Two days earlier, all the newspapers carried the story about Rothman and Yamamoto, first about their being sick. Then they reported that the pair had died in a tragic accident in the lab. Russell didn’t know what to feel or what to think. First Jerry disappeared, then Gloria was attacked, then Rothman and Yamamoto died. On its own, each of the latter two events was a piece of good fortune, but together, they were surely more than a coincidence. Did Edmund have anything to do with it? Could these events have been what he and Jerry talked about? It seemed impossible to comprehend that Edmund was involved, but Russell couldn’t bring himself to confront his partner.

Russell made coffee and looked for the New York Post. When he saw the newly updated headline on the home page he nearly choked:

COLUMBIA MEDS IN KGB COPYCAT SLAY?

Under Jemima Meads’s byline was an exclusive about Rothman and Yamamoto. Hedged with “allegedly” and “reportedly,” the story said that acting on an anonymous tip, the reporter had contacted members of the New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner who were working on the theory that the exotic radioactive agent polonium-210 was involved in the deaths of the two prominent Columbia University researchers. The find was made by the husband-and-wife team of Drs. Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, who, having been reached by the reporter at their Upper West Side town house, refused to confirm or deny the story, referring the reporter to the OCME’s public relations department.

The discovery was immediately reported to the FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security, and the NYPD Joint Organized Crime Task Force because of its significant implications and similarities to the 2006 murder in London of a defected Russian FBS agent by the Russian FBS, the current incarnation of the Soviet KGB.

Polonium-210, the article said, is a remarkably poisonous compound millions of times more deadly than cyanide if swallowed or respired. It’s also extraordinarily difficult to come by because of its association with triggering nuclear weapons and is thought to be available only in Russia, Pakistan, and North Korea.

At this time it wasn’t known if the deaths were connected to a shooting reported outside the Columbia Medical Center that evening.

Russell dashed to the phone and fumbled to call Edmund. He knew he was waking him as the phone rang for the sixth time.

“Russell, what the hell?” His voice was thick with sleep.

“Edmund, go online, look at the Post. It says the researchers were murdered, with some nuclear poison. Oh my God, Edmund.”

“All right, Russell, calm down. You better get over here.” Edmund hung up. Russell wanted to throw up, but he composed himself, went back upstairs, and got dressed.