Man Eater

Bingo! If there’s one thing about Supersnoop you can rely on, it’s the fact that, first and foremost, he’s a policeman. Umbria might be out of his jurisdiction, but professional pride would ensure he’d smooth things over with Macer (small wonder the little insect scuttled back to Tarsulae). That same sense of rectitude would also keep him here until Fronto’s killer was unearthed. By which time, she’d be long gone.

‘I take it you kept my bodyguard in Rome?’

As for Rollo-well, I’m sorry to tell you this, old chap, but you can take your urgent summons and stick it in your bathwater. Claudia Seferius is going home. Home, I say! Where I should never have left in the first place.

‘As a matter of fact, I sent him on to your villa.’

Why would you do that, I ask myself? ‘Now that’s a pity, because I’m heading for Rome at first light.’ To find me an advocate I can rely on. And could be I know just the fellow…

‘Yes. Well.’ His face had that haunted look, again.

Either that, or a twinge of indigestion just hit him. ‘What I’m trying to say is-’

I know what you’re trying to say. You rode all this way because you thought I was in trouble and, believe it or not, Marcus Cornelius, I am grateful. No one else could have got me off the hook so quickly. But I know men like you-respectable, respected aristocrats. Now I’m not saying I don’t find you attractive, there is a certain animal magnetism, I grant you, and I realize it’s been a long, long, long, long time since a good-looking man stoked my furnace, but you’re not my type, Orbilio. No way. And besides, Claudia Seferius is her own mistress, not a man’s.

‘You’re staying on.’

‘Yes.’ He sounded surprised. ‘In fact, the messenger taking my explanation to my boss has just left.’ A different expression flitted across his face. ‘I suppose there are worse places to pass time, don’t you think? The scenery’s beautiful-’

What bloody scenery? ‘Unsurpassed.’

Nothing but mountains and woods, and what use are woods, for heaven’s sake? They go green, they go yellow, and then they go twiggy. Fine if you’re a huntsman, but Claudia was no Diana-of-the-Forests, rushing hither and thither with a pack of hounds at her side and a quiver on her back. Claudia belonged to the city. And that, by Jupiter, was where she was heading after breakfast.

He said mildly, ‘So you won’t mind staying on, then?’

With care, she’d be home to catch the final throes of the Festival of Mars, with the Dance of the Salii and processions through the streets. There’d be music in every house, singing in every…

‘What did you say?’

Orbilio was studiously stripping young leaves off a willow. ‘Sergius is a good host, he’ll make us very comfortable.’

‘He can make you as comfortable as he likes. I’m out of here.’

‘We’re only talking about a day or two. Until this thing blows over.’

‘As far as I’m concerned, it’s blown over, and if you think this tacky little ruse is all it takes to separate me from my underwear, think again. And since you asked why I returned your letters, I’ll tell you.’

He looked up sharply. ‘Oh?’

‘You want me in your bed, Orbilio. I know it and you know it. But I have a past, remember? And the thing about men like you is that you never let me forget-Ow!’ His hands had closed round her upper arms and he was shaking her like a woollen doll.

‘Let go of me, you bastard!’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ His face shone white in the darkness. ‘Men like me!’

He released her as roughly as he’d grabbed hold of her.

Claudia rubbed her arms. With luck, there would be horrid purple weals in the morning to gnaw at his conscience.

‘This isn’t about your precious underwear, Claudia, this is about murder. Yes, I had a long talk with the Prefect, and he’s not carting you off to the lock-up-’

‘Bloody right! I’d have his balls in a pie-’

‘For gods’ sake, woman. Haven’t you got it through your thick skull yet? Macer doesn’t believe you, he doesn’t believe me, and if Junius returns, he won’t believe him, either.’ He combed his hands through his hair several times and when he spoke, his voice was level. ‘As far as the law is concerned, you are guilty of coldblooded, premeditated murder for which you were caught in the act.’

‘Oh really? So why aren’t I in chains?’

I might have no jurisdiction out here, Claudia, but I do have influence. High overhead, clouds began to roll in. ‘That’s the good news,’ he said quietly. ‘You’re under house arrest instead.’

*

With the spring equinox almost upon them and thus as many hours of daylight as dark, Marcus Cornelius Orbilio, despite his ride, was far from sleepy…and since Sergius ran his estate along the same lines as any other working farm, what better time to get a feel for the place, now Macer had trooped off to Tarsulae with the corpse? The Prefect had not taken kindly to outside intervention, reminding Orbilio bluntly that his boundaries lay within the walls of Rome and not poring over the remains of the deceased.

‘Unless’, he stressed nastily, ‘I ask for assistance.’