She delegated noodle duties to her returnees and followed the detectives upstairs. Siri had formed a sort of nest in the skirt room and had notes all around him as if he were trying to solve a gigantic riddle. They went with him to a room at the back that contained nothing other than themselves.

“The bread woman,” said Phosy.

“Lah, I was afraid of that,” said Siri.

“What about her?” Daeng asked.

“She died on the second,” said Sihot. “Apparently of natural causes.”

“That’s it,” said Siri. “She died on the second. The journalists—the collateral victims—died on the fifth. Civilai died on the eighth. This is it. This is the threat realized.”

“We’ve already had the paranoia conversation,” Daeng reminded him.

“Oh, Daeng,” said Siri. “How can this be paranoia? He’s following up on his threat but he’s making it look like natural causes. Look at the victims. Look at the order. And you’re next.”

“I’m afraid it’s become impossible to ignore,” said Phosy. “Daeng, I need to put you somewhere.”

She laughed. “We have some empty cupboards in the skirt bank room,” she said.

“You know what I mean,” said Phosy. “We have to send you somewhere safe so I can work this out.”

“I think that’s a splendid idea,” said Siri.

“You do?” she said.

“Yes.”

“Siri, for the benefit of our guests here, can you tell us what happens when we arm wrestle?” said Daeng.

Siri blushed.“I don’t see that as . . .” he began.

“There’s a point,” said Daeng. “What happens when we arm wrestle?”

“You beat me.”

“Once or twice?”

“I have an old war wound,” he said. “A bullet . . .”

“Always, Siri,” said Daeng. “I always beat you. So what chance do you think you and your policemen friends here have of dragging me to a safe house and having me squeeze pimples off my backside while you stumble around trying to find the man who wants to kill me?”

“Daeng, this is no laughing matter,” said Phosy. “He’s causing people to die.”

“Then you’ll just have to catch him before he causes me to be one of them, won’t you?” said Daeng. “And if the cogs are indeed already in motion as he said, it would appear he’s already infected me with his evil magic. So there’s really no point in my going anywhere.”

There followed the type of silence that comes from hitting a wall of obstinacy. Siri rebounded.

“Phosy,” he said. “I have to do an autopsy on Civilai.”

They looked at the doctor as if he were suffering from dementia.

“Isn’t it obvious what he died from?” said Phosy.

“I need to be sure.”

“He’s your friend,” said Phosy.