Page 16 of Bonded in Death

“Ms. Rossi, is anyone with you?”

“No, no, no. Gio is in New York. He goes very quickly.”

“Can you tell me why he came to New York?”

“He said he must, but couldn’t say. Not until he saw his friend.”

“What friend?”

“He couldn’t say.” She covered her face with her hands. “Only that he must go. He’d taken an oath, and must go. He asked me to trust him, and I do, of course.”

“Do you know where he planned to stay?”

“With his friend. And he would tell me all he could tell me when hecould. He’s a good man. A good husband and father. A grandfather. It would only be a few days, and he was happy to see his friend, but worried. I know when my husband has worry.

“Where is my husband?”

“He’s with our chief medical examiner.”

“Oh, no, but—”

“Dr. Morris is the very best. And he’s very kind. I can promise you your husband is in good hands, caring hands.”

“They are not my hands. I must come there. I must come to New York and to Gio.”

“I can make arrangements for your travel, for a hotel.”

“No.” She snapped it, then sighed. “You will excuse me, this is kind of you to offer. I know how to do such things.”

“If you contact me when you arrive, I can arrange for you to see your husband.”

“Yes. I must see Gio. I must tell our children. Oh, how do I tell them? Tell our grandbabies?”

“I can—”

“No. This is not for you. This is my duty. I will do my duty. You are a policewoman?”

“Yes. Lieutenant Eve Dallas.”

“You will find out why my husband is dead in New York City?”

“Your husband is my duty, Ms. Rossi. I’ll do my duty.”

It was the best she could offer, Eve thought, and after the call pressed her fingers to her eyes.

Then rising, she started her duty by putting Giovanni Rossi’s crime scene shots on her board.

When Peabody came in, she looked up from her desk and the murder book.

“McNab wasn’t in yet—arrived there before I left. But they got the ’link and tablet open. We went through. No hotel confirmation.”

“He didn’t book one. He told his wife he was going to stay with the friend he came to New York to see.”

“Who? We didn’t find any communications with New York.”

“She doesn’t know. He said he couldn’t tell her, that he would when he could. That he had to go. He’d taken an oath.”

“Well, shit.” Peabody glanced at Eve’s ass-biting visitor’s chair. Opted to stand. “I guess she doesn’t know what oath.”

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