Successio (8 page)

‘I’ve been in two minds about her.’ He set his elbows on his desk and tapped the fingertips of each hand against their opposite numbers. ‘I can ignore her and hope she’ll go away. Rarely a good option. These kinds of problems always come back, usually well-fermented. The other option is to see if we can’t negotiate some kind of arrangement with her.’

He was discussing her like a theoretical case or an exercise scenario. His voice was dispassionate, disinterested even. Had he gotten over the emotional crisis Nonna referred to? He’d been so much happier yesterday, like he’d come to some conclusion. Obviously, her letter had caused a huge upset, but now he’d be able to resolve it, thank the gods.

I nodded and was about to suggest making an appointment with Sertorius to draw up an opening offer. Sertorius was so tough and slippery he could negotiate the palm off Victory, and she was a gold statue. We’d be rid of Nicola within a few weeks.

Conrad said nothing. After a few moments, he smiled to himself. ‘She seems to have done well in the military, though. Something to be said for the genes.’

Oh, Juno, he actually admired her. He bubbled with pride in his children and this visceral emotion was stretching to include Nicola. Not good. Not at all good.

He glanced toward me from across his desk. ‘I know this may come as a bit of a shock, but I’m going to invite her over here.’

Speechless didn’t describe my state even halfway. I stared at him as if I hadn’t heard correctly. I swallowed hard as if it could stop my mind seeing images of collapsing buildings.

‘Why do that? Can’t the lawyers handle it?’ I managed. ‘I mean, by letter or mail?’

‘It was Michael Browning’s news that brought it home to me. She must have been so miserable to have gone to such lengths.’

No, Conrad, she’s a conniving little madam.

‘I feel I have to do this,’ he ploughed on. ‘She can stay with Uncle Quintus. He’s sharp enough to contain her. Perhaps she’ll come to see she doesn’t need to fight against everything so desperately.’

I bit into one of the sandwiches that Rusonia had ordered, but it tasted like dry cardboard and rubber.

He picked up an el-pad stylus and played with it, but didn’t touch the food.

‘Um, not wishing to put a damper on it,’ I tried, ‘but do you have proof she
is
your daughter?’

‘Always the careful one, aren’t you?’

‘C’mon, Conrad, you wouldn’t be the first one to get caught.’

‘You’re assuming she’s not.’

I said nothing and the air around us became heavy. No longer having an appetite for food or argument, I said, ‘Get a DNA test. Take some precautions at least.’

Ironic he hadn’t taken any twenty-five years before.

*

Michael was on the last day of his official tour tomorrow, scheduled to go out with Paula to watch for Zenia. The surveillance operation had been pretty fruitless, no show since the day of Allegra’s arrest.

‘Hasn’t helped that the school’s put a heavy on the front gate,’ Flav grumbled. ‘I did ask them not to, as they had us there, but the principal did that lemon-sucking face trick and insisted.’

‘Don’t worry, Flav, we’ll finish it tomorrow. She’s obviously gone after other prey.’ Annoying that we hadn’t found her, but we’d got rid of her at least. And Allegra wouldn’t get caught twice. She was growing up a little too fast, my daughter.

I met them all in the mess bar and stood them a drink. Scant thanks, but Paula told me not to worry.

‘Don’t get worked up, Bruna. We’ve enjoyed working together again,’ she said, ‘although, being honest, it was a bit boring. Treb said it had been fun acting as a senior for all of three days, but got fed up with the hair and boyfriends obsession of her classmates.’ She grinned. ‘Still, any excuse to catch up. Did you know Atria’s eldest has started school?’

I studied Paula Servla’s face as she chattered on. She’d been my first friend in the PGSF, before even, when I’d still been in the DJ and come to train with them. A few fine lines had started to appear around her eyes, but not one white hair had dared show itself in amongst the tight brown curls. And her daughter Valeria was twelve now. Juno!

I opened my mouth to say something anodyne about us all getting a little older but that the up-and-comers weren’t anywhere near as good as we’d been, when I sensed someone behind me.

