Zoe exited the CSA’s office at 290 Broadway an hour later. She wasn’t surprised to discover the building used to belong to the former Internal Revenue Service when the USA had existed. That fact amused her.

“Hello,” Zoe answered a call.

“Zoe, it’s Tommy.”

“Hi Tommy. Need something?” Zoe asked.

“Always. But in this case Nucky and Tony want you to deliver some data to some rivals of ours in Brighton Beach,” Tommy said.

“Not happening,” Zoe immediately replied.

“What do you mean not happening? You don’t refuse a job when you owe us as much as you do,” Tommy said glaring at Zoe.

“Is that a threat?” Zoe asked as she walked towards the parking garage, she had parked her GT4 in.

“Consider it a friendly warning,” Tommy answered. He smiled though it didn’t reach his eyes. Zoe suddenly realized Tommy was more dangerous than she had thought. There was something in his eyes.

“That’s enough Tommy,” another voice cut in. Tommy must have been on a conference call.

“Alright Tony. I was just letting Zoe know how things are,” Tommy said.

“Zoe, why do you refuse to go to Brighton Beach?” Tony asked.

“I picked up some data from Yana’s for… a client yesterday and the Bratva took exception to that,” Zoe replied. “Getting shot was not fun.”

“Right. Jimmy told us a little about that. He didn’t know you had gotten shot though. Are you alright?” Tony said.

“Bruised and sore, but ok,” Zoe replied.

“Good. Would you be willing to go into triad territory instead?” Tony inquired.

Zoe took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Good. Where are you now?”

“The CSA offices on Broadway,” Zoe answered.

“What are you doing…never mind. I want you to meet an associate of ours named Sal at the Basilica of St Patrick’s Old Cathedral. Sal will have some data we want you to deliver to the triads,” Tony said. “It’s time to start truly working off your debt.”

“What’s the data?”

“You don’t need to know. Just do your job,” Tony replied. “We might even throw in a hazard pay bonus.”

“Alright. It’s not like I have a lot of choice since I borrowed the credits,” Zoe said.

“Exactly,” Tony said. “Sal will meet you at the cathedral in half an hour. I’m sending you his picture, so you know who he is. He’ll have your image as well.”

“Ok,” Zoe replied. Tony and Tommy hung up without another word. That irked her. “Assholes.”

*

Zoe looked up and took in St Patrick’s arches and stained-glass windows.

“It’s beautiful. I can’t believe this was built in the early 1800s.”

“There are much older cathedrals in Europe,” a man’s voice said. Zoe jumped. She hadn’t even noticed her angel’s warning that someone was within arm’s reach of her. She checked the image she had been sent. “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine. You’re Sal?”

“That’s me,” Sal replied. “Want to take a tour or get down to business?”

“Business. I’ll come back later to see the sights.”

“Smart girl,” Sal said. “Sending you the package now.”

“Alright,” Zoe said accepting the wireless transmission. It would take more time than a wired connection would. “Why didn’t you guys have me pick this up from one of your businesses?”

“I’m not sure,” the nondescript man replied. “I do as I’m told, just like you do.”

“Ok,” Zoe said holding up her hands. “Just asking.”

“You’re a courier. You’re not expected to know what you’re carrying and even though you are relativity new, you work for an established company,” Sal said. “Don’t start asking what you’re carrying. That isn’t good for you or your clients. Besides, it’s not like anyone except the Russians are dumb enough to attack a courier.”

“I’m not sure about that,” Zoe replied. She explained how she had been robbed and attacked by the Hei Lianhua and triad slicer.

“Ha. That’s interesting. Someone named Wang Chi is who you’re delivering this to,” Sal said as the transfer finished. Zoe terminated the connection. “That’s that. Have fun.”

“No other instructions or anything?” Zoe asked.

“Nope. Enjoy your day,” Sal replied walking away.

“At least it’s only a 15-minute drive,” Zoe muttered to herself as she checked the GPS. She then reached into the small of her back and checked her P750. Zoe breathed a sigh of relief and started walking to her Triple Black.

*

Zoe found a parking spot down the street from her destination. She walked the half block or so and stopped outside a funerial home.

“You have got to be kidding,” Zoe said to herself.

“Kidding about what?” a man standing outside the funerial home asked.

“What are you looking for?” a second asked. Zoe scanned both.

“I have a delivery for Wang Chi,” Zoe said tapping her left temple and sending her credentials to them.

“Right this way,” the first man said. He led Zoe into the building.

*

“Your ICE is much better,” Wang Chi said as Zoe was led into a room that Wang Chi and a few others were in. He grinned at Zoe. His eyes widened and the grin slipped from his face. “What is that?”

“What is what?” Zoe innocently asked.

“You attacked me!”

“I did not. You attacked me,” Zoe countered as the other men and women in the room turned their attention on her. “My angel probably returned your attack though.”

“No angel can do that,” one of the other slicers said.

“If it’s new or customized it could,” another replied.

Zoe smiled.

“It’s customized!” a woman said.

“Want to sell or trade it?” Wang Chi asked.

“Want to return my money?” Zoe asked.

“Nope. As I told you then, I simply took a payment for my bosses,” Wang Chi said. “What’s this delivery you have?”

“Don’t know. Tony said it was some data you guys were expecting.

“Fine. Let’s see what those Italian pricks sent,” Wang Chi replied. He nodded and one of the others handed Zoe a data cable. A couple of minutes later and the transfer was done.

“Do you have anything for me to return to Tony or take somewhere else?” Zoe asked.

“Nope,” Wang Chi answered. “You can go.”

Zoe shrugged and turned to leave. As she got to the door Wang Chi called out to her.

“Let me give you a tip.”

“Ok” Zoe nervously said.

“Stop working for the mafia if you know what’s good for you,” Wang Chi said.

“Couriers work for whoever,” Zoe replied.

“You’ve been warned,” another slicer said. Zoe nodded, smiled, and walked out.

*

“Were you able to penetrate her firewalls?” Wang Chi asked.

“Nope.”

“Too busy trying to deal with that custom angel.”

“I got past the Bulwark, but it wasn’t easy. All the usual exploits have been patched,” a woman answered. “I was too busy fending off her angel’s counter attacks to try the secondary one.”

“Damn. Did anyone get a good scan of the angel or the firewalls?” Wang Chi asked. A chorus of no’s were his answer.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to show your superiority before, Wang Chi,” a new voice said. “If you had been more patient, you could have sliced the courier today.”

“Vanguard, perhaps you are correct,” Wang Chi said. “I will make an effort to curb my…impulses.”

“Good. What did the courier bring us?” the vanguard or operations officer asked.

*

“The street cams show that Zoe is driving away,” Sal said.

“Detonate the atomic,” Nucky instructed.

“With pleasure,” Sal replied sending the command to the virus over the net.

*

The vanguard, Wang Chi, and the other slicers all screamed and grabbed their heads. As blood poured out of every orifice, the network and computer equipment in the room exploded. The building’s fire suppression system activated and then shorted out. Other triad members rushed to the room though it was too late to save the people, data, and equipment, however and the fire the explosion started spread throughout the building.