Sign of the Dragon (Tatsu Yamada Book 1) by Niall Teasdale (e reader TXT) 📕

going to have to leave you three for a while. I have a crime scene to work.’

Yamauchi brightened. ‘A crime scene? We could–’

‘No, you can’t.’

The reporter put on her best interview smile. ‘Let’s talk about this…’

~~~

Tatsu was staring at Yamauchi while she spoke to Commissioner Yamashita. The stare was making the reporter uncomfortable, which was exactly what Tatsu wanted. ‘I’m afraid I’m going to need you to send that order in an authenticated message, Commissioner,’ Tatsu said, aloud so that Yamauchi could hear it.

‘I’m giving you an order, Sergeant,’ Yamashita said. Of course, Yamauchi could not hear that. ‘You don’t need–’

‘You’re ordering me to disregard regulations on the treatment of an active crime scene, Commissioner. I will be putting a complaint in about that, assuming that no one decides to haul me in front of an enquiry board for allowing reporters to contaminate the scene. Either way, I want it recorded in writing that I was following your direct order to allow one specific channel access. All the others are being held back.’

Yamauchi’s face fell. Maybe she had not expected Tatsu to threaten her superior. If that was the case, it was apparent that the reporter had not been paying a lot of attention.

‘Are you accusing me of–’ the commissioner began.

‘Nothing. I am reminding you of the regulations we are required to follow. I am also concerned about the preferential treatment being given to TNM at this time affecting public perception of the department’s impartiality.’

Yamashita frowned and sighed and said, ‘You’ve made your point. Brief Miss Yamauchi on as much as you can once your investigation is complete.’

‘As you wish, sir.’ Tatsu cut the connection and addressed Yamauchi. ‘I’ll tell you what I can once I’ve seen what’s in there. The commissioner actually said “once your investigation is complete,” but I’m going to be nice and not take his wording exactly.’

‘Because you think this is related to the other murders,’ Yamauchi said, ‘and you’re not expecting to crack the case in the next few hours.’

‘Right.’

‘Can you tell me who’s dead?’

‘No, because I haven’t been told. More than one person.’ Tatsu turned and started for the main doors of an apartment block not unlike her own. This one had two uniformed officers standing outside it, however. ‘You should join the rest of the media outside the exclusion area.’

‘We will. Um, good luck.’

‘Thanks.’ Under her breath, Tatsu added, ‘We’ll probably need it.’

~~~

Nakano was on the top floor when Tatsu found him. He was standing over a body which had been slashed across the abdomen and throat and stabbed through the heart. The abdomen cut had probably been first; the other insults might have happened in any order.

‘What a mess,’ Nakano said. ‘Initial survey says twenty-one dead. I’ve got more forensics techs coming in. Had to draft some teams from Tokyo.’

‘And not all of the victims are gang members,’ Tatsu said.

‘No, this was more indiscriminate than usual. We also have gunshot wounds on several of the victims. As far as we know, no one wounded is still alive. I’ve got a request in to have the entire building’s MedStats checked for trauma. We’ll check the “no data” replies manually when we get the dataset.’

‘Good call. Not everyone here is going to be using Kannon, but most will have MedStat.’ Tatsu gave a shrug. ‘Maybe not all of them. And not everyone who is will want to involve themselves with the police to get medical attention. It seems like the ones who were shot were in the corridors. Automatic weapons, small calibre. Probably coilguns and you don’t see those in the hands of many gangsters.’

Nakano nodded. ‘I think the ones killed in their apartments are all mafia. I also think we’ll find their door controls were hacked. And they’re all small fry. There’s no one I’ve seen listed as being important in the Funabashi gang.’

‘Did we get a card? Or cards?’

Another nod. ‘They all say the same. “A brotherhood of thieves and murderers.” Except that there are five dead gang members and a lot more civilians cut down for being here.’

‘Like you said, it’s a mess. I think this has gone beyond escalation. Whoever it is doesn’t care anymore. They’re just killing for the fun of it. We need a break in this case, and soon.’

‘Got any gods you can pray to?’

‘Not really. I don’t really remember my ancestors either.’

‘Shame. We could do with some divine help about now.’

~~~

Tatsu dropped into her seat in the TNM van with a weary expression on her face. Yamauchi regarded her for a few seconds before speaking. ‘This was a bad one, right? We’ve seen a few officers coming out of there looking pale.’

‘It’s bad,’ Tatsu replied. ‘We’ve confirmed twenty-three dead. Five of those were members of the Funabashi gang.’

‘And the others?’

‘People living in the building. Ordinary refugees. I think they were killed because they saw who was doing the killing.’

‘A mass killing. Doesn’t this sound more like a gang operation than a hit? Is the violence spreading?’

‘There is a specific indication that this was the same killer,’ Tatsu replied. ‘They may have had help this time. Most of the victims were shot, which is a break from pattern.’

‘Anyone could use a sword… There’s something else which marks these deaths.’

‘Yes, and I’m not telling you what it is because that would defeat the object of keeping it from the media.’

‘You’re worried about copycats.’

‘I’m worried about more deaths. What do you want to do now?’

Yamauchi considered briefly. ‘It’s already four p.m. We’ll cut today short and go back to the Hispanic area in the morning. Unless something comes up tonight, of course.’

‘As you wish.’ Tatsu got up and stepped over to the door. ‘I’ll walk from here. I’ll meet