Julia Atria, famous or maybe infamous for her persuading and influencing skills, was standing motionless, scarcely seeming to breathe. A wisp of a smile between her lips, she waited a full minute for me to give in and speak first. She was a natural, plus had been trained by one of the best psych teachers in the country. Charming fish out of the water to walk on dry land was a warm-up exercise before breakfast for her. I knew all about her little tricks, but in a fix I was glad to have such a manipulator on my side.

I did the really cheesy thing from the movies and raised one eyebrow, forcing her to begin.

She smiled in acknowledgement.

‘I didn’t get very good results from the girls’ interviews. Quirinia was too nervous and a little hysterical. She couldn’t make her mind up about anything. I got the impression she said what she thought I wanted to hear rather than admit she hadn’t seen anything. She’s very self-obsessed and doesn’t notice much about the rest of the world around her unless it impacts on her.’ She shrugged. ‘Typical adolescent.’

‘And Allegra?’

‘Better. But her emotional upset about the whole thing was too strong and it clouded her recall. She remembered more of Zenia’s mannerisms and her clothes rather than her face.’

‘Hmm. Sorry you didn’t get more.’ Somehow I felt responsible.

‘Hades, Bruna, not your problem. I did get that she was tall, blonde and monosyllabic.’

‘So we have a third of Europe in the frame? Fabulous.’

*

Thankful it was Friday, I was finishing up my file reviews. I’d scheduled the whole branch meeting for next week and I wanted to be over-prepared. I unclasped my hands from the back of my neck and brought my shoulder blades together. Gods, I hated all this paperwork, even though the majority of it was digital. A knock on my doorframe woke me up; Flavius and Michael. I always left my door open, but Flavius took the handle and shut it as soon as he and Michael entered. Their expressions were as solemn as hired funeral mourners.

‘What? You both look as if the Fates had descended on us.’

‘In a manner of speaking, they have, Colonel,’ said Flavius.

I waved them to chairs in front of my desk. ‘Explain.’

They exchanged a glance.

Oh no, not one of those.

Flavius nodded to Michael.

‘As you know, Colonel, I went out with Senior Centurion Flavius this morning as an observer on the surveillance exercise. We were sweeping the road near the school as our cover when a young woman who’d been lounging by the gate stopped and talked to a group of girls around Allegra’s age.’

I held my breath. A surge of excitement ran through me. Had we got her then?

‘We only had a back view, but she was tall and blonde. We held our cover, but advanced in her direction, as if we were going to empty our sweepings into the cart. About five metres from her, we were ready to snatch her. She half-turned and cocked her head to one side. In the time I turned to tell Flavius, she’d disappeared.’ He looked embarrassed, but angry as well. ‘God knows where she went, but when I recognised her, I stopped being surprised she’d done a vanishing trick like that.’

‘What do you mean? Who was she?’

But I knew. I shut my eyes as I heard him confirm it.

‘Nicola Sandbrook’.

VIII

Hades. Times ten. Not that it was Nicola. That was bad enough. But breaking it to Conrad. At least it would put his plans to invite her over on hold. I tapped into the system to put an immediate APB out on her at the airport and railroad stations plus alerted the DJ watch office. Now we knew who we were looking for, we had a good chance of finding her. Michael was less optimistic, but I was sure she’d stand out here. Besides, I posted a thousand
solidi
reward on her.

Conrad would be so disappointed and hurt, too, that she’d targeted Allegra. But at least he’d see Nicola for what she was.

We got a slot twenty minutes later and the three of us trudged along to Conrad’s office. Rusonia took one look at our long faces and even opened the door and announced us. He was putting some book back on a shelf when we entered. He turned to us with a smile.

‘Great gods, a delegation,’ he said in a semi-ironic tone. I cringed inside; we were really going to ruin his day.

He perched on the corner of his desk and motioned us to sit.

‘If you don’t mind, Legate, I think we’ll stand,’ I said.

