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

with a finger over the record button, thinking how best to put his thoughts into words. He sighed, approached it casually, “You're not in any trouble. I just need to ask you a few questions. I'll tell you a little about why I'm here, but it's privileged and can't be repeated outside this room. Personally, I'd rather you be at ease, but I'm not supposed to tell you.”
    She stared at a loss. Her mouth slacked a little, “Oh…kay.”
    He reiterated, “None of what you say here's admissible. This is strictly informal to help me. If something you say leads elsewhere, there may be a formal inquiry, then I'd suggest a lawyer.”
    “Okay,” Maggie said again, less than reassured.
    He grimaced, depressed the record button, “Last night, a man was found murdered in his hotel suite at the Royal Oakton Arms. The victim's name was Hiroshi Ryusaki.”
    A brick wall of depression hit Maggie, “What? No!”
    “You knew him well?”
    “No,” Maggie said, deflating into her chair.
    “But you did know him,” he stated. “We found your business card on him. And he had fresh tattoos.”
    She slumped in her chair, stared at the porous table, “I—I worked on him yesterday. We had a long conversation and he was… well he was just a good man. He gave me an amazing tip afterward, said I needed it more than him.”
    “A tip?”
    “Yeah—it was a… it was a lot of money. He said he was “an old man. More money than years”, that I could use it more.”
    “So he gave you a large sum of money in exchange for work ? ”  
    “What?” Maggie suddenly channeled Ashley, “Of course for work! You think I'm running some kind of—of whorehouse, or something? I run a business , Detective. A professional business. I'm certified by the state and city health-boards, and have the inspection and permit records to prove it and official, verified membership in the National Tattooist's Union.”  
    “Of course, Ms. Doherty. I didn't mean to imply—”
    “Yeah. Sure you didn't,” Maggie scoffed. She crossed her arms and avoided his eyes.
    Russell rubbed his forehead, “Look, Ms. Doherty—”
    “Maggie.”
    “I'm just trying to understand why someone would kill Ryusaki. That's all. I just—if you know anything. ”
    “All I know, Detective , is that a man came here, got what he paid for, then died. And that's damned depressing.”
    “I believe you,” He replied in earnest. “But the tattoos on Ryusaki's arm; did he say, or do you know, what they are?” Russell asked, attempting to move past his mistake.
    “No. I don't,” Maggie replied, head still turned.
    “You have no idea of what the symbols mean? You've never worked on anything similar or even identical?”
    She relented with a shake of her head, “No. All Ryusaki said was they were part of a larger piece on ancient symbols. I don't know anything else.”
    Russell turned the recorder in his hands, thinking. He stopped it and replaced it in his pocket before he looked to Maggie with sincerity, as though he knew her well, saw her as an equal. The  attraction in the back of Maggie's mind slithered forward, but her anger blocked it from reaching the forefront.
    “Look, I'll be blunt. I'm sorry if I offended you, but I need to know about these symbols. Ryusaki was the second man we found with them. They're connected, but I can't find out how if you're holding back. I understand you're offended by what I said, but I need to know if these symbols have some meaning to you.”
    Maggie sensed simple desperation beneath his confidence. She knew it too well. She swallowed her pride, pictured the symbols in her mind, hoping to connect them to any inane knowledge from her artistic background.
    She breathed calmer now, “No. I've never seen them. Ryusaki didn't tell me anything about them. I imagine they're ancient, but I have no idea what that means—and I have no idea why anyone would want him dead. He seemed like a good person. He did have a translator, Lu-Yen Chen-Lee, but he's