INCEPTIO (Roma Nova)

by Alison Morton

  ‘Which means, logically, they’re into the database systems?’

  ‘Precisely. Well, at least the DJ one. And they know exactly who to bribe or put pressure on.’

  ‘This isn’t a novel idea, but couldn’t they use retired operatives or trainees who aren’t known?’

  ‘Two reactivated officers, one DJ and one PGSF, were found dead in the public sewer the day before yesterday.’ Her voice wasn’t just cold, it was despairing. ‘Post-mortem examinations showed forced narcotic overdose as the cause of death for both.’

  What a foul way to die – force-fed drugs and then dying helplessly in self-disgust and agony.

  I didn’t have anything to offer Nonna. My mind was running on. I needed information. I went to the library and started reading up on the Department of Justice, the custodes, the PGSF. I scanned every relevant page I could find through Quaero, my fingers aching from tapping the keyboard. After several hours, I had sore eyes, but a pretty reasonable basic knowledge. I moved, and my stiff back and shoulders protested. I glanced at the clock. Hades. It was three in the morning.

  That day, I didn’t get up until eight, but started again. This time, it was law enforcement, the justice system, and the drugs trade in Europe. Somebody brought me a tray of food and a jug of water at some stage.

  I wasn’t aiming to become an expert, just get enough background in so I could be of more help to Nonna. This was important stuff. How could I have wasted my time so stupidly before?

  I put on my Pulcheria disguise again and went to check on my other businesses. None of them said they were being pressured for money; I believed them. I called into Dania’s and found she’d had no further threatening visitors.

  ‘Dania, I hope you won’t be offended—’

  ‘Try me.’ She grinned.

  ‘Do you get anybody offering or wanting to buy drugs?’

  Her face puckered up like a sour lemon and her body tensed. ‘I’m hurt you feel the need to ask that question. I wouldn’t have anything so disgusting here. We don’t even sell tobacco. If you don’t want anything else, I’ve got some paying customers to see to.’ She flounced off.

  I was sipping my wine, thinking of how to mollify her, when she came back.

  ‘I’m sorry, er, Pulcheria, I didn’t mean to be rude. I don’t suppose you would’ve asked without a good reason.’

  ‘No problem, Dania. Really.’

  ‘I’ve heard the odd rumour recently, I admit, but thought it was a joke. I mean, nobody in their right senses would mess with that stuff.’

  ‘No, but there are some ruthless and greedy people who see Roma Nova as virgin territory and want to gang-bang her to death with their filth.’

  She stared at me. ‘I didn’t know you felt that strongly.’

  My turn to smile, but I didn’t feel humorous. ‘Nor did I. If you hear the tiniest whisper, a few words or anything you think is remotely connected, tell me. Ninety-nine useless things are fine if I have one good one.’

  ‘Are you working for the law now?’

  ‘Juno, no.’

  XLII

  The next day, Nonna had an old friend coming over for lunch. She introduced her as Aemilia Fulvia, who I guessed to be another political mover and shaker, but didn’t say what she did. Although not very tall, Aemilia had an authoritative air about her; even her well-dressed hair seemed to fall into line.

  As we ate, Aemilia asked me the usual questions about the contrast between my old life and the new, how I’d been settling in, what I’d been doing. I had the impression she was dancing around the point. Just before coffee was served, it clicked: I’d seen her face on the newscast when she was appointed minister for justice a few weeks before.

  Aemilia nodded to Nonna, who asked a servant to see if the minister’s assistant had arrived. A dark-haired man in a casual suit entered and nodded to Aemilia, but said nothing. He deposited his briefcase on the table. He pulled a small velvet bag out of the leather folds and opened the drawstring to reveal a crystalline pyramid which he placed in the centre of our table. He sat down at Amelia’s side and studied the far wall.

  ‘Now we can talk safely,’ Aemilia said. ‘The crystal will scramble our voices. Not, of course, my dear Aurelia, that there can be any doubt here, but we do have to take every precaution at the moment.’ She turned to include me. ‘Allow me to introduce a colleague from the Department of Justice, Inspector Cornelius Lurio.’

