Time: evening.
Place: patrol house, Fourth Cohort of Vigiles, Aventine.
Subject: conversation between L. Petronius Longus and M. Didius Falco, in the presence of Q. Camillus Justinus.
Mood: tense.
“I’ve got the story for you.”
“Something happened. That’s obvious.”
“Look, Falco—”
“You’re sounding defensive.”
“I’m damn well not.”
“Well, damn well get on with it.”
“Perseus refused to tell them anything. And he’s no longer available.”
“Translate that, Petro. What pretty vigiles’ excuse is ‘no longer available’?”
“He’s dead.”
“They killed him?”
“It’s not their fault.”
“Oh please!”
“The courts expect a high standard of battery, if it’s to count as torture legally.”
“Oh, I’d really call this a ‘high standard’!”
“They are not all as skilled as Sergius—”
“Oh, Quintus, don’t you like the comparison? Sergius is the penalty man in this cohort. Here, torture is no more dangerous than a sheep-shearing picnic in the Apennines. Here they can squeeze your goolies off so delicately you stay alive and keep on making helpful statements for absolutely weeks.”
“Spare me your sarcasm. The Second slipped up, Falco. Sometimes it’s a risk.”
“Some risk. These incompetents have removed the one witness who might have told us the truth.”