`Too right! I believe in it myself. That's why, if you are innocent, I don't want to see you destroyed by an inadequate defence.'

`That's insulting,' Honorius said tightly.

`Well, you insulted me. Falco and Associates have taken on this man. We at least are an established team. You were an apprentice. You sweep in like some high-priced god, offering Negrinus redemption after no research into the evidence -'

`There is no evidence,' Honorius retorted, more warmly. `That is precisely what disgusts me. I heard Silius and Paccius both admit they cannot prove that Metellus Negrinus directly took any action against his father. They say he administered hemlock, but they don't know how or when. They intend to win not with proofs but with arguments.'

I was not surprised. `That's obvious. Blacken his character, make leering suggestions, and rely on the fact that if he is innocent, he won't have any idea what really happened – so he can't fight back. We can all imagine their arguments.' I took a big breath. `So you defend in the case. You will have to produce better ones.'

`Not me,' said Honorius. `Us.'

`No.'

`Yes, Falco. I need you. I need you to find out what we can produce in rebuttal. Silius has people working on it constantly. I don't have his network. I admit it frankly -'

`And how will you pay me?'

He looked shy. `When we win.'

`If!’ Both Honorius and Negrinus were waiting for my reaction. `I can't answer you. I shall have to consult my associates.'

`There is no time, Falco.'

`All right.' I could take decisions. `But we will not work for you.' Honorius ran a hand through that short hair in exasperation. I cut him off. `Equal status. We'll work with you. That's the deal. No fees, but fair shares if we win.' Before he could argue I went straight into my plan. `Tomorrow you and I will attend the pre-trial. The praetor will set the trial date, allowing time for enquiries. This is the tactic: we let the other side ask for the longest investigation delay they want. We shall not dispute it.'

Honorius leapt up. 'Falco, it's customary to -'

`To cut it short, to hamper the prosecution. Well we need investigation time ourselves. Now when they all think that's sorted, we'll throw in a surprise: we shall ask for the case to be heard not in the Senate – to which Negrinus is entitled – but in the murders court.'

Honorius was bright. I was probably right that he was useless, but he could take a point fast. `You mean the full Senate will view me as a jumped-up boy, backed by a low-grade team, people they all despise. But in the special murders court, the judge will be keen to enjoy himself- and Silius and Paccius won't have trained him to their ways.'

I said nothing for a moment. `Something like that.'

I watched Honorius evaluate my comments. He had stood for too long in the shadow of Silius Italicus and was fretting for more independence. He clearly enjoyed planning and making decisions. That was fine – if his decisions were the right ones. `If Negrinus didn't kill his father, someone else did – and you intend us to discover who.' Light dawned. `And in the delay before Birdy comes to trial – we shall go in and prosecute the real killer!'

Rubiria Carina leaned forwards attentively. `But who is it?'

I gazed at her for a moment then stated the obvious: `Well, your sister has been tried for it and acquitted, your brother is to be tried shortly but we say he's innocent – face it, lady: that only leaves you!'

IT WAS brutal. There was a shocked silence.

As they all began to react, I held up a hand. Looking from the brother to the sister, I addressed them quietly: `Time to get things straight, please. If you want my team to work with you, you have to trust us and work with us. There are very big unanswered questions. Please stop dodging them. Rubiria Carina, if we were as heartless as Paccius and Silius, then you really would be the next target. You were estranged from your family, and you are known to have made loud accusations against family members at your father's funeral. Either you tell me what that was about, or I walk.'

Negrinus began to interrupt.

`The same goes for you,' I snapped. `You make mysterious pronouncements. You clearly keep things back. Now it's time for honesty.' I half turned to Honorius. `Don't you agree?'

Honorius agreed.

`Right.' I was terse. 'Honorius and I are going to pop out to use your domestic facilities. You two had better confer. If you decide to co-operate, I want to discuss your family background – and I want full details of your father's will.'

I jerked my head to Honorius, who meekly followed me from the room.

`Now listen, Honorius -'

`I thought we were going for a pee?'

`In a house like this it's useless for a case conference. They will have some damned one-at-a-time latrine.' I grinned. `Anyway, your previous encounter with Falco and Associates should have taught you to keep your legs crossed.'

Remembering how the two Camilli had trapped him in his office and bullied him into paying up our fee from Silius, Honorius went red. Just thinking about it made him absolutely desperate for relief. I sat on a bench in a corridor unconcernedly, as if ready for a lengthy chat.

`I need -'

`Colleague, you need to know my thoughts. My information, gleaned today, is that Birdy and his father were on good terms – but they were cash-hungry. Why? Next, my two lads have so far failed to find out where the hemlock – if it existed – was bought. The family's usual herb supplier denies selling it -'

`That's Euphanes?'

`You have a grip on the cast list; good! So my poor juniors will have to tread the streets asking every damn purveyor of pungent greenery if they sold a bunch of hemlock way back last autumn.'

`You are not hopeful.'

`True.'

`Does it matter who bought it, Falco?'

`Very much. If we are to get Birdy off, it's no use just crying that he's a good boy and he never harmed his papa. We have to show who really did it. And this is urgent.'

Honorius was gripped by what I was saying. `But who are we to accuse, Falco?'

`I suggest the mother.'

`Not Carina?'

`No. I was just trying to scare her. Calpurnia Cara did originally hatch the hemlock plan, if Birdy told us right. So Calpurnia is my chief suspect – with the possible connivance of Paccius.'

'Paccius!' Honorius looked scared. 'Paccius conspired to kill his client? You live in a harsh world, Falco.'

`Welcome to it,' I said gently.

Then, since I was getting desperate myself, I stood up and let him tag along as I searched for the household facilities.

Instead of the normal plank over a pit in an earth-floored cupboard, Carina and Laco had a well-tiled room with a stone throne; it stood over a pit, but the pit was very clean and there was a huge mound of fresh sponges beside the white marble washing bowl. I pointed this out to Honorius. `This is why I don't suspect Carina. I don't mean because her house is unusually hygienic. I mean, the woman is damn rich.'

`She doesn't need her father's money?'

`No. Supposing there is any left…' Which I was starting to doubt.

When we returned, Negrinus and Carina looked subdued, but prepared to talk. I told Honorius to take Birdy off somewhere, while I flame-grilled Carina. It was the first time we had had access to her; I intended to be thorough.

`Please don't worry.' In fact she seemed unconcerned. She gazed at me with that direct, thoughtful stare. She was sitting upright, hands lying still in her lap. A maid was there to chaperon, but the elderly woman sat at a distance with her eyes cast down. 'Rubiria Carina, I am sorry we have to do this. I just want to talk to you about your family. Let's start with your childhood, if you don't mind. Were you a happy household?'