I could not let that influence me. ‘Yours is a tragic story, but I cannot exonerate you simply because you are unhappy. I need to know if you attacked your master, Myla. You had the most reason to lash out and kill Aviola – and his wife too.’ Particularly the wife, if Mucia instigated the plan to sell Myla.

‘Not me!’ Myla answered in a drab yet defiant voice.

‘Listen! You need to understand that you are under suspicion of murder.’ I was warning her formally.

‘I don’t care what you say.’

I saw exactly why the family all thought the best way to deal with her was to shed her. A slave needs to be obliging. Having to ingratiate herself even though she thought she had rights was the curse of Myla’s slavery, yet the only way she would survive was to accept the position. Stupidly, she kept railing. ‘I was at full term. I couldn’t move. Anyway, he was my only hope of a future, anyone who thinks I hurt him is mad. It was the last thing I wanted. I wanted him left alone. I was lost once he was dead. Whatever you think, I needed him alive.’

Her argument had some logic.

44

I had had a long hard day: tailing Roscius, re-interviewing the slaves, Polycarpus’ funeral and its aftermath. It was best not to press Myla any further. I needed sleep. She too looked drawn. It might even do her good to spend time reflecting on her position.

I warned her we were not finished. Looking back now, all I meant was that we would resume first thing in the morning. My manner was not threatening, not by my standards. No murder suspect can expect smiles and sesame cakes.

Myla humphed and took herself off.

I fell into bed and must have dropped off immediately. I slept long and deep. When I woke next morning, everywhere was quiet, though my body clock said it was not especially late.

Dromo was missing. I went out alone to fetch fresh bread and food for breakfast. I felt stiff, the kind of sluggishness I hate, especially when I am facing important work. This was a morning when I would have liked to go to the Stargazer, not just for food, but to consult with Manlius Faustus if he happened by. Mind you, the last time I did that I ended up with this bothersome commission …

I had taken a clean tunic and managed to persuade a local bath house manager to let me in. The water was nearly cold, of course, last night’s leavings, and they would not fire up the furnace again until this afternoon.