shapechanges.”

“A sorcerer? What makes you suspect a sorcerer?”

“Katayama believes it’s a very high level of power that’s involved.

He doesn’t believe it’s a wizard or a lower-grade adept.”

“And what do you believe?”

“I believe he’s right.”

Fugisawa reached inside his jacket. The two men on either side of

the desk immediately put their hands inside theirs. Fugisawa froze,

then very slowly took out an envelope and held it up. One of the

men came around the desk and took it from him, opened it,

examined the contents briefly, then gave it to Kobayashi.

Kobayashi examined the photographs.

“I thought the reports were exaggerated, ” he said after a

moment. “I see that they were not.”

He handed the photographs back to the man at his side, who

replaced them in the envelope and gave it back to Fugisawa.

“We cannot have this sort of thing, ” Kobayashi said. “It’s bad for

business. What, precisely, do you wish to do about this?”

“I want to stop the son of a bitch.”

“As do I. It would serve both our interests. But are you particular

about how it should be done?”

“No. I’m not.”

“I merely want to make sure we understand each other.”

“I think we do.”

“I can appreciate your attitude, but I doubt the Bureau would.”

‘’The Bureau doesn’t have to know. If Katayama solves the case,

I’m not going to complain, “ said Fugisawa. ”But I’ve got a feeling

about this one. I don’t think an arrest is in the cards. You don’t just

handcuff a necromancer and haul him off to jail. I think Katayama

is out of his depth this time. I just want that sick, murdering

bastard off my streets. “ Fugisawa paused and smiled. ”Our streets.

Permanently. “

“I will want a full exchange of information, ” Kobayashi said.