O-hana hesitated, obviously weighing the reward against the unknown dangers. At last she shook her head in regret. “I can’t decide until I know what you want of me.”
Dismay spread cold tendrils through Lady Yanagisawa, but she had planned for the possibility that O-hana would balk. She said, “Do you see that green box on the shelf of porcelain ware?” O-hana looked, then nodded. “Go see what’s inside.”
O-hana rose, walked to the shelf, and removed the lid from the little box. She took out a square packet of red paper. Her lips parted as she felt the heavy gold coins in the packet.
“I offer this gift as a token of my good faith,” Lady Yanagisawa said. “Agree to my proposition, and it’s yours.”
O-hana stood immobile, the packet resting on her open palm. She stared at it as if trying to discern whether she held her dearest dream or a poisonous snake that would bite her. Lady Yanagisawa watched, her breath caught by anxiety. What if O-hana refused? Would she tell Reiko about the proposition? If so, what would happen, and how could Lady Yanagisawa achieve her aim without O-hana?
Guile and avarice, distrust and fear played across the girl’s features like wind shifting sandals. “I… need to think,” she said.
“Then think about how my husband is the most powerful man in Japan,” Lady Yanagisawa said, her quiet, flat voice disguising her emotions. “People who offend him or his kin pay dearly. Many are assassinated or executed. Some disappear and are never seen again. No one knows what becomes of them. But I could arrange for you to find out.”
The nursemaid lifted her gaze to Lady Yanagisawa. Her eyes glittered with terror and need. Then a sigh of capitulation deflated her. Nodding, she slowly closed her fingers over the packet of coins.
Lady Yanagisawa experienced such an overwhelming sense of triumph that she nearly swooned. She also quaked with sudden apprehension because she’d taken her second step in her campaign against Reiko, and victory would cost her Reiko’s friendship. The loss encroached upon her mind like a cloud bringing darkness and desolation.
But she addressed her new accomplice with calm authority: “Go now. I will send someone to hear your reports on Lady Reiko’s doings. And you will receive my instructions soon.”
28
Lord Mitsuyoshi’s family lived in a special enclave of Edo Castle, reserved for important Tokugawa clan members. Here, Sano and two detectives strode along flagstone lanes through landscaped forest that separated mansions surrounded by gardens and stone walls. The enclave, deserted except for sentries in gatehouses, seemed remote from the city’s turbulent life. Gray clouds spread rapidly across the sky, but Sano breathed hope from the fresh, pine-scented air. Perhaps the solution to his problems awaited him inside the mansion belonging to Lord: Matsudaira, father of Mitsuyoshi.
After introducing himself to the gate sentries, he said, “Please tell Lord Matsudaira that I must speak with him.”
The sentries conveyed his request, and so quickly obtained permission for Sano to enter that he dared believe Lord Matsudaira hadn’t yet heard what had happened to him or become prejudiced against him. An attendant escorted him and his men into an audience chamber, where they found guards stationed along the walls and Lord Matsudaira standing on the dais.
“Why have you come here?” Lord Matsudaira demanded.
He had the shogun’s aristocratic features, but set in a broader, more intelligent face; his robust physique wore black ceremonial robes. Hands balled on his hips, surrounded by his troops like a general in a military encampment, he glared at Sano, who realized with dismay that his host already knew he’d been branded the murderer of Mitsuyoshi.
Bowing quickly, Sano said, “Before I explain, please allow me to offer you my condolences for the loss of your son.”
Lord Matsudaira dropped his hands and tilted his head, staring as though he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “I’ll not accept false sympathy from the man who killed him.” His voice was harsh with indignation.
“Please understand that you’ve been misinformed,” Sano said, as his men clustered defensively around him. “I did not kill Mitsuyoshi-san.”
“So you say,” Lord Matsudaira retorted. “The word around the castle is that you did. Do you think I don’t know you’ve been accused by the shogun?” Disgust and hatred twisted his face as he took a step toward Sano. “I also know about the book that describes your plot against my son and His Excellency. Police Commissioner Hoshina told me this morning.”
Hoshina had been quick to spread the news, turn public opinion against him, and prevent him from getting Mitsuyoshi’s family to aid his investigation, Sano thought. “The book is a fraud,” he said. “The accusation was initiated by Hoshina. It’s no secret that he’s out for my blood.”
Lord Matsudaira waved his hand in a gesture that dismissed Sano’s explanation as a poor excuse. “The shogun, chamberlain, elders, and police commissioner all believe you’re a killer and traitor. That’s proof enough for me.”
“The shogun hasn’t yet decided I’m guilty, in spite of the book and Hoshina’s slander,” Sano said. “His Excellency has allowed me to continue investigating the crime and prove my innocence.”
“Your clever tongue has saved you from execution,” Lord Matsudaira said disdainfully. “But I’ll use all my influence and power to ensure that you die.” Moving to the edge of the dais, he raised his left fist at Sano and rested his right on the hilt of his sword. Then a sob choked him. His belligerent posture crumpled; he averted his face.
Sano thought of Lord Matsudaira’s reputation as a kind master to the citizens on the Tokugawa lands he managed, and perceived that he genuinely mourned Mitsuyoshi, not just the loss of political advantage he’d enjoyed as father to the shogun’s heir. Sano pitied this grieving, misguided man.
“It would be better to use your power and influence to discover the truth about your son’s death,” he said. “I’ve come to enlist your help in exposing the real killer.”
Lord Matsudaira’s head snapped around; fury glittered through his tears. “You’ve come to stage a show of innocence and gloat over the misery you’ve caused this clan! I’ll not help you save yourself.” He leapt off the dais, advanced on Sano until they were a mere step apart, then thrust his face so close that Sano could see the red veins in his blazing eyes. “The only reason I let you in was so I can tell you in person that you, who have destroyed my son and betrayed our lord, are the most disgraceful creature on this earth!”
The insult struck Sano like blows to his spirit, and he retreated backward even as he said, “Please hear me out. In most murder cases, the victim was killed by someone close to him. Things he did, or trouble in his relations with people, can have led to the crime, and-”
“You would blame my son for his own murder?” Lord Matsudaira interrupted in outrage. “You’re an even worse villain than the courtesan’s pillow book portrays you. I’m ashamed that I ever thought you were an honorable samurai!”
“I’m not blaming Lord Mitsuyoshi,” Sano hastened to say. “The fault belongs entirely to his killer. All I meant was that the key to solving a murder case usually lies in the victim’s background.”
Lord Matsudaira shook his head, scorning Sano.
“Your son must have had an enemy,” Sano persisted. “You knew him all his life, and you must know what his activities were, whom he associated with, the places he frequented.” Sano extended a hand and infused his voice with all the persuasiveness in him. “Please help me identify the enemy who killed him.”
“My son was a harmless, respectable young man, and liked by everyone around him. He had no enemies, and he didn’t die because of anything that happened in his personal life.”
It had occurred to Sano that Lord Matsudaira might not be the best source of facts about Mitsuyoshi, whose reputation for debauchery suggested he’d had plenty to hide from his father. “Perhaps other family members were more familiar with your son’s business than yourself,” Sano said. “Perhaps they would be more willing to talk to me.” Though he saw little chance that Lord Matsudaira would allow him to interview anyone else here, he had to
