Page 42 (1/2)

Kurt smiled and took the comment without rebuttal He was dressed in a double-breasted white dinner jacket with a silk shawl collar, a crisp white shirt and a triart in Casablanca

Unlike Joe, he was clean-shaven, though he’d let his sideburns gron a bit and had dyed his silver hair black to nized “How far to the Sento?”

Superintendent Nagano, dressed as a chauffeur, glanced back at theh tiain whether you want to risk this?”

“It’s the only way,” Kurt said

Joe nodded his agreement

Nagano turned his gaze back to the road ahead “You understand once you’re inside, I cannot assist you For obvious reasons, the police cannot raid this establish a bloodbath”

“I’ any violence,” Kurt said “If the place is run as tightly as you suggest, Ushi-Oni won’t be armed”

“He can kill without firearano said “He can kill with his bare hands or with a hundred different everyday objects Death is an art form to him Be extre device”

Kurt nodded In his pocket were two coins; inside each lay a sophisticated beacon Joe was carrying two similar coins The plan was to slip one into the pocket of the Demon and another into the pocket of whoever paid hi, and take the palace Whoever found theets would ht Joe face-to-face already and nize hiet there first

“We’ll be careful,” Kurt said “Anything else we should know?”

“Only that things should go sano said “My informant has placed you on the list They will know Joe as a boxing proer with ties to Joe’s coround details have been arranged just in case anyone checks I suspect the owners will be interested in getting you both to the tables Reputations for betting and losing large sums have been established”

“At least that part is accurate,” Kurt joked He felt the billfold in his pocket They each carried over a million yen, a little more than ten thousand dollars, but that was just for starters Once they burned through their cash, the Sento’s staff would access accounts set up in their naive them markers for ten times that amount

“Where are we most likely to find Ushi-Oni?” Kurt asked

“Impossible to say But he’s the type that appreciates brutality Look for hi stands of the combat arena”

“Boxing isn’t necessary brutality,” Joe pointed out