The Omega Device (The Ha-Shan Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

on it. Swelling's new too. I'd say it's from earlier today.” Russell stared breathlessly at the arm. His eyes bounced between it and the photos. “Same ink?”
    “Check his other arm,” Russell said, fishing the victim's left arm from its silken sleeve. An identical tattoo to the other three was mirrored on the inner-forearm.
    Russell instructed them, “Get photos. High-res. Run them through the database of known gang markings. The faster we move, the better.” The OCF nodded. Russell rummaged through the victim's robes, “Where're his things?”
    “We only found a couple sets of clothes and few pieces of paper.”
    “Where are they?”
    “Gave 'em to a uniform to put with the ID file.”
    Russell returned to the file folders, dug through them. He produced the first page of the second victim's file. It read “ Hiroshi Ryusaki ” atop a dossier.  
    Under it, three sheets of paper were titled, “Release of Liability,” “Tattoo Care,” and “Receipt; Customer Copy.” Slid between them, a black background business card with white lettering and colorful trim read “Maggie Doherty. Get Inked. 1413 51 st Street.”  
    He checked his watch as his cell-phone rang, “Williams.”
    Chuck sounded on the other end, “Got anything over there?”
    Russell was surprised, “Yeah. Yeah, I did. The two are connected. I'm not sure how yet, but I've got a lead.”
    “Wuda'ya mean? Who? The stiff in the alley and—”
    “Yeah, him and this Ryusaki. Second victim,” Russell said, his adrenaline starting to flow.
    “What makes you think that?”
    “Identical tattoos,” he said carefully to keep calm.
    Chuck was skeptical, “Sure it's not a coincidence?”
    The tightening knot in Russell's gut made him certain. “Yeah. Ryusaki's ink was fresh. Literally. From sometime today. The tats are specific. The first victims' are worn, but they're exactly the same. It's not a coincidence they've both shown up the same day. I'm having them run through the database, but they aren't common.”
    “Alright, I'll bite,” Chuck said, acknowledging Russell's expertise. “You say you got a lead?”
    Russell was hopeful, “The shop where Ryusaki's was done. It's not much, but it's something.”
    “Check it first-thing tomorrow, but this isn't public yet.”
    “Yeah, I got it.”
    His voice shifted casually, “Anyway, I need ya' back here for some paper-work. I'd do it, but Marie's leavin' for school tonight, I've gotta' leave now or I'll be late. Can I count on you?”
    “Of course.” He checked his watch once more, “Tell Marie I said good luck.”
    “Will do, Rus.”

5.
    Paradigm
     
    September 29 th  
    10:15 AM
    Get Inked Tattoo Parlor
     
    Maggie entered to the bell's chime above her head. Ashley's machine buzzed over the rush of cold, morning air and its sounds of passing traffic. The door shut, muffled the world to its usual, dull grumble. Ashley's machine revved high long enough for her to cast a glance at Maggie before it bogged down again. At the reception desk sat Mandy with an open textbook, her hand working in a lined notebook.
    Her eyes darted to Maggie then back to her work, “Hey.”
    Maggie headed for the back room, projected for Mandy's benefit, “We ever hear from Jamie?”
    “Nope, but she's still scheduled for noon.”  
    “Great. Prob'ly gonna' be a no-show,” Maggie muttered at the back room's table.
    She unzipped her woolen jacket, slid from it to straighten her t-shirt and readjust the long-sleeved shirt beneath it. She reset her folded pony-tail while the phone rang at the counter. Mandy answered in single syllables that focused as Maggie strolled back toward her.
    “No,” Mandy said. She paused. “No. We'd have to see it first. I can give you a quick rundown of how we price—Oh, okay. We're open 'til eight. Uh-huh. See you then.”
    Maggie stepped to the desk behind Mandy, “Who was it?”
    “Price-checker.”
    Maggie was hopeful, “They coming in?”
    “Later maybe,” Mandy said,