The doctor had insisted that only one of the police officers could remain in the small cubicle while they worked on Hideo, and Rodriguez had volunteered. Mike and Brian waited outside, with the policeman especially alert. Mike knew that a man who had killed three people and critically injured a fourth could be even more dangerous captured. He tensed as the curtain was pulled aside and the doctor came out.

"Officer? I'm Doctor Johnson. Your partner asked if you gentlemen would come in for a moment."

The wounded man had been heavily sedated. Undressing him in preparation for surgery to repair his shattered kneecap, the orderly had uncovered an extraordinary tattoo covering most of the man's upper torso.