but my master insisted. They’ve already sent me clear across town to the Eastern Prison. When I got there, no Ihara, but the guards tried to lock me up again. And just now the sergeant told me to get lost.”
Eight or ten grim-faced policemen with metal prongs and chains moved in on Tora. They waited for the order to seize the troublemaker and teach him some manners.
But instead Kobe put a hand on Tora’s shoulder in the friendliest manner and said, “Well, let’s see what I can do for you, Tora.” The policemen looked at each other and retreated a few steps. They hid their weapons and pretended to form a sort of honor guard through which the two men passed.
In the courtyard, the plump sergeant hurried toward them. Kobe said loudly, “I’m surprised that you had difficulties. Most of our men are well-trained. They know that I expect them to treat everybody with courtesy and to show eagerness when assisting the public.”
The sergeant stopped. Tora saw his sheepish face and grinned. “That’s good to know, sir. If I need a job, I might want to give your sort of work a try. I’ve got a certain talent for it, and you could use able people. Seeing as there are so many bandits loose in the city.”
Inside the building, Kobe sent for Lieutenant Ihara and then invited Tora to sit down and explain his talents to him.
Tora looked around Kobe’s large and well-appointed office, noting with approval that a constable appeared quickly with hot wine, and that another policeman asked if he should take notes. His master’s imminent loss of employment had quite determined him to find a job, and police work might be the very thing. He enjoyed investigating crimes, and heaven knew, Kobe must be desperate to replace the dolts outside. That brilliant red uniform was nothing to sneeze at either. Girls liked that sort of thing.
So he took a deep breath and began with his strong physique, moved on to his military service, glossing over the fact that he had been summarily cashiered for insulting his superior, and outlined with great satisfaction his adventures during his service to Akitada. Tora was not given to modesty, though he stopped short of outright lies.
When he was done, a straight-faced Kobe said, “You are a most amazing person, Tora. I don’t think we have a position worthy of your talents.”
Tora waved the objection away. “Never mind. I’ll be glad to make myself available as a consultant or advisor whenever you have a tricky killer or a case your people can’t solve. I expect there are many such, enough to keep me busy. But at the moment I have Tomoe’s murder to solve. Maybe we’ll talk again some other time?”
Kobe choked and was still coughing when Lieutenant Ihara entered and saluted. Tora and Ihara exchanged slight nods.
“Tora was looking for you,” Kobe informed the lieutenant. “He plans to begin his investigation into the blind singer’s murder today and thought you might share your findings with him.”
Ihara’s jaw dropped. For a moment, he looked both shocked and disgusted. Then his face congealed. “I was under the impression, sir,” he said stiffly, “that this man is a suspect in the case and under house arrest.”
“Tora was placed in the custody of Lord Sugawara until the investigation is complete. There’s a difference. In fact, it was Lord Sugawara who sent Tora to you.”
“But, sir, the training manual, Instructions to Officers of the Metropolitan Police, states specifically that details of an ongoing investigation must not be shared with the public, let alone the accused.”
Kobe’s fingers gently tapped the desk. “Judge Masakane instructed Lord Sugawara to assist in this investigation. That changes the situation, because the Instructions also remind you to follow legal procedures as outlined by a proper judge. Lord Sugawara is busy at his ministry during the absence of his superior and has delegated a part of the work to Tora. Tora assures me that he has experience in criminal investigations and is eager to assist. Now, do you have any other objections, or can I get on with more pressing business?”
Ihara blanched. “None, sir.” He bowed, then nodded to Tora and headed out the door.
Tora looked after him and made a face. “Thanks for your confidence in me, sir. I wasn’t really looking forward to this even before the lieutenant expressed his feelings, but my master asked me to do it, so I suppose I’d better.” He got to his feet and bowed.
Kobe smiled. “Good man!”
Ihara was waiting outside. “Follow me,” he snapped.
They passed through the main hall and out into the courtyard. Constables saluted Ihara and stared at Tora. Ihara entered a low barracks and took Tora to a tiny office which contained little more than a battered bamboo shelf stacked with papers, and a small, stained writing desk with brushes and a worn inkstone.
“Sit!” Ihara pointed to a small grass mat near the writing table.
Suppressing a sigh, Tora obeyed. “If you could just fill me in about anything that didn’t come out during the hearing, I’ll be on my way. I’m thinking about that lacquer box, for example. Any success tracing it?”
Ihara had a sheaf of notes in his hand and frowned down at them. Turning abruptly to Tora, he asked, “Can you read?”
Tora only looked at him and extended his hand. The truth was that his reading skills remained poor, but he was not about to give this arrogant bastard of a police officer the satisfaction of admitting it. He looked through the paperwork, an assortment of notes taken down by different people. Some seemed to be interviews, transcribed by police department scribes and fairly legible, but many were notes dashed off by Ihara and other policemen. Tora pursed his lips. “These,” he said, holding up some of the latter, “are badly written.”
Ihara flushed. “We are very busy and must often note things down in a great hurry and without adequate equipment or light. The one on top concerns the box.”
“Ah,” murmured Tora and tried to read it. “What is that bit about Nara?”
Ihara snatched the paper from his hand and scanned it. “Oh, that. It’s nothing. Lord Sugawara wanted me to find out where the box came from, in case she had stolen it somewhere. We’ve asked all the lacquerers here, but nobody recognized it. What’s more, they didn’t think it was local work. This one man said he thought it had been made by someone called Tameyoshi in Nara. But they all agreed it was very fine and must’ve cost a lot of money. Clearly stolen.”
Tora glared. “Not by Tomoe. Maybe it was a present from that family she visited.”
Ihara gave a shout of laughter. “Don’t be ridiculous. Who would give a blind woman an expensive cosmetics box? For singing a few songs?”
Tora shook his head stubbornly. “There’s bound to be an explanation. Tomoe didn’t steal and she wasn’t a whore.”
“Maybe she was no whore. I’m inclined to believe her landlady was lying about that. Let’s face it, with those pockmarks, she’d have had a hard time giving it away.”
Tora flared up, “Watch your tongue! She had more class than you and I together. It’s not her fault she was poor and blind and had a few scars on her face. I thought you people were supposed to protect us, not drag our names into the mud when we can’t help ourselves any longer. The superintendent said so.”
Ihara bit his lip. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He stared at Tora. “It hadn’t occurred to me that you and she… might’ve been close.”
Tora scowled, his fist clenching around the papers. He decided that he would not tell Ihara about the nun who was no nun. In fact, he had no intention of sharing any information with the man, now or ever.
“Here! Watch what you’re doing. I need those,” yelped Ihara, pointing at the papers.
Tora eased his grip and smoothed out the crumpled sheets. He glanced at the rest quickly, then handed them back to Ihara and got up.
“Well? See anything interesting?” Ihara asked.
“If there is, you should know.”
“What’re you going to do?”
“Talk to people.” Tora made for the door.
“Be sure to report to me.”
Tora grunted and let the door slam behind him.
He hoped he would never have to lay eyes on Ihara again. No wonder women were attacked on the street in broad daylight and hoodlums dared to lift their hands against his master. With the exception of Kobe-Tora was willing to give the superintendent the benefit of the doubt-the police were incompetent, ignorant, and lacking in manners. He no longer wished to join their ranks and hoped Ihara would make a fool of himself.
Tora strode out briskly, so infuriated by his encounter with the snooty lieutenant that he was oblivious to his
