After a tough journey through the snow, Ru pulled his motorbike up alongside the Thompsons’ three-storey home in Park Slope. He’d been there once before, for Bronagh’s fortieth birthday drinks when she’d worked at the precinct. And now here he was again, at Bronagh’s insistence when he’d called her about Joe. Fresh snow had begun to whirl around him during his journey, turning the streets into a canvas of untouched white. He cut the engine and dismounted, the crunch of snow under his trainers the only sound in the early evening winter air. He took his helmet off and walked up the stoop which bore the telltale signs of some diligent shovelling, remnants of the day’s efforts clinging to the edges.
Before he could knock, the door swung open, revealing a teenage boy whose eyes immediately fell on the motorbike, a gleam of admiration in his gaze. ‘Cool bike. Was it tough riding in this weather?’
‘Just a bit trickier than usual,’ Ru replied.
‘Mom said you’d be coming. Apparently, we all have to hide in our rooms. Come in,’ he said, opening the door.
Ru stepped in, shaking off the snow that had gathered on the shoulders of his leather jacket as he followed the boy’s lead. The hallway was a warm artery, the wooden floors creaking a welcome beneath his feet, the eyes from the numerous family photos on the walls seeming to follow him. The place pulsed with a warm, kinetic energy, mirroring the Thompsons themselves with their inviting, slightly chaotic charm.
As he removed his gloves and stuffed them into his helmet, he entered the living room. The crackle of the roaring fire was the first thing that greeted him, followed by the sight of Bronagh, and her husband Joe, who offered a tense nod. To his surprise, Vanessa was there, too, her presence causing a momentary pause in Ru’s step.
‘Don’t worry, Bronagh and I will be disappearing to the kitchen,’ she said.
They both left the room, closing the door behind them.
Ru chose a spot near the fireplace, the heat seeping into his bones.
‘Let me begin by confirming I am not AuthenticAegis, as you implied to my wife,’ Joe said. His tone was calm, but Ru could detect the tension behind it. ‘My technical knowledge is limited to what I need for my therapy sessions and the occasional PowerPoint for conferences. As for video editing, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Not to mention the fact – as I just discovered when checking the dates of when these videos were uploaded – I was running a retreat upstate. A place off the grid, which means no Wi-Fi. I have proof. So if upload times are your evidence, I’m off the hook,’ he said with an amiable smile.
‘It wasn’t just the upload times,’ Ru said. ‘Certain shots of the city skyline suggest they could have been recorded from upstairs,’ he said, peering up at the ceiling.
Joe frowned. It was a brief moment but enough for Ru to bookmark. ‘Park Slope is a large area,’ Joe said. ‘I’m sorry this isn’t the breakthrough you hoped for. But, given the nature of the case, and having just spoken to my boss, there is another way I can help. I can talk to you about Cordelia.’
Ru settled deeper into his chair, the leather creaking under his weight as the fire crackled a comfortable soundtrack. ‘I appreciate it, Joe,’ he said. ‘I know there are professional boundaries, but anything you can share within legal limits could be pivotal.’
Joe nodded. ‘There certainly are boundaries. I don’t even share who my clients are with Bronagh, not even when I learned she was involved with Cordelia’s case. It’s why these people come to us, we are discreet.’ He sighed. ‘But on this occasion, my boss has agreed we need some wiggle room. Cordelia was … struggling, significantly,’ Joe conceded with a careful tone. ‘There was an assault, about a year ago. She didn’t give me details, just mentioned it in passing. It was clear, though, that it left its mark.’
Ru thought of the rumours about Maximilian Rossi assaulting girls.
‘Add to that an ongoing battle with an eating disorder and the pressures of an industry that … well, it can be quite unforgiving,’ Joe continued. ‘There was a betrayal, too, a personal one. She found out she’d been cheated on. All of this led to her decision to step away from the digital world for a while – a detox of sorts.’
‘I see. I suppose you won’t be able to tell me this, but any names?’
‘No. She never gave me specific names. She was such a good person, you know? Actually, genuinely, good. Too good for this industry.’ Joe let out a heavy sigh, his eyes momentarily losing focus as if he were seeing Cordelia in the room with them. ‘The industry my clients are involved in, it’s gruelling. It can chew you up, spit you out. Let me reiterate, I am not AuthenticAegis. But I understand, to some extent, the rationale behind such videos. Cordelia being lumped in with those people makes me sad. She was genuine, just a girl pursuing her love of acting.’
Ru had to confess, it was something that continued to puzzle him, too. Cordelia seemed different from the other victims. Less … showy.
‘So not the usual target of AuthenticAegis?’ Ru asked.
He observed that same frown crease Joe’s brow again.
Ru leaned forward. ‘Joe, do you think you know who AuthenticAegis might be?’
Joe quickly shook his head. ‘No idea. So, is this enough, Detective Hoshino? I really can’t add much more unless you apply for a court order.’
Ru thought about it, examining Joe’s face. He seemed to be telling the truth. But Ru, for once, couldn’t be sure. He realised why. He was exhausted, his judgement impaired. It had been a long time since he’d worked at this level. It was taking its toll. In fact, maybe the fact he’d even considered Joe was AuthenticAegis was down to that impaired judgement. He closed his eyes, taking in a low, deep breath.
‘This must be placing a burden on you,’ Joe said softly, ‘such a big case with few leads. It’s important you look after yourself. Having the lead detective crash and burn wouldn’t be good for Cordelia, for these other victims, either. Have you been eating well?’
‘My mother fed me on Saturday night.’
‘That was three nights ago. How about a warm Irish stew?’
Ru hesitated.
