David Wishart: Last Rites

‘Yes. I understand that.’ She was frowning. ‘On the other hand, you did say that during your first interview with him he was prepared to swear that he knew nothing about the secret his son had shared with Cornelia. Surely by the time he spoke to you that had to be untrue. If he didn’t yet know for certain, he must at least have had an inkling of what was going on, and I just don’t think, being the man he is, that he would have volunteered to perjure himself simply for the sake of putting you off the scent.’

‘He didn’t offer to swear he knew nothing of the secret; he said he’d take his oath that his son hadn’t told him anything about it at their final interview. Which may have been the case, because both father and son already knew where they stood.’

‘Very well.’ Perilla was still looking doubtful. ‘You’re probably right. Still, it strikes me as mean. And I cannot, honestly, see a man like Aemilius Lepidus descending to a piece of sophistic trickery.’

Yeah; that aspect of it had been worrying me, too, and not just that: Lepidus had felt real. Still, he was a clever guy, and I couldn’t forget that Augustus had tipped him as emperor material. You didn’t get to be emperor without being capable of wearing two faces at once when necessary. Look at the Wart.

Well, the case was over and I’d done my best. Now it was up to Camillus and the lawyers. Besides, the Festival was in two days, and even sleuths need a break.

Alexis came floating back to say Camillus was home and he’d be delighted to see me whenever. I headed off for the King’s House.

The Jupiter look-alike showed me through to the study. Camillus was on his own – no Junia Torquata this time – working at his desk, but he waved me to the reading couch, put the book-rolls in their boxes and sat back down in his chair.

‘So, Corvinus,’ he said. ‘How are things going? Any further forward?’

‘The case is solved.’

Camillus’s eyebrows went up. ‘Really?’

‘The actual killer was a woman called Myrrhine. She-’

‘A woman ?’ The eyebrows went up another notch. ‘But the last time we talked you were very certain that the fluteplayer was a man in disguise.’

‘Yeah.’ I swallowed. ‘Yeah, I know I was. I made a mistake. I’m, uh, sorry about that.’

‘I’m sure you are.’ He was looking at me with definite amusement. ‘Will you tell the chief Vestal or shall I?’

‘Uh… maybe it would be better coming from you, sir.’

‘Indeed,’ he said drily. ‘And perhaps the news ought to be broken gently to Sextius Nomentanus as well, under the circumstances.’

‘That’s not such a problem.’ I kept my voice neutral. ‘I think Nomentanus knows already.’

‘Does he, now? Well, it certainly saves me a rather awkward-’

‘Nomentanus knows because he was behind the murders. Or at least he was one of three people responsible.’

Camillus sat back. ‘He was what ?’ he said.

‘There’s no doubt. None whatsoever. He has definite links with Myrrhine going back two years or more. Also, he seems to have come into a great deal of money recently.’ I explained about the loans business, and Camillus’s face grew graver.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Yes, that certainly makes a lot of sense. Well done; well done indeed. Your friend Secundus was perfectly correct: Nomentanus’s financial circumstances are extremely straitened, or should be. I told you that before, or implied it at any rate, when the question of paying for the re-celebration of the rites came up.’ Hell; so he had; I’d forgotten that. ‘Also, he is as his colleague told you one of the worst offenders under the terms of the new law. You will of course have your investigative commission. An imperial one, as you suggest. That I guarantee.’ He frowned. ‘Not that I’m totally happy with your findings. I don’t personally like the man and never have, but he is one of our most senior magistrates. You can prove the accusation?’

‘Sure. Like I say, he had connections with the killer and he was actually seen with her. It all fits, right down the line.’

‘Then there’s no more to be said. It’s a matter for the senior city judge.’ Camillus paused. ‘You mentioned that he was one of three.’

‘Yeah.’ I hesitated: this was going to be the really tough part. ‘The other two are Aemilius Lepidus and his daughter.’

I thought the guy was going to stand up, but he didn’t. His mouth formed a hard line. The silence lengthened.

‘Valerius Corvinus,’ Camillus said quietly. ‘Have you taken leave of your senses?’

I’d been afraid this might happen, especially after the conversation with Perilla, but there wasn’t a lot I could do except go in swinging. ‘Uh-uh.’ I shook my head slowly. ‘Like I said with Nomentanus, it all fits. Sure, proving it depends on the findings of the commission, but I’m convinced in my own mind. Completely convinced. Lepida was the driving force – she was the one recruited Nomentanus – but the father had to be involved.’

‘But, Corvinus, Aemilius Lepidus is one of the most highly respected men in Rome.’ The deputy chief priest was still speaking quietly, like he was explaining to an idiot why two and two made four. ‘He is also, I must tell you, one of my oldest and closest friends and the most honourable man I know. Consistently honourable. There is no way – and I mean no way, Valerius Corvinus – that Lepidus would associate himself with a crime of this nature. Or indeed of any nature. I’m sorry, but whatever proof you think you have you are wrong. Totally and utterly.’

Gods! I took a deep breath. ‘Look, sir. If Nomentanus did get that money – and I admit that’s something we still have to prove – then it must’ve come from somewhere. The connection with the man’s daughter is proven fact. Lepidus had a motive; in fact he’s the only person in this whole set-up, barring the daughter herself, who did.’

‘What motive could Aemilius Lepidus possibly have for engineering the death of a Vestal?’

‘Saving the family honour. I’m not saying he was in on it from the first, only that by the time he knew what was going on it was too late to back out. He-’

‘That would make no difference!’ Camillus’s hand slammed down on the desk; hard, and so suddenly and unexpectedly that I jumped. Our eyes locked for a good half-minute. Then he passed the hand over his face. ‘My apologies, Corvinus. That was unforgivably rude of me, and unmerited on your part. However, I stand by the words. Believe me, the moment Aemilius Lepidus became aware that he had involved himself in a crime, especially one of this magnitude, he would feel himself compelled to report it to the authorities. Whether his daughter was concerned or not. That, I can assure you, is a simple, absolute fact based on a lifetime’s knowledge. I’m sorry, but I can only repeat: however sure you are, you are nevertheless totally and utterly wrong.’

Deadlock. Well, there wasn’t much more to be said. I’d got the guy’s promise that he’d set up a commission to investigate Nomentanus’s accounts. All I could hope for was that the proof would be there; that, at least, Camillus would have to accept, and I’d done my bit to my own satisfaction, if not to his. Not that I bore the guy any ill-will; he’d given me the truth as he saw it, and the responsibility for any prosecution lay ultimately with him and the chief city judge. I stood up. ‘Yeah. Okay,’ I said. ‘Let’s leave it at that, then. At least the killer herself is dead, so I’ve achieved that much.’

Camillus bowed his head for a moment, then looked up again. ‘Please don’t think I’m ungrateful,’ he said. ‘You really do have my congratulations. Nomentanus I am willing to accept, subject to further proof, of course. Lepida also. Knowing the woman’s character and past as I do, her guilt would come as no surprise. But not her father. Absolutely not.’