The Tiger's Gate by C.J. Hellman

Author:C.J. Hellman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CJ Hellman
Published: 2024-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

‘I’ve got something for you, Sato, if you’ve got a bit of time.’

‘I can make it,’ came the reply faintly, almost lost in the bad connection.

‘Good. I may be busy for a day or two, so if you can get to work on this, it will be a big help. Are you familiar with court reports, at all?’

‘No. Is this connected with Yamazaki?’

‘It is. It’s just an idea. I don’t know if it will get us anywhere, but it’s worth a try. I’ve been finding out about a few things about the bowl that’s missing. That is to say, which was stolen. What was that?’

Even without the static, Oshima was sure his hearing was getting worse. Maybe that was why he didn’t like using the telephone.

‘Go on, I said.’

‘The details are not important, but it might be connected to some gang activity about five or six years ago. That’s when the bowl was made.’

‘So, it’s recent, then?’

‘Yes, but there’s something unusual about it. I’ll tell you more later. When can you be free?’

‘Tomorrow? How’s that?’

‘Perfect. 8:30 not too early for you?’

‘That’s fine.’

‘I’ll call round for you then. See you. Bye.’

‘Goodbye.’

Oshima replaced the receiver and leant back in his chair. For the first time, he felt a sense of progress. He wasn’t sure why he said he might be busy. He didn’t have any plans, and he normally enjoyed this kind of research. There was nothing better than getting lost in a sea of documents, searching for these kinds of details. It wasn’t that he wanted to leave Sato to do it alone, but he had a feeling there was something else he should be doing. It was like a premonition, but he couldn’t think what it could be.

He hadn’t expected Sato to work so quickly, but it was only the next evening when Nakajima opened the door and Sato burst in an instant later.

‘I found it, Oshima. I found it.’

‘Sit down first.’

‘Look, here it is. Kim Masayoshi. Imprisoned for receiving stolen goods. Suspected of gang related activity. It didn’t say so in the report, but it seems he was a boss of one of the gangs over in Kambacho.’

Oshima wondered how Sato had found out this detail, but said nothing.

‘He got a five year sentence.’

‘What are the dates?’

‘Imprisoned: September 1932. Released: December last year. Don’t know why there’s that extra three months, but anyway...’

‘It sounds about right. Only that one?’

‘He was the only one I could find. He had a record – petty theft, assault, assault with a weapon, extortion – stretching back more than thirty years. Known to be associated with the Three Heavens Gang. Sounds a bit Chinese, doesn’t it. From his name, though, he must be Korean.’

‘Well done, Sato. I think you’ve done a good day’s work.’

Sato looked pleased. ‘How is he related to this, if I may ask?’

‘It’s complicated. He may have been involved in smuggling and entrusted something to Keisei before he was locked up. Keisei hid it and left the clue to its whereabouts in that bowl.

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