‘Come on,’ Joe said, standing up. ‘It’s all ready. It will take you just a few moments to eat, then you can get back to the case. I’ll go get the kids. You go join Bronagh and Vanessa.’
As Joe ascended the stairs, Ru headed into the kitchen, finding Bronagh and Vanessa talking softly by the stove where a large pot simmered.
‘Your husband is insisting I join you for dinner,’ Ru said, breathing in the rich, hearty aromas wafting through the air.
‘Yeah, you really look like you’re being forced,’ Vanessa said with a smile.
‘You are more than welcome,’ Bronagh said. ‘As long as you’re not about to expose my husband as AuthenticAegis?’
‘I was convinced by his technical ineptitude,’ Ru replied.
‘It’s been the bane of my life,’ Bronagh replied. ‘Sit, both of you.’
Ru took a seat at the table with Vanessa as Bronagh plated the stew up, chunks of tender meat and vegetables.
‘Awful about the producer,’ Bronagh said, ‘seems never-ending.’
Ru sighed, raking his fingers through his dark hair. ‘It does.’
‘So you think AuthenticAegis has something to do with it all?’ Vanessa asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Ru admitted. ‘It’s all part of trying to find a connection between these victims. That’s the key,’ he said, jabbing his finger on the table, ‘motive. Why target these particular people?’
Joe returned then, the thunder of footsteps announcing the presence of what looked like Bronagh’s two youngest children.
‘Simeon’s got his nose buried in textbooks,’ Joe explained, taking a seat. ‘He’ll join us if he can pry himself away.’
Talk of the case stopped and the dinner conversation was light. For a brief moment, the case receded into the background, allowing Ru a rare taste of normality in the midst of chaos. He took in the scene as he ate, the warmth and connection so foreign to his own existence. He noticed Vanessa watching, too, two lone wolves in the midst of this den-like experience. He supposed they were kindred spirits, bound by a dedication to the truth, no matter where it led. It was a life of sacrifice, but one they had chosen willingly.
‘Hey, Bronagh,’ Joe said, after they’d finished their plates, ‘help me fetch the dessert from the garage freezer, will you?’
Bronagh’s brows knitted together in a frown, but she rose from the table without protest. ‘Of course,’ she said, a hint of hesitation in her voice. They left the kitchen, leaving a temporary void at the table that was filled by the low murmur of whispering from the hallway, just audible enough to suggest a serious exchange but too quiet to discern any words.
‘What was that all about?’ Vanessa asked.
‘No idea,’ Ru replied, ‘but I have a feeling dessert isn’t the main reason for their departure. I have been making some enquiries about your mother, by the way, but as you can understand, it’s been hectic.’
‘No, it’s fine. Dariel has offered to do some digging so that should take the pressure off.’
‘Agent Valdez?’ Vanessa nodded and Ru noticed her cheeks flush as she did.
‘I was in Cortland, actually,’ she said. ‘Dariel invited me to learn a bit more about illegal insect trading.’
Ru tilted his head, watching her expression. It seemed she had a soft spot for Agent Valdez. Ru had encountered men like that most of his life. Confident, handsome, easily melding into society.
Joe and Bronagh returned then, this time with their eldest son in tow, his head hung low.
Bronagh gave a gentle but firm jab to Simeon’s side. The teenage boy lifted his head, his eyes meeting Ru’s.
‘Detective Hoshino, I wanted to tell you … I’m AuthenticAegis. It’s me.’
Vanessa’s mouth dropped open. Ru didn’t know how to react. He’d had so many surprises the past few days, he no longer had the ability to be shocked.
‘I had a suspicion after what you’d told me, Ru,’ Joe said with a sigh, ‘and he admitted to it.’
‘I didn’t think it’d get so big,’ Simeon said. ‘It was just a sort of experiment to begin with. I swear, I have nothing to do with all these deaths, Detective Hoshino.’ He looked like he was about to cry. Ru noticed Vanessa give Bronagh a sympathetic look.
‘I’m not happy about this,’ Bronagh said. ‘Especially his most recent video about Cordelia’s death, in particular. But Simeon’s a good boy.’
Ru was quiet. ‘I understand,’ he said eventually. ‘I was much the same as a teenager. Still am.’
‘Simeon wants to tell you something else,’ Joe said. ‘About a private message he received via his AuthenticAegis account.’
‘Yes?’ Ru asked, paying close attention.
‘It was on that recent video I did,’ Simeon replied, ‘after news about Cordelia Montgomery’s and Maxmillian Rossi’s deaths came out. Someone emailed from an anonymous account and said the Chislington Post was planning an exposé on Maximilian Rossi being a complete perv … and Cordelia was one of the people he perved on. But then the piece was pulled by the boss, Jerry Bowman.’ His face went red. ‘They also said Jerry Bowman was, you know, having relations with the journalist who was due to publish the article.’
‘Did they give the name of this person?’ Ru asked.
Simeon nodded. ‘Kendra Grey.’
Ru raised an eyebrow. The journalist who’d received the wasp ring.
‘Okay, Simeon,’ Bronagh said, clearly clocking the name too. ‘Go back upstairs, your dad and I will come up for a proper chat later.’
Simeon nodded and walked out.
‘That name,’ Bronagh said when he was out of earshot.
Ru nodded. ‘Yes, she received a gift, too, and your son has confirmed a suspicion I had about Kendra and her boss.’
His phone rang then. It was Lieutenant Haworth. ‘We have another target, and before you panic, he’s alive,’ she quickly said. ‘I’ll send the address, keep it discreet. And bring that bug lady with you. She’s gonna love this one.’