Page 175 of Bonded in Death

“Sure. One will be provided for you, as you’re broke. Did I mention we found and froze all your accounts? You got nothing, you are nothing.”

“I won’t go. I can’t be forced into an off-planet prison.”

“I’d say wanna bet, but you’ve got nothing to put up. They beat you.”

She went to the door. Signaled to the uniforms outside. “He’s feeling frisky.”

“We got him, LT.”

Since she’d chosen two of the burliest, she didn’t doubt it.

She turned to the glass, signaled. Then took a breath as they unshackled a struggling Potter. “Interview end.” Then grinned. “Nice job. Girls. You don’t want to miss this part.”

She walked out behind Potter, then stood as The Twelve filed out of Observation.

He tried to lunge when he saw them, when they stood joined together.

Wild red color stained his face as he struggled against the two uniforms. “I’ll kill you all! And your families. Your children. Their children. Dead. All dead. I swear it!”

Harry stepped forward. “We decided I should speak for all of us, just to add to what the lieutenant said, and it was bloody eloquent.”

He held up his middle finger.

“Now we’ll never speak again.”

“Secure him,” Eve ordered.

“I’ll come back for you,” he shouted at Eve as they dragged him away. “I’ll listen to you scream as I cut out your heart.”

“What was that you said in there before, Peabody? Oh yeah. Shiver.”

“He’ll live the rest of his life,” Mira said, “plotting, planning, and burning inside. He’ll never get through the rage, and it will eat at him, every day.”

“Good to know. Really good to know.”

“The world’s a better place without him on it. I’ll complete my report.”

“Thank you, Dr. Mira.”

“And I’ll let the people who need to know that it’s done. And tied in a big, shiny bow. Some days, work is just a joy,” Reo added.

“You got that right.” Eve turned to Peabody. “Bad Peabody.”

“It was invigorating! I wasn’t really going to punch him though, except in my mind.”

“I know. Bad Peabody did good. Contact the McReedys, let them know he’s going away, and where. Then go home, get some sleep.”

“I’ll write it up.”

“No, I’ll write it up. Go sleep. That’s an order. Don’t make me punch you.”

She walked over to where Roarke, Whitney, and Tibble waited with The Twelve.

“Chief Tibble, Commander Whitney, thank you for your help in arranging the transfer to off-planet.”

“Politics can sometimes come in handy,” Tibble said. “In this case, it wasn’t a hard sell. He escaped British authorities and subsequently murdered an Italian citizen, attempted to kill British citizens, a New York police lieutenant, and abducted a minor child.

“He’s going exactly where he needs to go. Agreement all around. Excellent work, Lieutenant. To all.”

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