Digital Fortress Chapter 14

Becker gazed down at the cadaver. Even hours after death, the Asians face radiated with a pinkish glow of a recent sunburn. The rest of him was a pale yellow-all except the small theatre of purplish bruising directly over his warmth.Probably from the CPR, Becker mused. Too elusive it didnt work.He went patronise to studying the cadavers elapses. They were analogous nothing Becker had ever seen. for each one hand had only three digits, and they were twisted and askew. The disfigurement, however, was not what Becker was attending at.Well, Ill be. The surrogate grunted from across the room. Hes Japanese, not Chinese.Becker looked up. The policeman was thumbing through the dead mans passport. Id rather you didnt look at that, Becker requested. Touch nothing. Read nothing.Ensei Tankado born January-Please, Becker said politely. Put it back.The policeman stared at the passport a moment longer and then tossed it back on the pile. This bozos got a class-3 visa. He could consider s tayed here for years.Becker poked at the victims hand with a pen. possibly he lived here.Nope. Date of entry was last week.Maybe he was moving here, Becker offered curtly.Yeah, maybe. Crummy first week. Sunstroke and a heart attack. Poor bastard.Becker ignored the officer and studied the hand. Youre positive he wasnt wearying any jewelry when he died? The officer looked up, startled. Jewelry?Yeah. Take a look at this.The officer crossed the room.The skin on Tankados odd hand showed traces of sunburn, everywhere except a narrow band of anatomy around the smallest finger.Becker pointed to the strip of pale flesh. See how this isnt sunburned here? Looks like he was wearing a ring.The officer seemed surprised. A ring? His vocalization sounded suddenly perplexed. He studied the corpses finger. Then he flushed sheepishly. My God. He chuckled. The story was true?Becker had a sudden sinking feeling. I woo your pardon?The officer shook his head in disbelief. I would have mentioned it b efore but I thought the guy was nuts.Becker was not smiling. What guy?The guy who phoned in the emergency. Some Canadian tourist. Kept talking slightly a ring. Babbling 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 alone loco.Becker frowned. Strathmores words echoed in his ears. I want everything Ensei Tankado had with him. Everything. Leave nothing. Not nonetheless a tiny 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.