Read Online Samurai's Wife by Laura Joh Rowland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Joh Rowland
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said. "I came alone, through the back gate, as you ordered." A glimmer of mischief brightened his somber gaze, as if he'd read Yanagisawa's thoughts.
He had a good opinion of himself, Yanagisawa thought, but not unjustifiably. Hoshina had first come to Yanagisawa's attention three years ago. Local metsuke spies had recommended the yoriki as a man of talent whose job put him in a good position to monitor the activities of Miyako's citizens. Since then, Hoshina had reported on these in regular dispatches to Edo. Yanagisawa had been impressed with the quality of the information Hoshina sent; routine double checks always proved it reliable. Hoshina was also a competent detective, but it remained to be seen whether he was capable of more difficult, complex work.
"Tell me what happened with Sano today," Yanagisawa said.
"I took him and his detectives to the Imperial Palace to see where Left Minister Konoe died."
Hoshina lowered his eyes respectfully, but Yanagisawa could feel the yoriki taking measure of him. No doubt Hoshina knew all about the enmity between himself and Sano. Yanagisawa guessed that the yoriki had also done some research on him. He noted Hoshina's immaculately knotted and oiled hair, and the elegant silk kimono patterned with silver trees and rivers: Hoshina had groomed himself for this occasion.
"Did you win Sano's trust?" Even as Yanagisawa recognized Hoshina's ploy as one he himself had used on the shogun, he admired the yoriki's daring.
"As much as possible," said Hoshina. A note of pride, veiled with modesty, echoed in his voice. "He clearly knows better than to trust a man he's just met, but he requested my particular assistance. He didn't seem to suspect that I'm anything besides a policeman who wants to advance his career."
"Excellent. I need someone to keep me informed on Sano's progress." Yanagisawa also needed the benefit of Sano's expertise to help him solve the case. "What did Sano deduce from the crime scene?"
"He decided that the sound heard on the night of Left Minister Konoe's death was a spirit cry," Hoshina said. A faint, derisive smile twisted his lips. "But I don't believe that a spirit cry killed Konoe, because kiai is just superstition, and I told Sano as much."
The idea of kiai seemed like superstition to Yanagisawa, too. Still, nothing else could explain the condition of the corpse, and he couldn't encourage Hoshina's disturbing tendency to take the initiative and assert himself. "You shouldn't have disagreed with Sano," he said. "I don't want you to antagonize him. From now on, keep your opinions to yourself."
Bowing his head, Hoshina said, "Yes, Honorable Chamberlain. Please forgive me."
"Very well," Yanagisawa said, mollified. He mused, "I'm sure there will be some circumstance of the case that I can use as a weapon against Sano. What did you tell him about the murder?"
"I said I'd done a preliminary investigation and identified Emperor Tomohito, Prince Momozono, Lady Jokyoden, and Lady Asagao as suspects," Hoshina said, "just as your message ordered. He knows there was a cover-up by the Imperial Court, and that Konoe banned everyone from the Pond Garden that night."
Yanagisawa nodded his approval. "Much as I dislike making things easy for Sano, you had to convince him that you're competent and honest by giving him useful information that will stand up to any checking he may do. But you didn't tell him about your other findings, did you?"
"No, and I'm sure he doesn't even suspect that there are any."
Yanagisawa smiled. The withheld information, which he deemed more valuable than what Hoshina had revealed to Sano, gave him an advantage over his enemy. "What else happened?"
"Sano interviewed the Konoe household," Hoshina said.
"And?" Although Hoshina had made discreet inquiries among the victim's associates before Sano arrived in Miyako, it was possible that Sano had turned up clues that Yanagisawa wouldn't want him to have.
"It was a waste of time."
"I suppose Sano
He had a good opinion of himself, Yanagisawa thought, but not unjustifiably. Hoshina had first come to Yanagisawa's attention three years ago. Local metsuke spies had recommended the yoriki as a man of talent whose job put him in a good position to monitor the activities of Miyako's citizens. Since then, Hoshina had reported on these in regular dispatches to Edo. Yanagisawa had been impressed with the quality of the information Hoshina sent; routine double checks always proved it reliable. Hoshina was also a competent detective, but it remained to be seen whether he was capable of more difficult, complex work.
"Tell me what happened with Sano today," Yanagisawa said.
"I took him and his detectives to the Imperial Palace to see where Left Minister Konoe died."
Hoshina lowered his eyes respectfully, but Yanagisawa could feel the yoriki taking measure of him. No doubt Hoshina knew all about the enmity between himself and Sano. Yanagisawa guessed that the yoriki had also done some research on him. He noted Hoshina's immaculately knotted and oiled hair, and the elegant silk kimono patterned with silver trees and rivers: Hoshina had groomed himself for this occasion.
"Did you win Sano's trust?" Even as Yanagisawa recognized Hoshina's ploy as one he himself had used on the shogun, he admired the yoriki's daring.
"As much as possible," said Hoshina. A note of pride, veiled with modesty, echoed in his voice. "He clearly knows better than to trust a man he's just met, but he requested my particular assistance. He didn't seem to suspect that I'm anything besides a policeman who wants to advance his career."
"Excellent. I need someone to keep me informed on Sano's progress." Yanagisawa also needed the benefit of Sano's expertise to help him solve the case. "What did Sano deduce from the crime scene?"
"He decided that the sound heard on the night of Left Minister Konoe's death was a spirit cry," Hoshina said. A faint, derisive smile twisted his lips. "But I don't believe that a spirit cry killed Konoe, because kiai is just superstition, and I told Sano as much."
The idea of kiai seemed like superstition to Yanagisawa, too. Still, nothing else could explain the condition of the corpse, and he couldn't encourage Hoshina's disturbing tendency to take the initiative and assert himself. "You shouldn't have disagreed with Sano," he said. "I don't want you to antagonize him. From now on, keep your opinions to yourself."
Bowing his head, Hoshina said, "Yes, Honorable Chamberlain. Please forgive me."
"Very well," Yanagisawa said, mollified. He mused, "I'm sure there will be some circumstance of the case that I can use as a weapon against Sano. What did you tell him about the murder?"
"I said I'd done a preliminary investigation and identified Emperor Tomohito, Prince Momozono, Lady Jokyoden, and Lady Asagao as suspects," Hoshina said, "just as your message ordered. He knows there was a cover-up by the Imperial Court, and that Konoe banned everyone from the Pond Garden that night."
Yanagisawa nodded his approval. "Much as I dislike making things easy for Sano, you had to convince him that you're competent and honest by giving him useful information that will stand up to any checking he may do. But you didn't tell him about your other findings, did you?"
"No, and I'm sure he doesn't even suspect that there are any."
Yanagisawa smiled. The withheld information, which he deemed more valuable than what Hoshina had revealed to Sano, gave him an advantage over his enemy. "What else happened?"
"Sano interviewed the Konoe household," Hoshina said.
"And?" Although Hoshina had made discreet inquiries among the victim's associates before Sano arrived in Miyako, it was possible that Sano had turned up clues that Yanagisawa wouldn't want him to have.
"It was a waste of time."
"I suppose Sano
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