drugs or drink or gamble. He is unmarried, yet he has no personal

involvements that anyone knows of. If he has a sex life, he is

admirably discreet about it. To the best of my knowledge, his art is

his life and he lives like some sort of contemplative, albeit very

comfortably. His work is in extremely great demand among the

cognoscente. In all ways, he is a man who would seem to be above

reproach. Why do you ask?”

“He seems to be advising the Bureau on the case.”

“Ah. Well, nothing could be simpler. He was a pupil of the great

Yohaku himself. When the Bureau approached him, the master

obviously asked Kanno to render his assistance. Yohaku is a very

old man, after all.”

“So what you’re saying is that there is no reason, that you know

of, to suspect him?”

Kobayashi raised his eyebrows. “Of what? You don’t mean the

killings, surely?”

“I don’t know. Of anything.”

Kobayashi smiled. “You’re not a very trusting man, Fugisawa.

You’re looking a gift horse in the mouth.”

“The Trojans didn’t and look where it got them, ” said Fugisawa.

Kobayashi shook his head and chuckled. “I like you, Fugisawa. If

the police department should ever fail to appreciate your talents,

you can always come to work for me.”

“I appreciate the spirit, if not the substance, of the offer.”

Kobayashi chuckled again. “That was as graceful an insult as I’ve

ever heard. Well, so has Kanno managed to come up with

anything?”

“He says the killer is a dragon.”

“A dragon!”

“He found a small scale on one of the victims’ clothing. I don’t

know how the hell forensics missed it. I would’ve raked them over

the coals for it, but Katayama apparently just let it slide.”

“I gather you don’t approve of the way he’s conducting the

investigation.”