Scandal takes a Holiday

Sometimes I surprise myself. At this moment, knowing that you run organised kidnap rackets, I am surprised to find myself talking to you… You had nothing to say when I approached you for aid before. Why do you want to see me, old man?" I noticed now that Damagoras was thinner and older-looking than when he dealt with me so arrogantly at his villa. Time was running out for him. This cell in the decrepit barracks was no place for his ancient bones, already aching after a long, active life at sea. You still want to find Diocles, Falco?" he asked.

In return, I am to offer you…?"

My old ship's logs. You have them, don't you?"

Evidence." That was stretching it. Only Damagoras himself was implicated in those old sea fights, and only if he admitted that the logs were his. Reference to the Cilicians" violent past was mere colour. But the way Rubella worked, a sympathetic magistrate would be asked to review evidence like this, circumstantial but yet shocking, then his condemnation would send the kidnappers straight to crucifixion or to the arena beasts. Nobody would see a trial. The sailors were men of humble background, unlikely to possess proof of citizenship, and what's more, they were foreigners. Enough said. I came further into the cell. All right, what have you got for me?"

You'll give me the logs?" Damagoras demanded eagerly.

If I find the scribe, I will give you the logs." He was eighty-six. His own activities must be limited and any of his cronies who remained free after Rubella's purge would be kicked out of Italy, so he would lack subordinates. Things were different now, in any case. Damagoras was on a watch list. He leaned forwards from a battered chair. The scribe and I were closer than I may have said." I nodded. Diocles knew a lot about me."

He stayed at your house."

You knew? He was with me for a couple of weeks. When he disappeared, I had my boys find out what had happened."

He is dead, isn't he?"

I reckon so, Falco. That was why I stopped looking." I crouched down in front of Damagoras, elbows on my knees. So what did you find out?"

He really was going to write my memoirs, you know." Damagoras spoke now as if he was describing a good friendship. We went into everything in detail."

I know that. Diocles made copious notes."

You've got his notes?" demanded Damagoras. I gave him a tantalising smile. We got on well. I trusted him, Falco. I told him all about my past, and when he had had a drop to drink, he told me what was on his own mind. He had troubles."

His aunt had been killed. He blamed the fire-fighters, not the vigiles, the builders" guild."

You're right. He had come to Ostia to do something about it."

Is this how he came to grief?"

All I know," said Damagoras, is that he started working for one of the builders. He got himself a job as a carrier for a concrete maker, Lemnus."

Lemnus from Paphos!" I shouted, leaping up. Lemnus, the bow legged Cretan who attacked me at the Damson Flower, then scarpered .. Petronius had reckoned he had a conscience about something… Well, Petro could pull him in now, if he could still find him. Lemnus was freelance, though. Whose contract were they working on?"

I don't know, Falco." Lies. The old pirate was far too busy making sure he did not look too shifty.

Not good enough, Damagoras! Tell me the contractor."

You can't touch the man; he is too big in this town."