Page 174 of Bonded in Death

“Everything is a weapon.”

“Okay, we got it all, on record.”

“Which is worth the price of piss. I’d like to go back now. I’d enjoy a nap before my travels.”

“I guess we did disturb your sleep. Mira?”

“Mr. Potter is legally sane. He is an intelligent, organized psychopath who fully intends to complete his kill list by any means necessary. The loss of human life means nothing to him, only a means to his statedgoals. The mission, his mission, is sacrosanct. If he is able to escape prison—”

“When,” Potter corrected.

“He will continue his war, endangering any in his path, until he kills those who remain of The Twelve. He will also attempt to kill the four of us in this room for standing against him.”

“You’ll never see it coming. Enjoy living in fear.”

“You’re right, Peabody,” Eve commented, “tiny balls, complete prick. Reo? Your end?”

“Yes, I have some paperwork here.”

“Extradition. Boo-hoo.”

Without sparing a glance toward Potter, Reo held out the papers to Eve.

“That’s your deal,” Eve told her.

“I insist. Do what Roarke suggested.”

“Passing the buck, you Yanks say.” Another sneer. “Typical.”

Eve scanned the papers, then laid them on the table.

“Conrad Potter, you have confessed, on record and of your own volition, to the premeditated murder of Giovanni Rossi, to the attempted murder of Marjorie Wright, Iris Arden, and Ivanna Liski, to the possession of illegal weapons, of banned toxic gas, of explosives. You have further confessed to the firing of an illegal weapon upon a police officer and civilians, to the drugging, abduction, imprisonment, and assault against the minor child Devin McReedy.

“You have stated the intention to commit murder if circumstances allow you freedom to do so.

“For these crimes and intentions, you will not be tried in the state of New York, or serve any sentence here. You will be extradited—”

“You lose.”

“You will be extradited, you festering, puss-seeping boil on the ass of humanity—”

“Sticks and stones.”

“From the city of New York directly to the off-planet, maximum-security prison of Omega.”

“You lying bitch!” He tried to stand, but the shackles kept him in a hunch.

“Where you’ll spend the rest of your miserable, shit stain of a life, with no possibility of parole—”

“I’ll kill you first! Every fucking one of you!”

“In a concrete cage. This relocation is authorized and agreed upon, due to your crimes committed in New York City, by the British government and the goddamn United States of America.

“You’ll never step foot on planet Earth again, you pathetic fuck. You’ll never complete your mission, you flaming pile of puke. You’ll die on a rock in space, and you’ll always know women brought you down. Starting with Alice Dormer. You couldn’t take her life, but she gave it to save others. You’ll never understand that kind of courage or loyalty or sacrifice.

“Now I’ll speak for Alice and the rest of The Twelve. You’re done.”

“I want a lawyer.”

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