘Just a bit down the coast road. Fundanius mentioned a villa that was up for rent. I thought we might take a look at it.’
‘Marcus, what is going on?’ she said suspiciously. ‘Does this have anything to do with the case? Because if so-’
‘Uh-uh. Cross my heart, absolutely nothing whatsoever. I just thought you might be interested, that’s all. Plus it’s a nice day, there’s still plenty of it left, and you could do with the exercise.’
She laughed, and stood up. ‘Very well. But what brought this on?’
‘It just seemed a good idea, that’s all. And it’d be nice to have somewhere of our own to go when Rome gets too hot.’
‘It’s an excellent idea. Marcus Corvinus, you’re getting old and staid.’
‘Bugger that.’
‘True.’
We went to see the villa.
TWENTY
I set out for the port the next day.
If it came to twisting arms, I was in a better position with Nigrinus Senior than I would’ve been with Mamilia, or even Doccius: Tullius’s death had definitely been murder, it was being officially investigated by the Watch in Rome, and I could make a reasonable prima facie case to link it with the Nigrini brothers. Besides, there was the almost certainty of the trading scam, whatever form it took; that, I could use the threat of as well if a little extra muscle was needed. I just hoped that I’d have the opportunity.