Calculus II

IV. Factoring the Equation

"You three! Wait up!"

Cal, Martinus, and Hypothermia turned around at the voice. A young errand boy was running towards them along the street of the patrician neighborhood, waving a sheet of parchment in the air.

"What is it?" Cal asked. The boy finally caught up to them and doubled over, panting heavily.

"Here." The parchment was thrust into Cal's face, and he slowly took it.

"Well? What does it say?" Hypothermia pressed, leaning in to look over Cal's shoulder.

"Amnesia says she remembered something about the morning before the murder," Cal said, looking up at his two friends. "She wants us to go talk to her."

"I can show you the way to her villa, if you'd like," the errand boy said, finally recovered from his sprint. "She lives across the street from Nebulus and sent me to fetch you when she saw that you were leaving."

"Thanks," Martinus said. "We'd love to visit. Do you know if she's having lunch right now? Perhaps we could join her."

Cal jabbed his friend in the ribs with his elbow. Could Martinus really not stop thinking about food?

"Ow!" Martinus took a step away, rubbing his side. "What? I'm still hungry."

The errand boy began to lead them away, and Cal just rolled his eyes at his friend in exasperation before hurrying to catch up.

As it turned out, Amnesia had already eaten, but Martinus was still able to pick a cluster of grapes from a leftover plate in the triclinium as they were led through her villa by a servant.

They found the patrician waiting for them among the plants in the peristylium, reclining on a chaise that had been set out on the patio.

"Ah! The three little detectives!" Amnesia exclaimed when she caught sight of them. "How goes the investigation?"

"Well, we think we know who the killer is," Martinus said. "But we still need to figure out how and why he did it."

"Oh! How dreadful." Amnesia picked up a small feather fan and gave it a wave. "Well, I might have some information that could help you."

"We'd love to hear it," Hypothermia said. Cal and Martinus nodded in agreement.

"All right then." Amnesia sat up and leaned forward conspiratorially. "Early this morning, I overheard an argument outside of Nebulus's villa."

Cal, Martinus, and Hypothermia all drew closer.

"What was it about?" Hypothermia asked.

Amnesia began to fan herself again, and Martinus looked like he was about to sneeze when one of the smaller feathers from the fan flew off and brushed under his nose. Cal stifled a laugh.

"About how dangerous it was," Amnesia replied.

"Uhh...what was, exactly?" Martinus asked, rubbing his nose against the lingering itch from the feather.

"Well, the astronomer's research," Amnesia explained. "Whoever was arguing with him said he would have to get rid of it."

Cal felt his spirits begin to sink. "You didn't see who it was? Did they say why his research was dangerous?"

Amnesia shook her head. "I think I might have been asleep for that part," she said. "When I said the argument happened early this morning, I mean it happened early. The sun hadn't even risen yet! But those two were being so loud and their shouting finally woke me up from my beauty sleep."