Page 33 of Bonded in Death

“You are kind. You offered to arrange my travel. Your doctor was kind. This girl who gives me tea is kind. So much kindness. So much wickedness.”

She took another sip, and once again squared her shoulders.

“Ask your questions. What we can answer, we will. Then you will find this killer, this wicked devil of a man, and I will look him in the eye. I will look him in the eye and spit in it.”

She nudged the tea aside.

“Ask your questions.”

Chapter Five

“Your husband retired a few years ago.”

“Yes. He enjoyed his retirement. Gardening became more passion than hobby. He had more time for the grandchildren. And to, ah…”

She turned to her son, asked something in Italian.

“Putter around,” he said.

“Yes, yes.” Her lips curved into a trembling smile. “Under my feet!”

“He worked for the security company for a long time. What did he do there?”

“Oh, he made secure the electronics, the Internet. He would find and stop those who used it to cheat or, ah, exploit. He would go sometimes to fix problems or, ah… Antonio, my English.”

“Is excellent,” Peabody said.

“She means to say he would build systems, electronic security systems, and as part of his duties, search out hackers, those who attempt—and often succeed—in conning the unwary out of money. Or attempt to harm.”

“As part of a team.”

“He liked best to be in a team,” his widow said.

“He was part of a team, in the Underground, during the Urban Wars?”

“Yes. He was very dedicated.”

“And the names of his team members?”

“I can’t answer. He never spoke of them, not by name.”

“You never met any of them?”

“I did not. Even before he lost his brother, he sent me—we had Antonio and Katrina, and he sent us to where my sister and her husband had a little farm. In the country, you see. To safety. He wouldn’t come with us, though I was weak enough to beg him to come with us.

“He only came when he could, a day or two, a few days at most. Long enough,” she said with a smile, “that we began our third child, and then our fourth. But he would never, never speak of what he did. Not then, not after. But…”

“Anything, Ms. Rossi.”

“I know something happened. After Paolo was born, our youngest. He was different, his voice when we spoke. And I could see it when he came to see us. Something dark inside him, a pain inside him. But he wouldn’t speak of it, and I left it alone. He needed me to, so I left it alone.”

“Do you remember when this was?”

“Ah… After Paolo. He is the twelfth of January, 2026. Gio was with me for the birth and for another week. Then he came back in… May, I think. Yes, he came in May.”

“May of 2026?”

“Yes. This helps?”

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