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 leave out the small area of purplish bruising directly over his heart.Probably from the CPR, Becker mused. Too bad it didnt work.He went back to studying the cadavers hands. They were like nothing Becker had invariably seen. Each hand had only three digits, and they were twisted and askew. The disfigurement, however, was not what Becker was constructioning at.Well, Ill be. The lieutenant grunted from across the room. Hes Japanese, not Chinese.Becker looked up. The officer 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 officer stared at the passport a moment longer and then tossed it back on the pile. This guy wires got a class-3 visa. He could have stayed here for years.Be cker poked at the victims hand with a pen. Maybe he lived here.Nope. Date of entry was last week.Maybe he was pathetic 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 wearing 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 left hand showed traces of sunburn, everywhere except a narrow band of flesh 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 voice 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 beg your pardon?The officer shook his head in disbelief. I would have mentioned it before but I thought the guy was nuts.B ecker was not smiling. What guy?The guy who phoned in the emergency. Some Canadian tourist. Kept talking about 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 totally loco.Becker frowned. Strathmores words echoed in his ears. I want everything Ensei Tankado had with him. Everything. Leave nothing. Not even a tiny check 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.