The Loyal Lieutenants Act Five Scene One Sub Scene Two

 

Act Five

Scene One

Sub-Scene Two 

The discussion.

 

Mark watched the vehicle holding the Treasury agent leave the building. He sat there and looked at the empty space. He had been there before, when he was part of the trio that beat the Visigoth member. It was the earlier days of the Romans. He was with two others, Davis, and Matthew, armed with truncheons and daggers. The Visigoths were unarmed and had their feet bound by the heavy chain. It was an unfair fight, or they would not have named it the Arena of Death.

The Visigoth was a huge guy, with big biceps on the arms. He was nicknamed “Bear, hence the message was to be returned to the Visigoths, where even bears can be killed.

Unaffected by reputation, the Romans have their own rules.

The bear screamed out in pain when the truncheon hit his left knee, but he retaliated with a solid left hook to the attacker in the face. Mark fell to the sidelines, nursing his bruised jaw. Davis was next to grab the opportunity to slam his truncheon on the bear’s right side of the face. The bear looked over at Davis, and it was then that Matthew sneaked in from the left side to slash the left knees. The bruised knee with the new wound caused the bear to reach down to hold the bleeding, and it was the opportunity sought by Mark to do an overhead blow with a jump. He hit the bear on the back of the neck and turned his body to lay a kick on the staggering giant. The bear fell onto his back, and Davis went in with the deadly blow to the throat while Matthew stabbed the dagger into the wounded left knee.

“Arghh…...” The bear chocked on the blow to the throat, and Mark went in for the kill with the truncheon stabbed into the left eye and impacted on the brain behind it.

The bear was in his dead throes then.

“Romans’ win!” It was Crassus who called for the fight, which roared out. He turned to the winning trio and congratulated them. The bear was sent back to the Visigoths with a message to leave the Romans alone, but they took down three Romans as vengeance and sent back their heads.

The war with the Visigoths lasted two months before a truce was called, but the number of dead listed was over a dozen, with double that number injured. Matthew was one; he lost his right eye.

“I fought here once, Enobarbus.” Mark sighed. “It was bloody, but it was not my call. Crassus then made us do it.”

“The arena is a bad sport, but that was how we did things then.” Enobarbus reminded Mark. “We are the viscous ones.”

“We still are. Tell me of the findings of yours.”

“All the clues lead to one gang: Egypt, but I do not know the motive. Moses and Lucas were friends for their own goals and went there together. Who did they meet? I have no clue. There were some words that Moses was killed by Pompey, but they were unfounded.”

“The ice shoe? That was new.” Mark had his thoughts on the cement shoes.

“The ice factories were nearby, but they did not think that the ice would float upwards, or were bloody and inexperienced.” Enobarbus said. “If we are to know more, we need to check on Egypt.”

“Caesar is leaving for Egypt. He should be at the station now. I cannot go without his permission. And you cannot, for you are to investigate Moses’ death.” Mark looked to the area marked by the arena.

“We could send the agent. He is neutral here.” Enobarbus suggested.

“That was why I brought him here. He may be able to find out more in Egypt, but he needed protection. The boys can be there with him.”

“What of his boss?”

“I cleared with the captain. Mr. Ness is on leave pending an investigation into the shootout at the motel. It caused the Romans a hefty payout to the Coppers’ Fund.”

“What of your wife?” Mark asked.

"Jeane is dead, and that is considered done. I had the clean-up crew wipe the room and...”

“The Independence is having some good prints on the killing.” Mark reminded Enobarbus. “You got to cut that story short. Give them something bigger to bite into.”

“Like ‘Best’ and the latest copper case.” Mark added. “The editor, Peter Marker, is an ex-copper, and he will lean on some findings there. Throw the bait that it was... a gang hit. Maybe the Parthians or... Muddles.”

“Boss, you are walking on thin ice here. If they ever knew, we would be in their sights for a shootout." Enobarbus cautioned the boss.

“I know, but I need them after your wife’s death.” Mark looked at the Enobarbus. “Focus on Moses, and then we go to Egypt together. I hear the weather is fine.”