Claudia Procula hurried along the corridor. She did not want to be late for the morning meal with her father, Fabricius Flavius, and her grand mother, Flavia Octavia. The three of them had started eating the morning meal together because it was usually the only time they could meet as a family and be with one another. Most of her father's day after the morning meal was taken up by affairs of state and business with his freedmen. Her grandmother was usually busy with her friends and making sure she kept a tight hold on the slaves. She also was the Grande Dame of the Flavae Gens and would be arranging marriages between the family and others. As for herself she would be entertaining her friends, going shopping, visiting the theatre, or flirting with the young men who chased her. She sometimes had to sit with her father when he was doing business to learn the "tricks of the trade" as he put it. She was his only heir and he wanted her to be as smart as she could be on the fine art of staying alive and wealthy in Roman society.

As she entered she heard her grandmother telling her father about the events of the last two days. "I don't know what to think of it my son. These were men of the highest order and an asset to Rome. I wonder who would have such a despicable thing done and by whom?" She looked up at Claudia Procula and asked, "Have you heard the latest news? Clodia replied that she had not. " Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, Lucius Serenius Bassus, Lucius Spellatus Saturninus, Publius Aelius Marcianus, Gaius Salvius Eutychus, Paulus Aelianus Publius, Roscius Firmus, and Gaius Varius Hermes were all murdered after leaving a dinner given by that evil person Gallicanus!" Claudia Procula acted shocked at the events but she had her suspicions! While Flavia Octavia was telling the news, Fabricius was silent and concentrating on his morning meal and occasionally shaking his head and making sounds of disapproval at the news.

It had been almost twenty days since Fabricius had given his list of names and paid the Commander of the Germans in the Praetorian Guard, Tuticanus Gallus, AKA Hans Guntram Landoberct, AKA "Big Hans", the up front money he wanted to take care of their mutual problem. Marcus Horatius Pulvillus his centurion had informed him of the murders late last night right after they had taken place. Well, eight pigs are a good start, but there has to be a great deal more in the very near future. He would have to make an off hand comment noting that the eight murdered men were very wealthy and ask just who benefits from such dreadful actions? He would make this comment the next time he talked with his mother. He was sure she and her friends, the "Old Crows", as Fabricius called them would spread the the rumor that the murders were done for financial gain.

He had noticed that his daughter, Claudia Procula, had a strange look on her face when she heard the news. She was looking directly at Fabricius with her dark unblinking eyes and he was sure she suspected he had a hand in these murders. If she did he had taught her very well indeed!