Page 24 of Bonded in Death

“You know what it is?”

“Got banned right after the Urbans over here—pretty sure. And mostly because some hotheads, mostly on the other side, used it here and there. Killed themselves as often as not. Bioweapons, supposed to be off the table. But you’ll have hotheads.”

“The head sweeper said the canister they found was dated 2024.”

“Yeah, that was the thick of it. An old canister.” Considering, Feeney picked up the bowl, offered it to Eve.

She just shook her head.

“Might be stockpiles somewhere. Not supposed to be, but not supposed to don’t mean dick. Military hordes. The just-in-case crap. But… They got better, more efficient shit like that. It’s old-school.”

“Rossi was almost eighty, and he did some tech work for the Underground in Europe.”

“Old-school. Might be something to look at.”

“And I will.”

“You do that, and we’ll keep running. If we hit, you’ll be the first.”

Eve left, and thought Feeney knew as well as she did if they hadn’t hit by now, the odds dwindled.

She started to catch a glide when her comm signaled with an order to report to the commander’s office.

Word got around, she thought as she changed direction. And Whitney might sit behind a desk, but he had his ear to the ground.

When she arrived, Whitney’s admin waved her straight into the office.

Whitney didn’t sit behind his desk, but stood at the windows with his sweeping view of the city he served. Broad-shouldered in a slate-gray suit, his hands clasped behind his back, he only nodded when Eve said, “Commander.”

“Part of being a cop is finding yourself a target. Or being taunted. And still, I dislike when one of my cops finds themselves in that position.”

He turned then, his wide, dark face set, his dark eyes hard.

“Phosphine.”

“Yes, sir. Berenski identified the substance. Spooner and her team—”

“I’ve been in contact with both.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What do you know, Lieutenant?”

“The victim was an Italian citizen, married—long-term—four adult children, grandchildren. He retired a few years ago from the securitycompany, Rome-based, where he worked since 2027. He has no criminal record, and hasn’t traveled to New York in over twenty years.

“Prior to his employment, he served as a cyber tech for the Underground in Europe. There’s little to no additional data on that.”

Thoughtfully, Whitney nodded. “Cyber techs were valuable tools, key players in the Urbans. If he was any good, and I assume so, he would have made sure there was little to no data. Even after the wars, some key players were targeted, some assassinated.”

“I believe his killer is a professional. Whether this is his personal mission or he’s working for someone, he’s a pro.”

“The card.”

“Not NYPSD issued, but close. The message might be cryptic, sir, but it’s still clear. Rossi was part of a group, and likely from his time during the Urbans, as the use of this particular gas indicates. Code name seems the most likely.”

“Agreed. Feeney had one.”

“Sir?”

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