I went to see Marcus Rubella.

`There's been a development. Petronius has declared me out of bounds at the patrol house, and he refuses to communicate.'

`I was warned that having you two together would mean trouble.' That sounded as if it came from our old centurion, Stollicus.

`That's rubbish!' I retorted irritably.

Rubella was watering his inkwell and scraping the innards with a stick – the usual useless procedure for trying to get a decent mix. He possessed a fancy desk set: silver inkpot, stylus rack, sand tray, nib knife and sealing-wax lamp. It looked like a gift. Maybe somebody was fond of him. It wasn't me.

`Do you want to be taken off the enquiry, Falco?' He knew this had thrown me. `Are you prepared to tell Titus you're ditching it?' This was a vicious man. Sympathetic staff management was not in his armoury.

`I can't afford that. I need his goodwill. I came to see you because I hoped you might be able to mediate.'

Rubella looked at me as though I was a cockroach crawling up his favourite stool. `Mediate?'

`Sorry. Did I slip into a rare Etruscan dialect? Try arbitrate.' `You're asking me to calm Petronius Longus down?' `Subtle.'

`Fly off a crag, Falco.'

`No use?'

`I value life too dearly.'

`You won't try.'

`He's your old tentmate.'

`I don't find him in a nostalgic mood, unfortunately. Well it seems I'll be acting alone.' That was what I had wanted, though not this way. I told Rubella what I had learned from Lalage; he thanked me, in his dry manner, for handing him the task of telling Petro how Nonnius Albius had played with him. `Rubella, since Petronius won't be using my valuable talents, I'm available to take instructions directly from you.'

`I like a man who co-operates. Well now, what nugget can I find for you? Petronius is in charge of finding Balbinus.'

`I can help with that.'

`No. I don't want your paths crossing until your feud is worked out.'

`I'll keep out of his way.'

`Yes.' Rubella gave me his slow, untrustworthy smile. `That's best.' He meant, he was making sure of it. `As I said, Petronius is looking for the escapee. What I'd like you to take on is tracing the goods stolen from the Saepta and the Emporium.' Before I could protest at this menial role, he added smoothly, `Following up the raids may be another way to find a trail to Balbinus. Besides, you have connections in the fine-art world. You seem ideal for this job – much better than anyone on my own staff.'

Always a sucker for personal flattery, I heard myself agree to it. `Do I get men to assist?'

Rubella flattened the stubs of his close haircut with one hand; it must have felt like abrading his palm with pumice stone. `I don't see that you'll need any initially. If you are on to something, come straight to me for backup.'

I had heard that before. I knew I would be searching for the stolen goods on my own. If I found them, I would be a solitary hero timidly approaching whichever giant was hoarding them and asking if he could please hand them over and explain himself… I started planning further visits for exercise at my local gymnasium.

I was ready to leave when the tribune raised his chin more than usual. `Do I take it that you are still pursuing the request to identify corrupt officers?'

`Certainly. I'm looking all the time.'

`That's interesting. You report to me on that, I think.'

`What are you getting at?'

'Linus was an unfortunate loss. I've been at the funeral; I noticed you didn't go to it…' I let that ride. `I've been waiting,' said Rubella, with an insinuating sneer, `for you to tell me that there must be a maggot in the Fourth Cohort's enquiry team.'

my thumb in a similarly relaxed pose. I heard him give an order to have the street cleared of gawpers, so I left of my own accord.

It would be easy to let this situation deteriorate until it became even more personal. Searching for Balbinus was already feeling like some grim competition between Petro and me. That could be an advantage if it sharpened us up. But it was equally likely to jeopardise our hopes of capturing the criminal.

I went to see Marcus Rubella.

`There's been a development. Petronius has declared me out of bounds at the patrol house, and he refuses to communicate.'

`I was warned that having you two together would mean trouble.' That sounded as if it came from our old centurion, Stollicus.

`That's rubbish!' I retorted irritably.

Rubella was watering his inkwell and scraping the innards with a stick – the usual useless procedure for trying to get a decent mix. He possessed a fancy desk set: silver inkpot, stylus rack, sand tray, nib knife and sealing-wax lamp. It looked like a gift. Maybe somebody was fond of him. It wasn't me.

`Do you want to be taken off the enquiry, Falco?' He knew this had thrown me. `Are you prepared to tell Titus you're ditching it?' This was a vicious man. Sympathetic staff management was not in his armoury.

`I can't afford that. I need his goodwill. I came to see you because I hoped you might be able to mediate.'

Rubella looked at me as though I was a cockroach crawling up his favourite stool. `Mediate?'

`Sorry. Did I slip into a rare Etruscan dialect? Try arbitrate.' `You're asking me to calm Petronius Longus down?' `Subtle.'

`Fly off a crag, Falco.'

`No use?'

`I value life too dearly.'

`You won't try.'

`He's your old tentmate.' '

`I don't find him in a nostalgic mood, unfortunately. Well it seems I'll be acting alone.' That was what I had wanted, though not this way. I told Rubella what I had learned from Lalage; he

thanked me, in his dry manner, for handing him the task of telling Petro how Nonnius Albius had played with him. `Rubella, since Petronius won't be using my valuable talents, I'm available to take instructions directly from you.'

`I like a man who co-operates. Well now, what nugget can I find for you? Petronius is in charge of finding Balbinus.'

`I can help with that.'

`No. I don't want your paths crossing until your feud is worked out.'

`I'll keep out of his way.'

`Yes.' Rubella gave me his slow, untrustworthy smile. `That's best.' He meant, he was making sure of it. `As I said, Petronius is looking for the escapee. What I'd like you to take on is tracing the goods stolen from the Saepta and the Emporium.' Before I could protest at this menial role, he added smoothly, `Following up the raids may be another way to find a trail to Balbinus. Besides, you have connections in the fine-art world. You seem ideal for this job – much better than anyone on my own staff.'

Always a sucker for personal flattery, I heard myself agree to it. `Do I get men to assist?'

Rubella flattened the stubs of his close haircut with one hand; it must have felt like abrading his palm with pumice stone. `I don't see that you'll need any initially. If you are on to something, come straight to me for backup.'

I had heard that before. I knew I would be searching for the stolen goods on my own. If I found them, I would be a solitary hero timidly approaching whichever giant was hoarding them and asking if he could please hand them over and explain himself… I started planning further visits for exercise at my local gymnasium.

I was ready to leave when the tribune raised his chin more than usual. `Do I take it that you are still pursuing the request to identify corrupt officers?'

`Certainly. I'm looking all the time.'

`That's interesting. You report to me on that, I think.'

`What are you getting at?'

'Linus was an unfortunate loss. I've been at the funeral; I noticed you didn't go to it…' I let that ride. `I've been waiting,' said Rubella, with an insinuating sneer, `for you to tell me that there must be a maggot in the Fourth Cohort's enquiry team.'