After standing there for what seemed like an eternity, Quintus pushed past the slave and entered Cicero Gaius’ villa.The house was in a state of utter chaos. The atrium was dark and littered with debris. There were people sleeping wherever they had fallen the night before. He quickly walked toward the back of the house.The body of Cicero Gaius had been placed on a large dining table. It had taken many slaves to hoist it up there. Quintus saw dried blood caked around the clean red line cut into Cicero Gaius’ neck and realized that the big man had been murdered.The dining chairs had been pushed to the wall and Quintus fell into one. He couldn’t take his eyes off the body.Cassia was waiting for Quintus to collect her and present her to her new husband. She was feeling very sick, and she asked the litter bearers to let her down. When they did, she ran to the bushes and vomited violently. Mindful of her dress, she held on to the branches to steady her legs. She was holding onto the branches when she heard her father call her name.
