`If they read it,' Helena said demurely. She pretended to be shocked that I had suggested this.

I grinned. `Sweetheart, Vesta's holy handmaidens devour an aristocratic will within a heartbeat of accepting it for safe keeping.'

`Ooh, Marcus! You don't mean they break the seals?'

`I'll take bets on it.'

Aelianus decided to have lunch after all, like a good son of a patrician house – that is, back at home with his mother. He was learning. He had few useful contacts for our business, but Julia Justa was one he could always call on. His noble mama knew at least one senior Vestal. Julia Justa would never help me in my work, but her favourite son was different. Off he trotted to ask her.

If this failed, I knew one of the more junior Vestal Virgins myself Constantia was a game girl. So friendly, in fact, that in the confines of my home, I preferred not to mention her.

We all worked the case for several days. At the end of that time, we knew what had happened – and what had not happened.

At least, we thought we did.

So, wanting a quick payment into our bank account, we prepared a summary and presented it to Silius Italicus as a job well done:

Evidence Reports in the Accusation against Rubirius Metellus

Interviews with formal witnesses post-death (M. Didius Falco and Q. Camillus Justinus)

Four interviews successfully conducted. Results inconclusive. Metellus was seen dead in his bed, with a pillbox on a side table. Nobody spoke with him about his intentions prior to death. All interviewees claimed suicide was in character, with intent to discommode recent prosecutors and avoid compensation fees.

All seven witnesses are senatorial, so 'above suspicion'.

Attempts to interview remaining three were abandoned; it is believed they would all tell the same story.

Interview with Calpurnia Cara (M. D. Falco)

C.C., wife to Metellus: strong-willed, hostile, resistant to questioning. Claimed to have discussed suicide with deceased; threw burden of proof on to witnesses (see above for flaws in their testimony).

Interview with Saffia Donata (M. D. Falco)

S.D., recently divorced from Metellus Negrinus, son of deceased, and pregnant by him. Not present on day of death. No direct knowledge of event, but maintained the poison used was hemlock.

[Note: Unreliable witness?]

Approach to Rubiria Carina (Helena Justina, for Falco and Associates)

Known as Carina. Younger and allegedly favourite daughter of Metellus, though believed to be distanced at time of his death. Aged thirty or under; mother of three children; holds office as priestess of Ceres in husband's family's summer residence at Laurentum; benefactress of local community at Laurentum (endowed and built a granary); was awarded statue in forum and laudatory plaque by town. These are unusual honours for a woman of her age – unless she controls great personal wealth and is thought to be of impeccable moral character.

Carina appears oddly colourless. This may be the effect of grief for a recently deceased father – or just a dull personality.

R.C. received H.J. briefly in her home, but on learning the purpose of the house call, declined to be interviewed.

Approach to Rubiria Juliana (H.J.)

Known as Juliana. Aged approximately thirty-five; mother of one infant; regular attendee at festival of the Good Goddess with her mother Calpurnia Cara; no known community good works.

Refused to receive H.J.; declined to be interviewed.

Interview with Gnaeus Metellus Negrinus, son of deceased, aka 'Birdy' (M.D.F.)

Approached at his place of work, subject agreed to be interviewed. Questioning took place at length at the aediles' secretaries' office, adjacent to the Rostra.

Negrinus aged about thirty, middle child of the deceased and Calpurnia Cara. Sandy hair, almost studious appearance. A senator since twenty-five (honourably elected 'in his year', with strong family backing to enhance his chances; came second in the field and was highly popular at home.) [Private Note: just shows how dumb the electorate are!] Acted as quaestor in province of Cilicia, nothing known against him. Senate career unremarkable, perhaps due to his rarely attending. With this clean record was elected a curule aedile and appointed to supervise road maintenance. Implicated in corruption trial of his father, though not himself prosecuted, hence failure to remove him from office despite charges of profiteering and contract swindles.

Against expectations, subject responded well to interview. Pleasant, affable, and helpful to our enquiry. Answered all questions put to him. (Interviewer unable to detect whether answers were honest.) Admitted father's 'rather carefree' business practices, denied own involvement in sale of contracts, claimed no knowledge of corruption. Suggested that trial charges were based on technical misunderstandings and exaggeration of minor errors; said witnesses were acting out of jealousy; declined to comment on the motives of the prosecution.

Gave statement that father's suicide was exactly that. Son was present in the bedroom shortly before death, dismissed by father. Denied that the poison used was hemlock, but believed that the cause of death was due to deliberate overdose of some medicine, obtained by father for the purpose of self-destruction (i.e. pills in sardonyx box). Thought medicine would probably have been purchased from family's herbalist, Euphanes [see below].

Calendar of events obtained from Negrinus runs: Rubirius Metellus senior convicted. One week later invoice for compensation arrives from prosecutor, Silius Italicus. One further week of consultation with Paccius Africanus, defence lawyer, results in negative possibilities for evading payment. Simultaneously a clemency appeal to the Emperor is turned down. Metellus determines on suicide. Informs wife and son in morning; death occurs in afternoon; formal witnessing of the body in early evening. Funeral held next day. Will formally read to close family and friends, including the original witnesses, on afternoon of funeral.

Negrinus declined to give details of will. Appeared upset when asked.

Interview with Euphanes, herbalist (M.D.F.)

Subject is a freedman of oriental origin, with usual physical traits of his profession: pallid, spotty, unhealthy looking. Sniffed throughout interview.

Euphanes regularly supplied herbs, spices and medicinal commodities to the Metellus household. Most were for the kitchen. Hemlock never supplied. Normal delivery would be alexanders, mustard seed, poppy seed, small quantities of long pepper, and Greek herbs (rosemary, thyme, cicely, catmint, wild savory). None of these is poisonous. Denied knowledge of Metellus senior's pills. Denied supplying them.

[Accountancy note: a small expense item for a gratuity arises from this interview.]

Approach to Verginius Laco, husband of Carina (Q. C. Justinus, for Falco and Associates)

Subject refused to be interviewed, citing citizen's right to privacy.

Approach to Canidianus Rufus, husband of Juliana (Q. C.J. for Falco Assoc)

Subject refused to be interviewed. Door porter commented, citing filthy temper of subject.

[Item: a quadrans to porter.]

Interview with Claudius Tiasus, undertaker, of the Fifth Region (Aulus Camillus Aelianus)

Tiasus runs a busy professional firm, operating out of a street below the Embankment. They were hired to carry the body of Rubirius Metellus to the family tomb, a mausoleum on the Via Appia, which Tiasus described as a dank old shack with a mock pyramid on the roof. There they performed the usual obsequies. They had previously acted for the family on the death of the grandfather (died of old age, about five years ago).

Metellus Negrinus presided at cremation of his father, assisted by Canidianus Rufus, a brother-in-law, together with another man, said to be a close friend of Negrinus. The body was burned, in accordance with custom, then its ashes gathered by the son and placed in an urn within the mausoleum (the urn was provided by the family, not purchased from Claudius Tiasus; it was a large green glass funerary jar, with a lid.)