Digital Fortress Chapter 14

Becker gazed down at the cadaver. Even hours later death, the Asians face radiated with a pinkish glow of a recent sunburn. The stay put of him was a pale yellow-all except the small area of purplish wound directly over his heart.Probably from the CPR, Becker mused. Too bad it didnt work.He went abide to studying the cadavers hands. They were like nonhing Becker had ever seen. Each hand had only if three digits, and they were twisted and askew. The disfigurement, however, was not what Becker was looking at.Well, Ill be. The lieutenant grunted from across the room. Hes Japanese, not Chinese.Becker looked up. The police officer was thumbing through the dead mans flip. Id rather you didnt look at that, Becker requested. middleman nothing. Read nothing.Ensei Tankado born January-Please, Becker said politely. Put it back.The officer stared at the passport a moment longer and then tossed it back on the pile. This guys got a class-3 visa. He could have stayed here for years.Becker poked at the victims hand with a pen. by chance he lived here.Nope. Date of entry was last week.Maybe he was pitiable here, Becker offered curtly.Yeah, maybe. Crummy first week. Sunstroke and a heart attack. Poor bastard.Becker disregard the officer and studied the hand. Youre positive he wasnt have on any jewellery when he died? The officer looked up, startled. Jewelry?Yeah. Take a look at this.The officer crossed the room.The skin on Tankados left hand showed traces of sunburn, all over except a narrow band of flesh around the smallest finger.Becker pointed to the pare of pale flesh. See how this isnt sunburned here? Looks like he was wearing a ring.The officer seemed surprised. A ring? His voice sounded suddenly perplexed. He studied the corpses finger. Then he flushed sheepishly. My God. He chuckled. The story was straight?Becker had a sudden sinking feeling. I beg your pardon?The officer shook his head in disbelief. I would have mentioned it before simply I thought the guy was nuts.Becker was not smiling. What guy?The guy who phoned in the emergency. Some Canadian tourist. Kept talking ab surface a ring. utter in the worst damn Spanish I ever heard.He said Mr. Tankado was wearing a ring?The officer nodded. He pulled out a Ducado cigarette, eyed the no fumar sign, and lit up anyway. Guess I should have said something, but the guy sounded totally loco.Becker frowned. Strathmores words echoed in his ears. I want everything Ensei Tankado had with him. Everything. Leave nothing. Not even a petite scrap of paper.Where is the ring now? Becker asked.The officer took a puff. Long story.Something told Becker this was not good news. Tell me anyway.