I. Parker - The Emperor's woman

Calling out a greeting, he startled both the boy and the ancient one.

“Is it the master himself?” the carpenter croaked, blinking against the morning sun and bending his creaking back into a bow. “Amida’s blessings on you and yours, Your Honor.”

“Thank you. And the same to you and your wife.”

“The old one’s gone. She wasn’t up to much anymore.”

“Very sorry to hear it. How do you manage by yourself?”

“My daughter cooks and cleans. That’s what a man has daughters for.”

Was it? The thought depressed Akitada who suddenly saw himself as a doddering old man waited on by Yasuko. He shook off the image.

“I see you’ve come to build a home for another couple. Have they told you that Genba is taking a wife?”

The old man chuckled. “He’s old enough to know better.”

“Perhaps, but as you say, women are useful creatures to have about the house.”

The carpenter pondered this. “They talk too much,” he finally said.

Tora joined them. “Ho, Juro,” he greeted the old man. “Bright and early, eh? Genba and Saburo are still sleeping.”

“I’ll get them up.” The carpenter tottered off toward the stable, followed by Trouble.

“Sorry I overslept, sir. We stopped off for wine after our errands. To drink to Genba and Ohiro’s happiness.”

Akitada smiled. “Yes, of course. But come inside. I thought of something.”

In his room, he threw open the shutters. They sat down on the veranda, and Akitada said, “You remember that old woman on the mountain? When I talked to her about the night of the murder, she told me she’d seen both Lady Masako and the prince arrive. They were on horseback and passed her house on their way to the villa.”

Tora’s brows rose. “Together?”

“No. Lady Masako came first.”

“Right. That’s what we’ve known all along.”

“The old woman recognized the prince’s horse by the blaze on its forehead.”

Tora frowned. “So?”

“The prince has said all along he was very late that night. It was getting dark when he left the capital, and it was nighttime when he reached the villa. How did she see him?”

“Oh. That is strange. But she’s old. She probably got the days mixed up.”

“I don’t think so. I think she saw the murderer arrive right after Lady Masako.”

Tora’s eyes widened. “But what about the horse?”

“A horse with a white mark on its head isn’t a rarity. And I bet she didn’t see very clearly. It had started snowing. She simply assumed the horseman was the prince because she expected him.”

“But who was it then?”

Akitada reached for Lady Masako’s journal and held it up. “The last thing Lady Masako wrote was, ‘A winter storm! Your voice is that of thunder and my sleeves are soaked with tears.’”

“Was there a storm?”

“No, Tora. Young ladies are given to express themselves poetically. She quarreled with someone.”

“Right. Who with?”

“She doesn’t say.”

“But it wasn’t the prince?”

“No, I don’t think it was the prince.”

Tora thought. His face brightened. “Remember how Lord Masaie’s cook said her master was in the capital then? I bet he went to talk to his daughter again.”

Akitada nodded. “Perhaps. It would make sense. I think it’s time we found out what Masaie was up to.”

Tora got up. “I’ll have another talk with the cook,” he offered.

“No. We’ll talk to his lordship himself.”

“Even better, sir.” Tora looked pleased, but then his face fell. He cleared his throat. “I have news. We know who killed Tokuzo, sir.”

Akitada was not at all sure if this was good news. “You do?”

“It was Bashan.”

“Bashan?” Akitada was at a loss. “You mean the blind masseur who put my shoulder back?”

“Yes, only he isn’t blind.”

“Really?”

Tora nodded.

Akitada thought about it. “It’s possible. Men will do strange things to earn a living. But what makes you think he killed the man?”

Tora sighed. “Genba said the stranger smelled like a bathhouse.”

Akitada did not laugh. Recognizing a smell had once before led them to a suspect. “Explain!”

Tora did so.

Akitada was impressed by their accomplishment. “That was extremely well done,” he said warmly. “How do you plan to proceed?”

“We… er… proceeded already, sir. We confronted him.”

“Oh? He denied everything, I take it.”

“At first, but he could see we knew all of it.” Tora looked distinctly uncomfortable now and shifted from one foot to the other.

“Don’t make me ask a thousand questions. What happened?”

“We’ve arranged to meet him tonight to discuss what is to be done.”

Silence fell.

Akitada decided they had let the killer go because they approved of his actions. Truth to tell, they had not had many options. They could have taken their story to Kobe, who would not have given it any credence. Or they could have come to him. Thank heaven they had not. At least he had not been faced with making that choice.

He sighed. “I see. Well, I don’t suppose he’ll show up for the meeting. He’ll be miles from the capital by now. You’d better inform Kobe at some point.”

Tora gaped. “You aren’t angry?” he asked.

“Not angry, no. But I hope you’re right about Bashan. If he’s a professional killer, he may practice his craft on an innocent person next time.”

Tora hung his head. “We’re pretty sure he was telling the truth. And he knew we had no proof he was the one who killed Tokuzo.”

“Everything considered, not a very satisfactory solution. Kobe won’t like it either.” Akitada shook his head. “But it isn’t all bad. We have Genba back, and some of the women in the Willow Quarter have a better life.”

They smiled at each other.

Akitada was anxious to settle the murder of Lady Masako, but he had a living to earn. He was late getting to the ministry where his pronounced limp and the stiff way in which he held his bruised body served as an excuse.

Kaneie was in and had heard of his mishap.

“There you are,” he cried, eyeing Akitada sharply. “You don’t look too bad. People said you suffered a terrible injury.”

“Good morning, sir. I took a tumble in the mountains two days ago. I suppose the fact they had to bring me back on a litter caused some talk. I’m quite well again, just a little stiff, and my left arm is still sore. Nothing to stop me from dealing with work, though.”

“I’m relieved it wasn’t worse. Nobody knew what to make of it. I just heard this morning, or I would have stopped by.”

“Thank you, sir. You’re very kind.” Akitada smiled at Kaneie. They liked each other, and he thought it very likely that Kaneie would have visited.

“You fell in the mountains? Not by any chance at Prince Atsuhira’s place?”

Akitada flushed. “I’m afraid so.”

“I knew that business would get you in trouble. Well, I hope the effort wasn’t a total disaster.”

“I hope not, sir. Speaking of the matter, do you happen to know if Lord Masaie is in town?”

Kaneie’s eyebrows shot up. “You haven’t had enough yet? Yes, Maseie and his son are in the capital. Is he in trouble? Never mind answering that.”

“I thought he would have left the capital after the scandal with his daughter.”

“He did, but he’s a proud man. His son was dismissed from the emperor’s guard, and Masaie has come back to protest the matter.”

“Surely they could not dismiss Masanaga without cause.”

“With Masanaga there was always plenty of cause. He’s a drunkard and a troublemaker. In the past, his sister’s position protected him.”