For a moment Mako and Asami stared at the spot where Taimu had vanished.

Then something landed in the dumpster with a loud crash, and Taimu reappeared in front of the dumpster, a smirk on his face.

"What did you just do?"

Taimu bowed. "Sorry if I startled you, Asami. I spotted this guy watching us from the rooftops, and decided to see why he was so interested in us."

Asami was confused. "How did you see him on the roof when you were looking down?"

Taimu chuckled and turned back to the dumpster. "The idiot was in front of the sun, casting a shadow. Mako, can you give me a hand? He's kinda heavy."

Mako stepped over to help Taimu, and together the two of them lifted the unconscious spy out of the dumpster and laid him on the ground.

Taimu immediately began rifling through their captive's pockets.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking for weapons and anything that might allow us to identify him."

"Taimu, you're going too far. You tossed this man off a roof, and you don't even know he's involved in what happened to Korra."

"And the odds of him happening to decide to watch us as we enter the alley where Korra was attacked are? Also, I've got something."

Taimu began working a simple necklace off of the man as Asami and Mako stepped closer. "The disk's badly damaged, but it looks like some sort of red flower."

Taimu stood up and tossed the necklace to Mako. "Funny thing is, it looks something like the seal of the White Lotus."

Mako and Asami and exchanged horrified looks, and then turned their gazes on the battered wooden disk.

The cracks and stains obscured parts of the image, but enough was visible to leave no doubt.

"That's...that's the seal of the Red Lotus."

Taimu cocked his head to one side, confused. "What is the Red Lotus?"

Asami stared at Taimu in shock as Mako answered. "What do you mean? How do you not know who the Red Lotus are?"

Taimu shrugged. "I don't follow every detail of the Avatar's life. I just check in on Raava every now and then to make sure she's alright. What stupidity the Avatar gets up to in each life is none of my business."

Mako looked ready to punch Taimu, so Asami stepped in. "The Red Lotus was a group of people we encountered a few years ago, who were intent of destroying all government. As part of that effort they tried to kill Korra while she was in the avatar state to end the avatar cycle."

Every shred of humor vanished from Taimu's face. "I see." He said, and there was a world of meaning in those two words.

There was a long moment of silence.

Taimu turned back to the unconscious Red Lotus spy. "Mako. How would you like to proceed?"

"Oh, now you want to listen to me?"

"Shut up." There was barely contained anger in Taimu's voice. "Raava's life is on the line. Either you get your head together and starting helping to save her and her Avatar, your friend, or I'll get the information we need from this guy in ways that you won't like."

Mako got his temper under control. "You're right. Sorry. We should take him to the station. Chief Beifong's been scouring the city for Korra all day. She'll want to interrogate him herself."

Taimu crouched, grabbed one of the captive's arms, and hauled him upright. "Then you better help me carry him. The sun's setting. I'd like to make sure that Raava gets to see tomorrow's sunrise with her current eyes, and Lin's not going to make this easier when she sees me."