Rossi pauses, coffee cup halfway to his lips. "Two males? You're certain of that?"
"The biology team confirmed it from tissue samples we recovered."
He sets his cup down carefully. "In thirty-two years with GUIDE, I've never seen or heard of male chimeras hunting together. Ever." His eyes hold mine, conveying the significance.
My pulse quickens. "Why do you think that is?"
"Chimeras are apex predators that aggressively defend their hunting grounds." He leans forward slightly. "Males especially will fight to the death rather than share territory. Even in captivity, we couldn't house them together."
I pull up the crime scene photos on my tablet and slide it across to him. "Yet we have two working in perfect coordination."
Rossi studies the images, his expression growing increasingly troubled. "This isn't natural behavior. The synchronized attack patterns, the cooperation, the precision..." He looks up. "These aren’t hunts. These are executions."
If Rossi's right, and someone is controlling them... it changes everything about this case. I force my breathing to remain steady, aware of Sherlock's scrutiny from behind the glass.
"All the victims were retired GUIDE agents."
"Yes." He glances briefly at the mirror. "And that's the most troubling part. Chimeras hunt by instinct—they take prey of opportunity. They don't select specific human targets based on employment history. And in all my years, we documented very little human interaction with them."
"What are you suggesting, Mr. Rossi?"
"I'm suggesting that the carnage you witnessed across Italy defies everything we know about chimera behavior. Something—or someone—is overriding their natural instincts."
"Controlling them?" I keep my tone professional and calm, even though it’s the opposite of how I feel.
"It's the only explanation that fits the evidence." He taps the photos. "These aren't random kills."
I think of my father, his throat torn open with those distinctive double puncture wounds. Not a GUIDE agent, just a civilian—a forest ranger walking to his truck one evening. Wrong place wrong time? Or was the chimera that killed him being controlled too?
"That would require significant magickal ability," I point out. "And intimate knowledge of chimeras."
"Yes." His gaze is steady now. "And they're using that knowledge to eliminate specific people."
"People who’ve worked with chimeras?"
"Yes, all the victim names you’ve shared with me are those who worked with chimera containment and disposal.”
"One last question, Mr. Rossi." I keep my tone conversational. "Why did you ask to speak specifically with me? We've never met before my mission in Rome."
A small smile crosses his face. "Your reputation precedes you, Agent Mathieson. Perfect record. Highest containment success rate in your agency class." He pauses, studying me. "And you have a personal stake in this. I can see it in your eyes—the same look I had for twenty years."
There's no judgment in his weathered face. For a moment, I feel seen in a way that's both comforting and terrifying. Rossi understands what drives me, what keeps me hunting these creatures long after others would have quit.
I take a measured sip of my coffee and try not to choke. Hayes knows about why I joined GUIDE, but I don't think it's widely known.
“We all have our reasons for hunting monsters, Agent Mathieson." His voice softens. "Mine was losing my partner to one."
"Just doing my job, Mr. Rossi,” I answer vaguely, well-aware of Sherlock’s curiosity on the other side of the glass.
He nods, not believing me but respecting the boundary. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small notebook. "I brought something that might help your investigation. Field notes that never made it into the official reports. Patterns I noticed over the years."
He slides the notebook across the table. "I hope this helps, Agent Mathieson." He stands. "The chimeras are evolving. Or being evolved. Either way, what you're hunting isn't just a pair of monsters."
We shake hands formally. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Rossi."
"My pleasure." His eyes hold a warning as he adds, "I hope you find what you're looking for, Agent Mathieson. Before it finds you."
I watch him leave, my mind racing. Two chimeras working together, controlled by someone powerful enough to override their nature.
