Read Online Samurai's Wife by Laura Joh Rowland - Free Book Online

more dangerous than an ordinary criminal."

"The killer is no more dangerous to me than to you," Reiko said. Exasperation rose in her. With an eleven-year age difference between them, Sano often seemed like an overprotective father. "Your greater size and strength are no defense against a spirit cry."

"My many years of martial arts training are," Sano said. "I've practiced rituals for strengthening the will. A strong will is the foundation for the power of kiai, and the only weapon against it."

Reiko lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. "Do you think that just because I haven't lived long enough to study as much as you have, it means my will is weak?"

"Not at all," Sano said with a wry smile.

"Rituals you've never had a chance to test won't guarantee your safety if the killer attacks you," Reiko retorted. "Nor will your sex or rank. The killer's victim was male, and the highest official in the Imperial Court."

Sano picked up his soup bowl, then set it down. "There are also practical reasons I can't include you in the investigation. You couldn't go to the crime scene with me today. I can't take you along on my inquiries tomorrow. For a samurai's wife to follow him around, involving herself in official business-you know it just isn't done." His regretful expression told Reiko that he sympathized with her position, even as he defended his own. "I'm sorry."

"There must be something I can do," Reiko persisted. "Are there any witnesses to interview?"

"Not yet."

"What about suspects?"

"That ledger I brought contains Yoriki Hoshina's report on the investigation he did before we got here. He's cleared most of the palace residents of suspicion by confirming their alibis. But there are some people whose whereabouts at the time of the murder remain unknown. One is Emperor Tomohito, and another his cousin Prince Momozono." Sano explained that they'd discovered the body, then said, "I can't subject them to questioning by a woman. It would be a gross impropriety."

Reiko nodded, sadly conceding Sano's point. She saw the murder case moving farther and farther beyond her grasp. Nevertheless, something that he'd said gave her hope.

"If the emperor is one suspect and the prince is another," Reiko said, "then it sounds as though there are additional suspects. Who are they?"

"The emperor's mother, Lady Jokyoden, and his consort, Lady Asagao."

From the chagrin on his face, Reiko could tell that Sano hadn't wanted to tell her. "It wouldn't violate any customs for the wife of the shogun's representative to call on the women of the Imperial Court," she said, so delighted by this turn of events that she forgave Sano's attempt to conceal information. "I'll go tomorrow."

"Even though it's socially acceptable for you to visit Lady Jokyoden and Lady Asagao, there's still the threat of danger," Sano said. "I don't know of any historical incidences of a woman having the power of kiai, and it seems likely that the murderer is a man, but we can't yet rule out the possibility that the emperor's mother or consort killed Left Minister Konoe. For you to go prying into their business is too big a risk."

"The Imperial Court doesn't know that I help you with investigations," Reiko said. "When I visit the women, they'll think it's just a social courtesy."

"If they guess your real purpose, the consequences could be fatal," Sano said.

The room's cozy atmosphere chilled and darkened with the memory of a recent time when a killer had seen through Reiko's false pretenses while investigating the murder of the shogun's favorite concubine. Stifling a shiver, Reiko involuntarily placed a hand on her abdomen, where a new, fragile life might have just begun. She read in Sano's eyes his resolve to prevent another disaster.

"I've learned a lot since then," she said. "I won't let the emperor's mother and consort guess that I know they're suspects. Besides, women speak more frankly to one another than to men. Court ladies are probably unaccustomed to meeting