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THREE DAYS AFTER THE explosion, the Double 0 precinct had been deemed unsafe, and was scheduled for demolition.

  Iris and Toni were sitting in the last pew at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. A sea of blue uniforms inundated the interior of the renowned church. This was the third funeral that the detectives had attended in two days. Lt. Leroy Stone's family had held his funeral at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Detective Lori Tail's funeral had been conducted at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in St. Albans, Queens. The funerals of Deputy Mayor Frank Patrick and Deputy Police Commissioner Nelson O'Neil, who were both Catholics, were winding down at the famed cathedral. Police officers lined the steps on both sides of the large doors of St. Patrick's' Cathedral as Cardinal Sean O' Mallory led the pallbearers out of the church. Iris and Toni stood off to the side as the coffins were placed inside their respective hearses. Both men had served in Vietnam. Their bodies would be taken to Kennedy International Airport and flown to Virginia, where they would be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

  Iris’ eyes had found her friend and comrade, Detective Leroy Chalk among the crowd. She also noticed Detective Anaya Hayes locked arm and arm with her friend. Iris thought about the shocking incident that took place at Lori Tail's funeral at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Queens. One of the pallbearers twisted his ankle while carrying Lori's coffin down the steps. The coffin smashed into the ground, and the upper part of Detective Lori Tail's body fell out. God, I don't know how he's keeping it together, she thought as she stared at Casper.

  "Iris, Iris," Toni whispered. Iris snapped out of her daydream when Toni placed her hand on Iris’ shoulder. "Are you o.k.?"

  "Yeah, I was just thinking about poor Casper. When did he arrive?"

  "I don't know." Casper was standing as still as a statue; he was saluting his former bosses.

  "Do you think we should go over and say hi?" Toni asked. She stared at the big man who was dressed in black.

  "I think we should give him a little more time," Iris said.

  After the funeral, the Police Commissioner approached Iris. He told her that she would oversee the homicide division at the Double 0 mobile unit until he could find a suitable replacement for Captain Moore and Lt. Stone. He also told her that the Double 0 homicide division would be located in trailer number 3 in the parking area. As he turned to leave, he said, "Oh, and one more thing. The FBI will be working in tandem with homicide at mobile unit 3—"

  "The FBI, sir?"

  "Yes, Detective Williams, the FBI," the Commissioner said. "Do you have a problem with that? This thing might've been done by some crazy local. But we're not taking any chances. Every precinct in upper Manhattan will have a special task force dedicated to solving this thing. And I want your full cooperation. Again, do you have a problem with that?"

  "No, sir, no problems."

  The Police Commissioner walked up to Iris and whispered in her ear. "I know about your infamous temper; don't let that get in the way of this investigation, Detective?"

  Iris looked at the top cop. "Yessir, I mean, no, sir..."

  The Police Commissioner smiled, then he turned and walked away.

  As soon as he did, Iris knotted her brow together and balled her hands into a fist. "I hate the freakin' FBI."

  Chapter 40

  SPECIAL AGENT BOBBY Cannon left his office on the twenty-third floor of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza on Foley Square. He slowly walked toward his 2010 Hyundai that was parked in an underground parking area beneath the building. He opened the door, peeled off his black leather jacket, and tossed it in the back seat. Special Agent Bobby Cannon removed a notepad from his back pocket. He flipped through a couple of pages before he came to the page he wanted: Double 0 precinct—see Detective Iris Williams—mobile unit 3. Agent Cannon then removed his smart phone from his shirt pocket and touched the keypad. The image of Detective Iris Williams appeared on the small screen.

  For the third time today, Special Agent Cannon read Detective Iris Williams' profile: "Iris T. Williams, born 6/18/83, graduated from the police academy in January of 01. Iris, that’s a funny name for a black girl... Excellent marksmen...she can shoot, huh." Agent Cannon paused for a moment to remove his right shoe. His aching bunion needed breathing room. "She became the youngest detective in the history of the N.Y.P.D. Hmm. Her arrest and conviction rate are the highest in the city by far." Agent Cannon rubbed his chin. "They turned her into a fuckin' goddess after she killed..." Special Cannon paused again to retrieve his glasses from the glove department. He put them on and continued. "...Jannifer McHill and captured her twin sister, Stacey McHill. The twins went on a killing spree, murdering fourteen people including her partner, Andrew Taylor."

