I. Parker - The Crane Pavillion

Saburo raised his head. “You mean you’ll look into it yourself, sir?”

“Don’t get up your hopes. I think there is someone at work who wants to make sure the blind woman is found guilty. And that person is also behind your arrests.”

“I thought there was something strange about the way the constables arrived so quickly. But what can you do, sir?”

“I’ll have a closer look at this Kanemoto and his mistress. It will be easier for me. The trouble is we must find the killer without involving Kobe. Otherwise, it would be very simple indeed. Be patient. I’ll go have a word with Tora now.”

Tora was very angry. Akitada found him pacing in his cell, chains rattling with every step and turn. When he saw Akitada, he stopped.

“Sorry, sir,” he said, teeth clenched. “Someone set us up.”

“I know. Unfortunately we cannot do anything about it. Superintendent Kobe must not become involved.”

Tora glowered. “You mean he’s letting this happen? He won’t do anything about it? We’re to rot here in prison? Then he’s not the man I thought he was!” He started pacing again, muttering under his breath.

Akitada sighed. It was his fault, too. “Please stop that. It’s making me dizzy, and there’s not much time,” he said as calmly as he could.

Tora stopped and went to lean against a wall. “Sorry. I wouldn’t have had you troubled if I could’ve helped it.”

“I know. The only way to get you out is to find the killer before the trial tomorrow. I’ve talked to Saburo. He gave me the story and named some suspects.” Akitada told Tora what Saburo had said, then asked, “Do you have anything to add to it?”

Tora shook his head. “It’s always been Saburo’s case. I came into it too late to do much good. I wish they’d at least let me go. I could help. All they have on me is that I was helping Saburo from under the house. I don’t know why no one is looking for Kanemoto. Surely they ought to talk to him since the body was found under his house.”

“It seems he has given a statement that he wasn’t home when all this happened and knows nothing about it.”

“That’s a lie.” Tora started pacing again.

Akitada said nothing.

After a moment, Tora stopped, his handsome face worried. “You’ll be careful, sir? He’s a gangster. They’ll will kill you if you get too close.”

“I’m aware of it. Well, if there’s nothing else …” He crossed the space between them and embraced Tora.

Tora flung his arms around him tightly. “Thank you, sir,” he said in a muffled voice.

Akitada left quickly.

Looking grim and feeling tired, Akitada returned home to change out of his good robe and wash his hands and face. After his ablutions, he felt marginally better. Sending for Genba, he told him about Saburo and Tora.

Genba was stunned. “And the superintendent won’t let them go?” he asked in a tone of disbelief. “They haven’t really done anything, have they?”

“No. Someone is putting pressure on Kobe to keep him from interfering in the blind woman’s conviction. I’m going to find out what is going on.”

Genba wrinkled his broad brow. “The weather’s turning. Do you want me to come?”

“No, Genba. You’re the only one left. You must keep an eye on the others.” The thought crossed his mind that his family had been attacked before, and that Genba would not be able to stop armed soldiers. But this time, he did not think he was dealing with warlords. No, this was a different type of enemy. “Is Hanae around?”

“Yes, sir. Shall I tell her about Tora?”

“No. Send her to me. I have something to ask her.”

Hanae arrived, having been told by Genba what had happened to her husband. She bowed deeply, then asked, “You have seen him, sir?”

“Yes, Hanae. He is well but very angry.”

She smiled. “That’s my Tora,” she said softly. “Genba says you have a question for me?”

“Yes. Do you remember the man who gave you dancing lessons years ago?”

“Ohiya!” She chuckled. “It seems like an age ago. You met him, sir.”

“Yes. He was helpful to us when we tried to find out what had happened to you. Is he still around?”

Her face fell. “I heard he has fallen on hard times, sir. He’s moved away from the quarter. I don’t know where he lives now.”

“Ah. Well someone will know. Thank you, Hanae.” He looked at her dainty, neat figure and thought how lucky Tora was to have found such a wife. In fact, they were all lucky. He said, “Hanae, I have never thanked you for writing to me about my wife’s death. And I haven’t thanked you for being with her and for looking after my children.” He choked up a little, thinking about it.

Hanae said quickly, “I was glad to be here, sir. We are like family. I loved my lady, and she’s loved all of us. She would have done the same for me.”

Akitada’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I shall never forget it.” He blinked once or twice, then said quickly, “Well, I’d better be on my way and see what can be done to restore your husband to you.”

*

He walked to the willow quarter in heavy wind gusts. The sky was clouding over quickly and it was getting cold again. He had been to the “floating world” of courtesans and prostitutes before, but that was years ago now. He expected changes, but all seemed the same. The business of pleasure still thrived in the capital.

When he entered the quarter’s warden’s office, he found it busy with the affairs of drunks and customer complaints, ranging from theft to being overcharged, but his silk robe and hat got him quick attention, and he asked about Ohiya.

The warden himself consulted a ledger and informed him that Ohiya had moved to the southern quarter on Inokuma Street in the ninth ward. Akitada thanked him and left.

It was a long way to the southernmost part of the city, and Akitada had not yet recovered from his ride into the mountains. He had also not eaten since breakfast, having been too distracted with all that had happened. But he plodded southward through the city, pulling his robe up around his neck against the sharp wind.

Inokuma was a dirt road. The area was not far from where Tora used to have a small house where he and Hanae had lived because they were afraid to tell him of their marriage. The area was still as rustic as ever. It had also started to rain, and Akitada had to watch where he placed his feet. The road was used by farm animals and deeply cut by wheels.

Ohiya shared a house with a widow who kept chickens and sold their eggs. It was a shocking environment for the elegant dancing master, but Ohiya himself answered the door to Akitada’s knock. He did not recognize Akitada but regarded him with astonishment.

“Your honor has come to see me? And in this weather?” he asked in the familiar fluting voice. He gave a slight, nervous laugh. “I doubt a gentleman like you would be here to buy eggs. What can I do?” he performed a perfect bow, deep and elaborate.

Akitada shivered. “Can we go inside? I’ve come to you for help again. We met some years ago when Hanae was abducted.”

Recognition dawned and Ohiya stepped aside. “Lord Sugawara? Can it be?” He glanced down at his creased and stained robe and the tattered slippers on his feet. “I’m sadly changed, my lord,” he said. “Nobody comes to Ohiya anymore.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.” Akitada said, feeling some pity though Ohiya was a product of the flesh trade and a lover of boys on top of that. He had never approved of either way of life, but Ohiya had eventually revealed some empathy for poor Hanae and helped to find her.

Ohiya led him to a room cluttered with the remnants of the dance master former life. Colorful robes, now faded and wrinkled, hung from a clothes stand, and trunks, utensils, mats, and bedding looked dusty and worn. On a finely lacquered trunk that had lost chunks of its finish rested some earthenware dishes and a rusty cooking pot.