swivel chair, flanked by his son, Shiro, and his chief lieutenant,

Takeo Itigawa. There were also two men standing just inside the

door.

“Come in, Lt. Fugisawa, ” said Kobayashi. “Please, sit down.”

He indicated a leather chair placed in front of the desk. Fugisawa

sat down.

“Would you care for a drink?”

“No, thanks. Just had one.”

“You have heard the news?”

“I heard. I don’t have all the details yet. One of your people, I

understand.”

Kobayashi pursed his lips and nodded. “Two of my people, to be

precise.”

Fugisawa frowned. “What, you mean the hooker?”

“No. Not the hooker. There were actually three killings. At least,

I am reasonably certain there were three. The police are not yet

aware of the third. The body has not been found, you see. The man

found in the alley was Fumio Hattori. One of my people, as you

said. He was with Taichi Kawashima, who has disappeared and

who, I presume, is also dead. They were doing a job for me. For you,

I should say. ” He paused. “They were following Kanno.”

Fugisawa suddenly sat up very straight in his chair. “Kanno! Are

you sure?”

“I’m not in the habit of stating facts unless I’m sure of them, ”

said Kobayashi. “Although I quite understand your reaction. He is a

man of impeccable reputation. A brilliant artist, highly regarded in

society, a pupil of the great Yohaku. One of Japan’s most highly

respected adepts. And yet Kanno is your necromancer.”

Fugisawa stared at him with astonishment. This new shock, on

top of all the others.

“You’re absolutely certain? There can be no mistake?”

“Takeo?” said Kobayashi.

“As you asked, we put several people on the sorcerer to watch