His smiled faded. ‘Very well. What is it you want to say?’

‘This morning was the last day of the surveillance operation at Allegra’s school,’ I began.

‘Yes?’

‘Senor Centurion Flavius and Captain Browning were observing. There was a development.’ I couldn’t bear to say it.

‘What kind of development?’

‘A sighting of the woman known as Zenia.’

‘And?’ He waved his hand impatiently. ‘Are we going to get there sometime within the next hour, Colonel, or do I have to play twenty questions?’

I swallowed hard. ‘She’s been identified.’

‘Excellent. Presumably you’ve put the usual alerts out, so we should have her soon.’ He looked at us as if we were deficient. ‘So what’s the problem?’

‘There’s more.’

He raised one eyebrow, ‘I can hardly wait.’

‘Captain Browning ID’d her as former Sergeant Sandbrook of the British Armed Forces.’

The muscles on his face froze. He didn’t even blink.

‘I see.’ The words fell out of his mouth as if by accident.

None of us moved. Conrad was as still as a block of Aquae Caesaris granite.

‘Please tell me exactly what you were doing, Flavius, and then, Captain Browning, you can explain why you have come to this conclusion.’ His voice sounded as cold and incisive as an ice dagger.

Flavius gave a precise report, detailing the minutiae of the whole watch. Conrad nodded curtly when he’d finished and looked toward Michael.

‘Well?’

‘Sir, I’ve worked with Sergeant Sandbrook. She was a member of a specialist unit trained to carry out close target reconnaissance, surveillance and ‘eyes-on’ intelligence operations. She knows exactly how to design and run a range of targeted operations in different environments.’

His voice was steady, but I heard the note of bitterness.

Crap. A talented professional. This was getting worse by the minute.

‘When did you last see her?’

‘At the exercise to which Colonel Mitela’s detachment was invited. I have to admit I was surprised to see her. I know a circular went round asking for volunteers to participate and for staff support. Her role was specialist not general, but she seemed happy to serve as admin for the exercise. Perhaps she was conducting her own personal reconnaissance—’

‘Enough!’ Conrad’s voice sliced through. ‘I don’t need junior officers’ subjective comments. Dismissed. You, too, Senior Centurion.’ He waved both men out and went to sit behind his desk as they made their escape.

‘Go on, say it.’ He glared at me. ’You can hardly wait, can you?’

I couldn’t find any fancy words.

‘I’m so, so sorry. You must be very disappointed.’

‘Disappointed! Don’t use your fucking weasel words with me, woman!’

I said nothing. He lifted his hand and rubbed the hairline over his temple near the accident scar. Placing both elbows on the desk, he dropped his head into his hands and I heard a deep guttural sound as the spasm racked him. I turned and slipped out, easing the door closed behind me.

*

The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze of nothingness. In the end, I gave up. I picked up my case and el-pad, slung my black uniform fleece over one shoulder and wandered through the outer office, giving Sergius a perfunctory smile. I was due to collect Michael from his last session in the signals office and take him home to stay with us for a few days.

Given the antagonism between Conrad and Michael, this was going to be a fun week. Conrad and I had worked hard to keep our work and private lives separate but Nicola’s attack on our family threatened to throw that fine balance off. If we caught her, it could cause a huge personal rift. I couldn’t figure out what to do next – it seemed too nebulous. Immersed in these unhappy thoughts, I hardly noticed where I was going.

‘Hey, look out.’

Daniel. I’d almost walked into him. Difficult to miss his sturdy figure, though. I didn’t realise I’d come as far as his office. His hand rested on the brass door handle.

‘What’s the matter?’ He always switched to English when we were alone. ’You look terrible.’

I shook my head. His arm came up around my shoulders and he gently guided me into his office and pushed me down on one of the leather easy chairs.

‘Tell me,’ he ordered. A frown had replaced his normally cheery smile.