  Special Cannon continued to read Detective Iris Williams' personal file aloud. "Her father was killed by her mother. And, oh, Lookie here, Miss super cop's niece was indicted for the murder of her boyfriend. Interesting." Agent Cannon popped open his glove department again, and this time he removed a black flask and untwisted the cap. He looked around before he took a swig. "Never married, and no kids...rare for a black girl. Oh, and she has an anger problem. Not rare for a black girl." He smiled at his words. Agent Cannon looked at his watch; it was 5:45 am. Then he looked at the car clock, it read 12:34am. "Fuckin' piece of shit car." Special Agent Bobby Cannon had a little time to kill. He depressed the driver's seat, leaned back, and began to rub his aching bunion. He took a sip from his flask again, then muttered, "I'll get that fuckin' terrorist..." he took another sip. "...that fuckin' Stacey McHill."

  Chapter 41

  IRIS LEANED AGAINST her truck and stared at a large wrecking ball that was set up next to the bombed out Double 0 precinct. A demolition crew was ready to tear the old structure down. She watched as the foreman waved a green flag and the giant ball began its assault on the building that she'd called home for over twelve years.

  Detective Iris Williams let her tears overflow the ducts in her eyes. She wept for all the good people that died in that terrible explosion. A minute later, Detective Annette Toni walked up and placed her arm around Iris. She too stared at the demolition crew, and she also wept for her fallen comrades.

  A black 2010 Hyundai rolled into the large parking area of the Double 0. A tall man exited the car. He headed toward the NYPD trailer-like mobile units. The man climbed the short steps to mobile unit #3.

  A brisk wind blew, and Iris zipped up her jacket. "Do you think that was the FBI agent?" she asked Toni.

  "It probably was. Come on, baby, let's go inside." Iris took another look at the wrecking ball as it smashed into the face of the Double 0 precinct.

  As Iris and Toni approached command unit three, Detective Anaya Hayes, followed by Detective Leroy Chalk, exited the mobile unit.

  "Hi, Casper," Iris called out. "How're you doin'?"

  Iris stared at her friend as he adjusted his Ray Bans. Casper dressed in his usual attire: black on black on black.

  “I'm fine." Iris could feel the distance between herself and Casper. They hadn't spoken since the explosion of the Double 0. Iris worried about her old friend.

  “Hi, ladies," Detective Anaya Hayes said. She looked over at the Double 0. "It's a Goddamn shame. Damn terrorists."

  "What's up?" Iris asked.

  "We've got a floater over in the Hudson." Hayes turned and patted Casper on the chest. At least she's warming up to him. Casper's gonna need some real compassion right about now. Iris thought. Casper patted his pockets.

  "Damn, I left my phone inside...I'll be right back, Anny."

  Hayes stared at Casper as he re-entered the command unit. Then she turned to Iris. "He's going to be all right, Iris. I'll take care of him."

  "That's good, Hayes. Casper's going to need a good friend—"

  Casper exited the command unit. "I got it. You ready?"

  "We'll see you guys later," Hayes said as she and Casper headed towards his ride.

  “She's really warming up to him, don't you think?" Toni sai
d.

  "It's about time," Iris replied. Iris and Toni were climbing the steps to the mobile unit when Casper shouted Iris’ name.

  "I wanna talk to you for a sec. " Casper walked Iris a few feet away from the mobile unit.

  "What's up, dude?"

  Casper removed his Ray Bans. "Let me ask you something. I...do..." Casper sucked his teeth after he'd stammered.

  "What's wrong, Casper?"

  Casper took a deep breath. "Do you think Lori would be upset if I started having feelings for another woman?"

  "What other woman?" She gazed into his eyes. "Hayes?"

  "Shhh," Casper grabbed Iris by the arm and walked a little further away from the mobile unit. He looked over at Detective Hayes who was sitting inside his Range Rover. "Yeah, Hayes."

  Iris didn't know what to say. "Well... I—"

  "What, you think that it's too soon?"

  "No, I don't think that... I believe that Lori would want you to be happy."