  After greeting Nonna, Lurio turned his light blue gaze on me. His dark hair, long for a cop, was trained back behind his ears. He held himself upright and, while not overweight, had a well-developed figure. When he stretched his arm forward to place the pyramid, I’d seen the strong muscles of his wrist and hand. I shook hands with him, but he let go as soon as he could. He resumed his study of the back wall.

  ‘Lurio is the only other person apart from the imperatrix who knows what I’m going to say,’ Aemilia said. ‘I believe, Carina, you’re aware of the difficulties we’re having vis-à-vis the anti-drug operations being run by the DJ and PGSF.’

  I nodded.

  ‘Both Aurelia and the imperatrix think you may be able to help us with this.’ She looked straight at me as if she were trying to pin me on a specimen board. I was stunned by her words and so wouldn’t have put up much resistance.

  ‘Um, what exactly did you have in mind?’ I managed to say.

  A strong masculine voice answered, irony coating everything he said. ‘We need an English-speaker so wealthy they can’t be bought, so moral they’ll stay honest, smart yet ruthless, and unknown to the law and security forces.’ Lurio looked down his nose at me. ‘Oh yes, they need to be a trained fighter, have good tradecraft and nerves of ice.’ He snorted.

  I was getting annoyed at this cop. The way he fidgeted, looked bored and didn’t hide looking at his watch made it obvious he considered this meeting a total waste of time.

  ‘Sounds like James Bond,’ I said, staring him out.

  He glowered back. Aemilia made a small movement with her hand to signal restraint. ‘Lurio exaggerates, but we do need a special type of person for an operation to stop the drugs trade implanting here. We’ve had a few successes, but can’t make any significant headway because of the corruption. We’re making good progress rooting that out, but these Western criminals are clever and experienced in their trade.’

  She paused, looked down and played with the silver napkin ring.

  ‘We see that running an operation under the radar of both services will be the only way to keep it completely clean.’ She put her hand out and rested it on mine. ‘If you can help us, you would have our full support, but covertly. You would also have significant input into the design of the operation, but we would need to approve it.’

  She was desperate, but trying not to appear so. My mind started chasing itself around the room. What an opportunity to do something worthwhile, to use my skills and my new knowledge. What a fabulous challenge. I had to calm down and think it through. I could end up dead, disgraced, dragging my family down, be thrown in prison with the key melted down for scrap. Or just maybe I could pull it off. Three faces, one anxious, one intrigued and one contemptuous, gazed at me while I took a few minutes.

  ‘If I agree,’ I said, ‘I want a watertight, hundred per cent immunity for anything I do or cause to be done. I’m not even going to think about it unless I have that, signed and sealed by the imperatrix.’ Those hours of study in the library were paying off. I leaned back in my chair and waited.

  Lurio looked at me as if I were something slithering along the ground. ‘You must be joking. Nothing doing.’

  ‘Fine.’ I stood up, bowed to Nonna and Aemilia Fulvia and made for the door.

  ‘Wait.’

  ‘Yes, Aemilia Fulvia?’

  ‘I understand your concern, Carina, but we need to have details of your design and implementation plan before such a blanket immunity can be considered.’ She smiled. ‘Think of it as an insurance proposal. As the underwriter, I’d want to s
ee some kind of supporting evidence before extending unlimited cover.’

  I laughed at her simile. ‘Yes, but insurers always try wriggle out of things. If it’s my skin, my neck and my freedom in question, I want it all covered.’ I looked into her eyes. ‘I wouldn’t abuse it, believe me.’

  ‘I do. I’ve studied you and your development here in detail.’

  Great. I had a nice fat police file already. No, this was super-secret, so maybe not.

  ‘I think the best thing would be for you and Lurio to hammer out some basics on a non-obligation basis. We’re pressed for time – every day counts, so could you do this within the next week?’

  Lurio looked as enthusiastic about me as I was about him.

  ‘Of course, Aemilia. We can start now, if you wish.’

  She looked surprised, but pleased. Lurio looked thunderous.

