Three Hands In The Fountain

`That's; all right,' I replied in a pleasant tone. `I've got something in mind too: I'm planning to haul you both in front of a judge tonight on charges of obstructing a consular enquiry, perverting justice, and putting free citizens in danger of abduction, disfigurement and death

`Oh well; make it quick then,' muttered Pia's friend. She said nothing, but she dawdled along with us, just in case he said something she wanted to hit him for afterwards.

The rancid pair stood at the junction of the Street of the Public Fishpond, at the far end, after we had, passed by the Circus Maximus. To the left a roadway ran along the north side of the Circus towards the Forum Boarium and the river. To the, right was the incoming Via Latina. Ahead of us, across the junction, the road we had come on changed its name. A left-hand fork went to the Forum, coming out opposite the Colossus and the new Flavian Amphitheatre site. The right-hand fork was the Street, of the, Three Altars.

'So when you got here, you two were going hard; right down the Via Latina, to pass the end of the Street of Honour and Virtue, and then wend your way into Cyclops Street?' They nodded. Not knowing that my brother's girlfriend lived in the Street of Honour and Virtue they seemed subdued, by the extent of my local knowledge. `Then up volunteered Pia.

`Jupiter! She preferred a route that was quieter, so that if she got picked up by a pervert no – one would hear her scream?'

`Asinia was shy.'

`You mean, she was scared stiff of being out alone, and you knew it!' The worldly Pia should also have, known that a nervous woman alone on the streets is begging to be noticed by the kind of man who for all the wrong reasons likes his women terrified.' From the moment the two friends parted, Asinia would have been a target for harassment.' Perhaps she had discovered it on previous occasions. Perhaps that was why she liked to scuttle along away from the crowds.

`How many people were about that night?'

`Not many. A bit more than now.'

'The shows had finished? Most people had gone home?'

`Unless they had things to do.' Pia's swain giggled and groped her, in anticipation of a sweaty coupling. I ignored it.

I had not noticed Petro but he must have spotted us, for suddenly he materialised and listened in. I introduced Pia's lovelife, as best I could. '

`Oh, I know him,' Petronius sneered. 'His name's Mundus. He did not mention what Mundus had done to attract notice from the vigiles. His expression gave me a few clues, though.

I told Petro the tale. He went over it all again with Mundus, then tried the same with Pia. She still clammed up, but we had the impression it was now bad temper rather than deceit.

`What I don't see is why you broke up with Asinia by the Temple of Sol and Luna, yet you were following her again by the time she reached here?'

`At first we were going into the Temple for a smooch,' explained Mundus, as if it ought to be obvious. `We thought we would have a quick fiddle around at the Temple, then buy some food and take it to Pia's house before we really got stuck in. But when we got up the steps the portico was full of old men screwing pretty boys, so we missed out the first part.'

Petronius winced with disgust.

It seemed there was probably no more useful information to squeeze from this sordid pair. We were ready to let them go. 'Just one more thing,' I said sternly, attempting to grab Mundus' attention before he lost himself completely 'inside Pia's grubby garments. `Are you absolutely certain that the man you saw accosting Asinia was on foot?'

`Yes, legate.''

`No litter?' demanded Petro. `No carriage No cart in sight?'

`He told you.' Pia wanted to be shot of us now. `There was nothing.'

If she was right there could be various explanations. The encounter they saw may have had nothing at all to do with Asinia's later abduction. Or maybe the killer harassed the girl then pretended to leave her, but followed – unnoticed by Pia and Mundus – to grab her when she was alone and get her to his transport later. Or else he made initial contact had a look at her, decided if she met his requirements – then went off for transport he was keeping nearby, and trapped her in a quieter street. If the first conversation was amiable, it might make the girl an easier target the second time he caught up with, her.

`It was him,' I decided.

`Most likely,' Petro agreed.

We told the dewy-eyed lovers to go. They vanished down

the Via Latina,. Mundus slobbering all over Pia while she coarsely insulted him.

'She still wants to lie to us on principle.' It was my turn to announce the verdict, `If she could get away with it she would. But the radish is telling the truth.'

`Oh, he's a darling,' Petronius agreed glumly. `Pure and true. And his lack of remorse for Asinia is almost as heartwarming as Pia's. Where would we be without such upright citizens to assist our work?'