  "Thanks." Casper leaned over and kissed Iris on the forehead. And for the first time since his wife's death, Detective Leroy Chalk smiled. "Oh, one more thing. The FBI's inside. The man's a pussy cat."

  "What was that all about?" Toni asked as she held the door open.

  “Casper's in love, again."

  The moment the detectives entered the command unit, the tall man jumped to his feet and shouted, "You're fuckin' late!"

  Inside the mobile command unit, there were four cubicles on either side of a narrow pathway. Two detectives would occupy a single cubicle, the setup was similar to that of the old squad room at the former Double 0. There were three detectives inside the mobile.

  Chapter 42

  IRIS, WHO WAS STANDING in front of the first cubicle, looked at Toni, then she stared at the tall man. "And who the hell are you?"

  "I'm Special Agent Bobby Cannon, FBI." Agent Cannon whipped out his identification and shoved it into Iris’ face. She had to take a step back so that she could get a good look at it. Agent Cannon closed the wallet and pushed it back into his pocket like it was a six shooter. "I was called in to help—" The special agent stopped in mid-sentence and rephrased his statement. "I was called in by the Mayor to solve this thing.”

  Iris glared at the special agent. She did not like the austerity that oozed from the man. An eagerness shined in his piercing, gray eyes. Iris estimated that the agent stood about six-four and weighed about two hundred and twenty pounds. His brown hair needed a brush, and he sported a five o'clock shadow. Iris could tell that Special Agent Cannon worked out, probably to release stress, she thought. An authoritarian instantly came to mind as she considered the man's face which seemed to have a perpetual frown glued to it. "You’ve gotta be Detective Iris T. Williams." He turned to Toni. "And you are Detective Annette Toni. I read somewhere that you want to become part of the bureau." Agent Cannon cracked a smile. That must've hurt, Iris thought.

  "I was under the impression—"

  "I was called in to apprehend the UNSUB, plain and simple, and you and your partner are to follow my instructions to the letter, you got that," he said, cutting Iris off. Agent Cannon was standing in front of Iris. She looked up at the tall man as he wagged his finger in her face.

  "First off," she growled as she balled her hands into a tight fist. "Get. Your. Fuckin'. Finger. Outta my face!"

  Agent Cannon stared at Iris. Toni slid next to partner and placed her hand on Iris’ shoulder. "Breathe,” she whispered in Iris’ ear. "Agent Cannon, I think it would be best for you to take a walk for a minute or so."

  "Take a walk!"

  "Yes, and do it now, please." Iris was trembling with anger, a sure sign that she was ready to strike.

  Agent Cannon looked at trembling detective; he laughed. Iris and the agent stared at one another like two prizefighters at the beginning of a bout. Iris started chewing on the inside of her bottom lip, another sign that she was ready for action. "Please, Agent Cannon," Toni continued. “Go now!"

  "This is bullshit," he said as he grabbed his jacket. He looked at Iris again before he stepped out of the command unit.

  Agent Cannon marched toward his car. The stand-off with Detective Williams had the FBI agent pumped up. She's a tough little bitch, he thought as he sat in the driver's seat. Agent Cannon shut the door to his Hyundai and looked around. He took a deep breath, exhaled, then he ran his fingers through his hair. He popped open the glove compartment and removed his flask.

  Adam Black, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Agent Cannon's oldest and dearest friend, had placed Cannon back in the field after seven years. The last time Agent Cannon worked a case it blew up in his face, literally. The bureau had obtained information that a terrorist group was planning to blow up the Deer Park Tunnel in Phoenix, Arizona. Agent Cannon, who was a rising star within the bureau at the time, was the led agent on the case. Seven trailers that were packed with explosives had been seized at the eastbound lane of the tunnel, but the superstar agent had missed the three SUV's—on the westbound lane—that were also packed with explosives and the deadly nerve gas, Sarin. One hundred and ten people lost their lives that day. Agent Cannon shook his head at the unpleasant memory and took a quick shot from his flask.

  Back inside the mobile command unit, Toni was still trying to calm her partner down. "It's only this one case, Iris, afterward he'll be out of your hair."

  "You don't find this man abrasive?"

  "I've met his type before. He doesn't bother me in the least."

  At that moment, Agent Cannon re-entered the mobile unit. "Okay, I want you two to show me what you've got."