  Tough.

  ‘First things first,’ I said to him. ‘You don’t like the look of me. I think the same about you. But I’ve agreed to work on this, so you might want to put our personal antipathy aside.’

  We had retreated to the small back sitting room, away from most household traffic. He sat across from me, his shoulders hunched, but wouldn’t meet my eyes. He said nothing.

  ‘What, can’t you even bear to speak to me?’

  This was hopeless. I stood up.

  ‘I’m sure you can find your own way out.’

  Back in the vestibule, I found Nonna saying goodbye to her friend.

  ‘Carina?’

  I turned to Aemilia Fulvia. I hoped she didn’t hear the anger in my voice. ‘Your man isn’t going to cooperate. He won’t even talk to me. I’m sorry, but I think it’s a lost cause.’

  I bowed to them both and held it together until I reached my apartment. Once in, I leaned against the back of the door and shut my eyes. My fingers wrapped themselves into fists. I could have done this. I wanted to do it. I was so angry with Lurio; I boiled with frustration. Luckily for the integrity of my surroundings, I recalled a passage in Felix’s instruction book, Desire thwarted is the most powerful spur to action. Always consider the consequences of actions taken shortly after the point of conflict. Sublimation is the most desirable.

  I went to the gym.

  After some warm-ups, I chose the arena. Clad in a leather protective tunic, light Kevlar helmet and wielding a traditional short sword, I found twenty minutes with one of the trainers went some way to blunt my anger.

  ‘What happened to you today, Bruna?’ he asked. ‘Somebody slap your face?’

  I grinned back. ‘Yes, stupid bastard so far up his rear end that only his feet show.’

  ‘Ooh! You are in a temper,’ said Mossie behind me. I turned around and saw she was kitted up ready. ‘Want to let some of it out on me?’

  It was a privilege to train with her. A champion, the absolute top of her class, few beat her even now, but her opponents always learned something. We saluted and began circling. After fifteen minutes, I was still on my feet, which was miraculous. Mossie had only nicked me once; the dribble of blood had caked on my arm. Now my temper had gone, I pulled my mind into focus and concentrated on trying to win. A forlorn hope but, maybe, one day.

  As we circled again, I noticed Mossie was favouring her left leg. Had she weakened or injured it? I lunged from the right, straight into her guard area, and my leg struck out, and she went down over it. Within seconds, the point of my sword had homed in on the hollow of her neck. I was astounded, but elated. I had joined the few.

  A burst of applause from the dozen or so who had gathered to watch us surprised me. I withdrew my sword, stepped free of her and stretched my hand down. She took it, but sprang up by herself. She hugged me and whispered in my ear, ‘Bloody clever move, you crafty cow.’

  I laughed and we walked off the sand, arms about each other. We cleaned up and she stood me a drink at the bar.

  ‘How are you, Bruna? You look well, but preoccupied.’

  ‘I’m fine, just a professional disagreement.’

  ‘You know something? If you want to change whatever it is you do, I’ll always give you a job. Seriously.’

  ‘I’m flattered.’

  ‘Don’t be. I’d work you hard for your money.’

  Reliable Mossie; always thinking of the bottom line.

  A message was waiting for me when I returned. Cornelius Lurio presents his apologies for not staying longer and will call on you tomorrow morning.

  What in Hades was that about?

  I dressed next morning in a sleek black business suit, white shirt, chunky gold necklace and earrings – a studied departure from my preferred jeans and tee. I received Lurio in Nonna’s official reception room, a vast cavern decorated with murals, columns and fancy plasterwork. We only used it on formal occasions; its grandeur made you feel like an insignificant ant. As he was announced, I graciously waved him to the gilt antique chair across the low table from mine. I asked the servant to pour the coffee. Then I waited.

  He cleared his throat. ‘I owe you an apology.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I misjudged the situation.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘I didn’t believe what I was told about you.’

  ‘Really?’ I raised one eyebrow.

  ‘Yes, really.’

  ‘In particular?’

  ‘Are you going to sit there being snotty all morning or are we going to work?’

