I Parker - The Masuda Affair

The nephew, his eyes intent, leaned forward to hear better.

But Takechi did not like Akitada’s theories. ‘I don’t see it,’ he said. ‘To be sure, the Masudas took the young lord’s death hard and had their reasons to dislike the young woman, but that doesn’t mean they were right.’

‘It gave them a motive to kill her.’

The warden shot a glance at Inabe’s nephew, who was following the conversation avidly, and said quite sharply, ‘We’ve been over that, sir. Unless Dr Inabe lied, the woman drowned, and Dr Inabe wouldn’t lie.’

Akitada persisted. ‘I don’t think the drowning was natural. I believe someone put her in the lake and held her under. And by the way, when I informed Lady Masuda of Dr. Inabe’s death, she expressed no surprise whatsoever.’

The warden threw up his hands. ‘It means nothing. She’s not very emotional.’

Usuki could not contain himself any longer. ‘Forgive me, do I understand that His Lordship suspects the Masuda family had something to do with my uncle’s murder?’

‘No,’ the warden cried. ‘Not at all. His Lordship has been working on a different case altogether. There’s no connection between that and your uncle’s death.’

Akitada met Usuki’s sly eyes and bit his lip. This was awkward. The doctor’s servant had called the nephew greedy and selfish. Faced with a nearly worthless inheritance, he might well smell a chance to collect damages from the wealthy Masudas. ‘Warden Takechi is right,’ he said, ‘I was merely sharing some random thoughts on separate investigations.’ He glanced at the warden, who was still upset. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been very helpful in the Inabe case. I came to tell you that I have to return to the capital today.’

The warden said quickly, ‘Of course. It was very good of you to look at the doctor’s papers for me. It hasn’t helped to find his killer, but it saved us some time.’ He rose.

Akitada suppressed a smile at the somewhat ungracious thanks and got up, but then he remembered the scroll. ‘Oh,’ he said to the nephew, ‘I borrowed your uncle’s scroll of bird drawings. They are quite charming.’ He took it from his sleeve and showed Usuki the pictures of the crow. ‘Your uncle was tending this wounded bird when he died. I wonder if I might borrow this for a few days?’

The nephew looked bored. ‘Keep it, sir. It’s of no use to anyone. Uncle was eccentric about those birds. It was a worry to me. We argued about it last time I saw him. I’d just as soon not be reminded. He’s turned the whole place into bird land. Of course, since he’d fallen into the habit of treating everyone for free and giving his money away, I really shouldn’t expect common sense.’ A look of cunning crossed his face. ‘I’ve come to make funeral arrangements and settle his estate, but I doubt there’s enough to pay expenses. Shall we say that in exchange for the drawings, you’ll let me know if you discover who murdered poor uncle?’

‘Certainly,’ said Akitada, ‘but since the investigation will be in Warden Takechi’s hands, perhaps you will allow me to reimburse you now?’ As he fished in his sash, he remembered his confiscated funds. But Tamako would like the bird scroll. ‘Would two pieces of silver be fair?’

The man smiled with surprised pleasure. ‘Quite generous, My Lord. If you insist-’ His hand shot forward and grasped the coins eagerly.

The nephew’s views of his uncle’s lifestyle had made Akitada curious about another matter. ‘Tell me,’ he asked the two men, ‘was Dr Inabe’s changed behavior by any chance a sudden and recent thing?’

They exchanged looks. The warden said, ‘I first heard about it a year ago. People told me that he wasn’t charging them. And when I met him, he seemed different. Sort of quiet and… humble. He’d always been very energetic and self-confident, as most physicians are. I never could figure out what happened.’

‘Old age.’ The nephew shook his head. ‘He should have listened and sold the place. I offered him a room in my house. He would be alive today if he’d had any sense.’

But at a price, Akitada thought.

The warden, somewhat surprisingly, walked him out. When they were outside, he said, ‘Usuki’s not a very nice man. No filial sentiment. But he’s been eliminated as a suspect. He was taking care of his business on the day of the murder and is vouched for by family and customers. I’m afraid it’s an impossible case. We’ll question the neighbors a bit more, but then-’ He spread his hands and did not finish.

Akitada had one more errand before leaving Otsu. He took the road up the hill to the Masuda mansion with a sense of fatalism. It would be his final effort to find the boy’s family. All along there had been two people who could have identified Peony’s son: her maid, and the Masuda’s nurse, Mrs Ishikawa. He had no idea if Tora had found the maid, but he could not wait any longer. Whether or not Lady Masuda had forbidden his visits or Mrs Ishikawa felt under obligation to her mistress, she must be made to see the boy and tell him if the child was Peony’s or a stranger’s.

He knocked at the gate and, as before, the old servant responded. Obviously few visitors called, or the man would have been kept too busy answering the gate to look after his master. The old man recognized Akitada and, shaking his head, started to close the gate.

‘Wait.’ Akitada held it open. ‘I’m not here to speak to your master. It’s Mrs Ishikawa I must see.’

The servant kept shaking his head and trying to close the gate. The contest was silly: Akitada, being much younger and stronger, could easily force his way in. He did not do so, because he was unwelcome in this house. ‘Please,’ he begged. ‘Just have her come to the gate, or meet me outside. It’s very important.’

The pressure on the gate eased. The old man said, ‘I can’t, sir. Mrs Ishikawa is gone.’

‘Gone?’ Akitada dropped his hand. They stood looking at each other through the narrow opening. ‘Where is she?’ Akitada asked.

‘Gone on a pilgrimage. The first lady gave her approval.’

‘When did she leave?’

‘Two days ago. Her son came for her.’

‘Ishikawa was here two days ago? When will she be back?’

The old man relented. ‘He said it was just a little outing, a visit to a few temples before the cold weather starts. She’ll be back in two weeks. Sorry, sir.’ And now he closed the gate firmly.

Akitada stood outside and heard the bars slide into place and footsteps recede. After a moment, he turned and walked away, his mind in turmoil. It was pointless to be so upset. Tora should be back soon. Perhaps he had found the maid. In any case, they would return together to the capital and his old life. The child was safe for the time being, and he was content to leave him there. It had been madness to think that he could be a father again.

Not having anything else to do, he got his saddlebag from the lodging house and rode to the outskirts of Otsu, where he settled himself on one of the benches outside a wine shop to await Tora. The bench was under a spreading cherry tree and the weather was pleasant. The summer heat had passed, and a light breeze came from the lake, where seagulls swooped and cried to each other. A cheerful waiter brought him some wine and a bowl of salted vegetables without bothering him with small talk. His horse grazed quietly on a patch of weeds. Akitada watched the road and the lake for a while, then pulled Inabe’s bird scroll from his sleeve.

The crow was really very well drawn. Inabe had had a gift as an artist. And his comments suggested a well-educated mind, even if he seemed somewhat obsessive about the supernatural significance of birds. Looking at the pictures, Akitada wondered if the splinted wing would have healed and if the crow would eventually have flown back to the wild. Probably so. Perhaps the place was full of birds the doctor had healed. No wonder they were so tame. The birds would have been company of sorts for a very lonely man.