  "What?" Iris shouted. She tried to stand, but Toni pushed her back into her seat.

  "You heard me. Show me what you have so far on our UNSUB."

  Iris was getting hot again. She shifted the lower half of her body around in the chair as she glowered at the agent.

  Toni said nothing.

  "That's just what I thought... you have nothin'."

  "Whoa," Toni said as she stood up. "For the past three days, we've been attending the funerals of our fallen comrades. So, we've haven't gotten around—"

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Agent Cannon muttered, cutting Toni off. "Let me show you de-tect-ives what I've been doing while you were at your funerals." Special Agent Cannon walked over to a desk that was situated in the back of the mobile unit and sat down. Iris noticed the scuff marks on the man's black, unpolished Giorgio Brut Oxford shoes. Iris also noticed the faint odor of alcohol and peppermint.

  Chapter 43

  AGENT CANNON SAT DOWN and opened his laptop. "This was taken from Manny's Hardware over on 9th Avenue and 56 Street." Agent Cannon reached over the right armrest and raised the chair a few inches. "...The man is purchasing plastic tubing. Notice his uniform." Iris moved in for a closer look, and when she did the smell of alcohol was prevalent. The bastard is an alcoholic.

  The man on the screen was wearing a blue worker's uniform and a blue cap. "He looks like a Latino," Toni said.

  "That's it detectives," Agent Cannon stretched word in a mocking tone of voice. "Gather around... Are you watching, kiddies?" Cannon asked. Iris glared at the side of Agent Cannon's head. It took all her mental powers to keep from slapping him in the back of his head. Prick. She looked over at Toni. Toni mouthed to her partner to take it easy.

  Another camera caught the man leaving the hardware store. The camera that was posted on the outside of the establishment showed the man hopping into a 2011 Ford pickup. "That pickup was stolen from a man in the Bronx." Agent Cannon turned his head in Iris’ direction; he looked up at her, and his face was unreadable. "The owner of this vehicle was found stabbed to death in Van Cortlandt Park. He worked for the Transit Authority." Another image of the Latino man appeared on Cannon's laptop. He entered the Double 0 precinct carrying two tanks under his arm.

  "What are those?" Toni asked.

  "R-22 Freon tanks," Agent Cannon answered. "Our man, here, also stole some blasting caps from the construc
tion site. He walked right onto the site, opened the doors to a 4x4, removed the caps, and fuckin' walked away. It was only at the end of the day that those idiots realized that the caps were missing. Half of them were probably impaired by alcohol."

  Iris stared at the back of Cannon's head and said, "Yeah, you would know, wouldn't you, Special Agent Cannon."

  Cannon shot her a look. "Keep watching, smart ass." Cannon tapped a key and the images sped forward.

  Iris watched the screen as the Latino man came in and out of the Double 0. Then she saw herself on the screen. She was standing next to Toni, Casper, and Lori Tail. Iris’ heart ached when she saw Lori’s face because she knew what was going to happen next. Iris’ blood pressure increased when she watched Lori enter the Double 0. She had the urge to shout out, don’t go in there, Lori. The Latino man bumped into Iris as he made his way out of the precinct. Iris lowered her head just before the camera went black. Agent Cannon hit pause. "He bumped right into you, detective. The bombs were planted right under your noses!" he shouted. Iris took a step back. Agent Cannon faced the detective; his eyes were hard, steely.

  "Dammit!" Iris shouted.

  "That's right, girly, let it out," Cannon said. "You had him, but you dropped the ball." Agent Cannon spun his chair around so that he could face Toni. "You fuckin' blew it." Iris began to pace. Cannon watched her. "Do you know what the Deputy Mayor and some of the people in the basement died from, detective?” he said in that condescending tone again.

  "Wasn't it from the blast?" Toni asked.

  Agent Cannon looked at Toni. "No. Suffocation. Our UNSUB placed two Freon tanks into the air ducts in the men's room on the first floor and in the basement; he opened the valves and placed a lit Mag-Torch several feet away from the tanks. When the heat from the Mag-Torch met the gas from the Freon tanks, the mixture produced a deadly gas called Phosgene." Agent Cannon stared at Toni. " You two got out just in a nick of time, Cookie?"

  "My name is Detective Toni. I am not a cookie—"