  ‘Not until you’ve told me what changed your mind.’

  He sighed in exasperation. ‘I got a severe dressing-down from Aemilia Fulvia yesterday. That made me all the more determined to expose you as a dabbler who’d pulled a few strings so she could play at saving the world. We don’t have time for little rich-girl amateurs. I got your gym address and saw you in the arena.’ He looked sideways, obviously awkward. ‘You handle yourself well.’

  ‘I am overwhelmed by your praise.’

  ‘You’ve got a damned sharp tongue.’

  We glowered at each other. This was going to be a fun working relationship.

  ‘Come with me,’ I said. ‘We need to get started.’ I took him in the direction of the small back sitting room we’d briefly used yesterday. As my heels clacked along the marble floor, I sensed his eyes watching all my moves. I stopped and turned. ‘If you’re going to stare at my body like that, we’re going to have a problem. Deal with it.’

  He flushed. I smiled to myself, pleased I had caught him unawares.

  Partly driven by curiosity, partly hoping despite yesterday it could still go ahead, when I’d returned from my run that morning I’d spent the following hour drafting and redrafting a possible plan, knowing that it might never be used.

  Of course, Lurio picked holes in it – out of perverseness, I thought at first. But to be fair, he was right about some of his points. When he stopped being so prickly, he was easy to work with and sharp with it. I could see why he was Fulvia’s special assistant. We identified the areas I needed training in, but thankfully they were few, mostly spook stuff.

  We reached a natural break when something occurred to me.

  ‘If this operation is deep-cover then why are you here?’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘What’s the reason for you coming to see me? I haven’t done anything criminal yet and Aemilia Fulvia isn’t here with my grandmother, so you can’t have tagged along with her.’

  He flushed again. Really, it was fascinating watching a tough nut like Lurio doing such a girls’ thing.

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Really?’ I raised my eyebrow.

  ‘Will you stop saying that in such a superior way?’

  A few moments passed in silence.

  ‘The cover story is that I’m seeing you,’ he mumbled.

  ‘What!’ I burst into laughter.

  He looked like thunder. His chin jutted out and deep vertical lines appeared between his brows.

  ‘You can’t be serious.’

  ‘I wouldn’t be the first man in
uniform you’ve boffed.’

  It was like a physical blow to my middle. Was that all it had been with Conrad?

  ‘How dare you!’

  He shrugged. ‘As you say, deal with it.’

  XLIII

  My revised plan was approved. I received my immunity document soon afterward which went straight into Nonna’s safe, with a certified copy in a sealed envelope to her lawyers. Lurio arranged to pick me up in the evening as if taking me out. I’d gotten over our bruising conversation, but I didn’t forgive him. Like all things that hurt, it contained some truth.

  Nonna asked me for the last time if I was sure. Although she said she was fully behind me going undercover on such a dangerous operation, her tense eyes betrayed anxiety now I was at the point.

  ‘Yes, I am. I can do this, I know I can.’ As I raised my hand to stroke her cheek to comfort her, the sore flesh pulled where my ID tracker had been extracted. The gel had sealed the skin, but it didn’t take the sting away. Nor the knowledge that nobody would be able to find me if I disappeared.

  She kissed my cheek and we hugged.

  ‘Be careful, Carina. Come back soon.’

  ‘I promise, Nonna.’

  It rained all the way to the DJ training camp. As the gate barrier closed behind us, the link to everything I knew before broke. Lurio had explained how the training would run: I would become a Department of Justice custos – a cop – with the rank of senior justiciar, equivalent to sergeant, wear the uniform during my training period, and behave like a standard cop, albeit one on secondment. That would cover any major slips.

  I wanted to know why I couldn’t be an officer. In his usual blunt way, Lurio explained it was a privilege and I hadn’t earned it. More practically, the upcoming course was for SJs, so I would blend in if I had that rank. He had taken me through some basic DJ stuff – ranks, saluting, uniform, powers of arrest, dos and don’ts – the week before. I took Cara Bruna as my undercover ID. At least I was used to it from my months at the training boot camp.