stared at him with astonishment, then heard a slight sound and

looked up to see Kanno standing in the doorway.

“You!”

He clawed for his gun, but before he could reach it, he felt his

arm grabbed from behind and twisted up and back with violent

force. He cried out with pain and suddenly felt himself being lifted

off his feet and hurled across the room. He struck the wall and fell

down to the floor. Stunned, he looked up and was astonished to see

that the person who had picked him up and thrown him clear across

the room was a beautiful young woman with coppery skin and

flaming red hair. She looked down at him and smiled. Kanno came

in and softly closed the door.

“You knew about me, ” Kanno said. “You had your men watching

the shop. You knew about the apartment, as well. I wonder what

else you know. You’re working for them, aren’t you?”

Shiro stared at them, wide-eyed. “I don’t know what you’re

talking about, ” he said.

“I think you do. And you’re going to tell us everything.”

Shiro pulled out his gun, but before he could fire, the woman

made a languid motion with her hand. The gun was wrenched out

of his grasp and flew across the room. Her eyes began to glow and

suddenly Shiro was lifted off the floor and pressed up against the

wall with incredible force. He gasped for breath, and then he felt

something like icy tendrils wrapping themselves around his brain.

He told them everything before he died.

Sunset at the Nijubashi Bridge.

The guards at the gates did not stop Don Kobayashi as he

entered the grounds of the Imperial Palace with his men. Takeo

walked beside him as they headed down the manicured paths

toward the bridge, several men walking before them, several

behind, all of them armed and alert.

“You’ve heard nothing from Shiro?” said Kobayashi.

“Nothing, ” said Takeo. “There was no answer at his apartment.

No one seems to know where he is.”