He knew some of it, of course, but he’d been wrapped up with the new anti-terrorist initiative and had hardly been at the house over the last few weeks. Daniel lived at Domus Mitelarum, in his own apartment in the south wing. Fifteen years ago he’d arrived in Roma Nova on a three-month training detachment from his home country, but had never gone back. Sponsored by Conrad, he’d been adopted into our family and become my buddy, my brother-in-arms. We’d worked hard together, and played hard, getting ourselves into and out of a load of trouble, especially when younger.

Once he’d dared me to a climbing race up the lower wall of the old fortress building, strictly forbidden, but I couldn’t resist the challenging sparkle in his eye. Of course, we got an audience, of course, they made book on us, but the catcalls and shouts of encouragement spurred us both on. We’d almost got to the top, neck and neck, and muscles trembling and breath heaving, and I was about to swing myself up over the remains of the crumbling parapet, when the shouting died at a stroke.

A voice like a shotgun had rung out, ordering us down that instant. Major Mitelus, as he was then, was incandescent; his eyes blazed, he could hardly speak. Apart from our disobedience to standing orders, reckless behaviour and a poor example by junior officers to enlisted personnel, he castigated us for the waste of our expensive training if we’d broken our stupid necks. Daniel and I caught seven days in the cooler, but it cemented our friendship.

‘Shit, Carina! How did it get to this?’

‘The gods alone know. I’ve tried to be tactful with him, but I’m starting to get pissed with the whole thing. I know she’s a destroyer. Look how she attacked Allegra.’

‘Sounds a right little cow.’

I half-smiled at his Britishism.

‘Maybe now that Conrad’s realised what a threat she is, he’ll drop the whole daughter thing and leave it to the lawyers,’ I said. ‘But somehow, I don’t think she’ll let it go that easily.’

‘You’re the strategist – what do we do?’

‘What I’d like to do isn’t legal.’

‘So?’

‘C’mon, Daniel, we can’t go there.’

‘Pity.’

He picked up a green marble paperweight from his desk and tossed it lightly from one hand to another as he walked backed and forth. He could never stay still. He frowned.

‘Look, Carina, unless there’s some sort of definite threat, we can’t officially commit any further resources. It’s a family matter.’ He smiled up at me. ‘But you know I’ll give you a hundred per cent personally.’

‘I have a few ideas chasing around in my head, but first we have to get hold of her.’

*

Daniel put Michael up in his apartment, which headed off most of the possible awkwardness with Conrad. Despite their different backgrounds, the two men got on well and were bantering when they came down together to the main dining room for breakfast next morning.

‘Daniel’s been telling me something about this house. I gather some of it’s over eight hundred years old.’

‘You know, the person you want to talk to is Galienus, Junia’s deputy. He’ll give you the tour. You’ll only need five weeks.’

Michael laughed back at me. ‘Daniel’s taking me gliding this morning, so perhaps later.’

‘Sure. I’ll let him know to expect you.’

I left them talking about thermals and streamlining and went upstairs to sit with my grandmother. Her room had been transformed into a mini-hospital ward, complete with the antiseptic smell. The young nurse was tweaking a drip line fed from a transparent bag hooked on a stand as I walked in. He finished, nodded at me and withdrew. Nonna’s eyes were closed, but I could see her shoulders moving slightly as she breathed.

‘Carina?’ she whispered.

‘Here, Nonna.’ I sat on the chair by her bed and folded her hand into mine. ‘How did you know it was me?’

‘Your footstep and your scent.’ She paused, took several breaths. ‘Yours are wired into my head.’ Her eyes flickered open and a tiny smile appeared. ‘I’m so glad to see you before I go into the shades.’

‘Nonna… don’t. Don’t speak like that.’

She just smiled, then grimaced.

‘What is it? Do you want more medication?’

‘If I have any more, I’ll be unconscious.’ She grasped my hand, her poor weak fingers finding strength for a few moments. ‘Listen, Carina. Listen properly, please.’

Tears swam in my eyes, but I nodded. I tried to gulp them back for her.

