Read Online The Emperor's Silver: Agent of Rome 5 by Nick Brown - Free Book Online

Unfortunately, the new coins had already been issued in large numbers; we had no choice but to persist with the double X design.’
    Quentin leafed through another pile of papers.
    Cassius glanced over his shoulder. Indavara was working through the pastries at quite a rate but at least keeping the noise to a minimum.
    Quentin slid a sheet across the desk. It showed five names.
    ‘These are the men with sufficient knowledge who are yet to be accounted for.’
    ‘Any trace of them in this area?’
    ‘Not that we know of.’
    ‘Presumably it’s also possible that an existing mint worker might be helping this gang.’
    ‘Indeed. Which is one of the reasons why I started my investigations right here in Tripolis. As you saw, our labourers work only in a single section; few possess the knowledge or the skills to carry out the process from start to finish – certainly not to a high standard. We must focus on what we call “casters” – senior men who oversee the whole operation.’
    ‘Anything so far?’
    ‘My men are concluding their interviews today. Nothing particularly promising yet. I should add that Arruntius is convinced the fakes are not linked to this facility in any way. And to his credit, he seems to have vetted his staff and maintained security well.’
    ‘How many casters are there here?’
    ‘Eight currently employed, eight who still live in the local area and previously worked here. They wouldn’t of course have had access to the new dies but they possess the necessary skills.’
    ‘I see. Other lines of enquiry?’
    ‘The second reason I based myself here is that – judging by the “sightings” of these fakes so far – the centre of production seems to be somewhere in Syria. The first report appeared several weeks ago – a fake spotted by an observant tax collector in Emesa. Ten days ago, I wrote to the procurators in every town and city in Syria as well as the neighbouring provinces of Arabia, Palestine and Cilicia. I told them what to look for and asked them to conduct an urgent survey of coinage.’
    Quentin tapped another stack of paper. ‘Some of the replies are back; I’m expecting the rest soon.’ He then pointed at the map. ‘I hope to have collated the information within a day or two. That should allow us to narrow the search.’
    Cassius made a few notes with the charcoal. ‘So – our possible ways in: firstly, the casters; secondly, the coin locations. Tell me what this gang would need.’
    ‘A smaller version of what you’ve seen here today.’
    ‘The raw materials – the metals – is there any way of tracing their supply?’
    ‘Possibly, but Syria has dozens of mines producing copper and silver, and both – like bronze – are used in a hundred different industries. This gang could easily lay their hands on enough without arousing suspicion.’
    ‘And the other equipment? With a trained man could they produce it for themselves?’
    ‘The most complicated piece is the die, the rest is comparatively easy.’
    Cassius made a few more notes. ‘Even though it would be a smaller operation, they would need somewhere secure to work. Plus sufficient transport to bring in the metals and take out the finished coins.’
    ‘Somewhere remote perhaps,’ suggested Quentin.
    ‘More likely they’d locate themselves near other workshops or factories – places with smoking chimneys and artisans and carts coming and going.’
    Quentin conceded the point with a shrug. ‘We can start with the industrial areas of Tripolis, I suppose. But you must bear in mind that we cannot be too open about the scale of the counterfeiting. We must try to preserve confidence.’
    ‘Understood.’
    Indavara belched.
    Cassius might have excused him, except that he was occupied by another thought. ‘Typically, what do these gangs do with the coins?’
    ‘It varies. Sometimes they sell them to other criminals – at perhaps a fifth or a quarter of their “real” value. With fakes of this quality they