‘You have to remember this. Make your decisions for the family.’ She took short laboured breaths. ‘It’ll be hard, but you must be loyal to them. Whatever the heartache. Promise me.’

‘You know I will.’

She scanned my face with eyes that could hardly see.

‘Yes, I know. You’re a good girl. Sorry to leave you. I love you so much.’

‘Nonna.’ Brown, sunken skin as thin as wrapping tissue and criss-crossed with lines surrounded her eyes. The brightness in them dimmed like the electric current had been stepped down to minimum. She closed them and sighed. I leaned over and kissed her forehead. ‘I love you, too. I always will.’

I crept away next door into her private sitting room and found Marcella talking to the doctor.

‘How long?’ I asked, baldly.

‘A week at most. I’m very sorry.’

He was the chief oncologist at the university hospital. He should know.

‘You won’t let her suffer.’ It wasn’t a request. My hand came up by itself and covered my mouth and I turned away from them both. My gaze came to rest on a silver-framed photo on a side table of Nonna and the children. Her bright blue eyes shone out at me and a mischievous grin seemed to share a joke with the camera. Gods.

‘Marcella.’

‘Lady?’

‘Will you call the council for tomorrow morning, please? Eleven will give them all time to get here. Liaise with Junia about food and so on.’

‘Of course, Countess.’ She nodded and left.

*

I went for a swim to distract myself. After ten minutes or so of rhythmic up and down the pool, I felt calmer. The soft dappled light and the soothing motion of the water sliding over my skin acted like a balm. I became aware of another body gliding through the water. I shook my head to clear it and saw Allegra beside me. She swam up beside me, extended her arm across my shoulder and stroked me. We sat on the side, weeping together for a while.

She sneezed, breaking us out of it. Dried, dressed and clutching hot drinks in my study, we discussed what would come next.

‘You know you have to come to the council tomorrow?’ I hated pulling her into this; she was only a kid. She’d have to talk to a load of old people, all sad and pompous, some genuinely upset about Aurelia, some curious, some jockeying for position in the changeover.

‘I know, Mama. It’s fine. Really.’ Her father’s hazel eyes looked out of her strangely worldly-wise but soft, unformed face and she laid her hand on mine. ‘I know what to do. Helena’s been going over it all with me. I’m going to help you with everything. Don’t worry.’

Juno! She was comforting me. She’d been raised as a Roma Novan, of course. She knew this stuff far better than I did.

At lunch in the nursery, I let Allegra explain it all to the others. Gil and Tonia cried. She let them carry on for a few minutes, then told them to shut up and get a grip. Great Nonna would be embarrassed if she could see them.

‘But, Legra, it’s horrible. Why does she have to go?’

I wanted to intervene, but Helena shook her head at me. Allegra was doing just fine.

‘C’mon, Gil, you know that’s how it is,’ she said. She looked at them sternly. ‘If you want to go and see her this afternoon, you have to wash your faces and behave with dignity. The last thing Great Nonna wants to see is cry babies. We’re supposed to cheer her up and make her proud of us.’

I had to look away. Where had I got this strong daughter from?

*

I woke with a start, a loud trill ringing in my right ear. It was the house intercom.

‘DJ
custodes
for you, lady,’ came Junia’s voice. ‘Do you want to take it, or shall I say you’re unavailable?’

‘No, no, I’ll take it.’ I sat up on my bed, the papers I’d fallen asleep over falling off my chest.

‘Mitela.
Salve
.’

‘What’s the matter with you, Bruna? Slacking again?’ Lurio’s sarcastic tone woke me up instantly.

‘Go screw yourself, Lurio. What do you want? It’s the weekend, for Juno’s sake.’

‘Oh, sorry, I forgot you PGSF lot only work weekdays.’

‘Don’t be a smartass. I’ve done ten solid days. Conradus’s on shift all weekend, until Tuesday, in fact.’

‘That’s why I’m calling you at home.’

‘What do you mean?’ I heard the suppressed excitement in his voice.

‘I thought I’d tell you first.’

‘What?’