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Authors: I. J. Parker
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same. He probably expected to conduct the interrogation himself. Akitada cleared his throat. “You may begin. Tell me about the victim.”
The lieutenant had been darting curious glances about the room. It had once been Akitada’s father’s and was elegantly furnished as a gentleman’s study. The tall shelves held document boxes, scrolls, and books accumulated by generations of Sugawara males. A handsome landscape scroll hung in the alcove, and the writing implements on the large old desk were fine antiques. He seemed impressed with the evidence of scholarly pursuits and did not balk at Akitada’s brusque order.
“The victim is a poor woman who may have earned a living by occasional prostitution. She was found in the room she rented from a stonemason in the ninth ward. She had multiple stab wounds. It is thought that your retainer was her customer and that they had quarreled.” He glanced about the room again and added apologetically, “Sorry to bring bad news in the middle of the night. Such women have very bad reputations. They have been known to steal from their customers. I am sure there will be extenuating circumstances.”
“Tora attaches little importance to casual sexual encounters or to money. In fact, I have never known him to purchase his pleasures. He is very handsome and never short of female company.”
The lieutenant shifted on his cushion. “Nevertheless, he was caught in the act.”
“When did the woman die?”
“The constable from the warden’s office claims she was still warm when he got there.”
Akitada frowned. This was not good. Unless the real killer was found quickly, Tora was in for a most unpleasant time. He asked, “How was the crime discovered so quickly?”
“The woman’s landlord and his family heard sounds of a struggle and screams. They sent their boy to the warden’s office for help.”
“Do I take it that they did not go to the woman’s aid themselves?”
“No. They were afraid.”
“Did they hear or see anyone arrive or leave prior to the crime?”
“No. All was quiet. They were preparing for bed. People go to bed rather early in poor households, to save on oil. The suspect entered by a back door.”
“What is known about the woman’s associates?”
“Not much. She worked in the market in the daytime and kept to herself. Being blind, she earned money by singing. She may have augmented that income by performing sexual services after dark.”
Akitada sat up in surprise and stared at the officer. “What? The blind street singer?”
The lieutenant was instantly alert. “The woman’s name was Tomoe. Was your honor, by chance, acquainted with her?” His tone and manner were rapidly changing back to suspicion.
Akitada came to a decision. There was little point in suppressing facts. Rather, if he hoped for cooperation, he would have to offer assistance. Besides, the little he knew was bound to come out in any case. “Yes,” he admitted, “you surprised me. Your calling the woman a prostitute made me think this a matter unrelated to any of us, but Tora had taken an interest in this blind woman because she was afraid of someone. He spoke to me about her, asking me to investigate. I refused to become involved. Apparently I was wrong in thinking her problem trivial. But it means that Tora’s presence can be explained by his being worried enough to check up on her. He must have arrived on the scene shortly after the murder.” Akitada clapped his hands, and Seimei appeared so promptly that it was clear he had been eavesdropping outside the door. Akitada asked him, “Seimei, when did Tora leave here?”
“Right after his evening rice, sir. Just before the gong announced the hour of the boar.”
“The alarm was given in the last quarter of the hour of the boar,” said the lieutenant.
Akitada thought. “Probably less than an hour after Tora left here. He must have gone directly to her place. What does he say?”
“That he found her dead. But it is
The lieutenant had been darting curious glances about the room. It had once been Akitada’s father’s and was elegantly furnished as a gentleman’s study. The tall shelves held document boxes, scrolls, and books accumulated by generations of Sugawara males. A handsome landscape scroll hung in the alcove, and the writing implements on the large old desk were fine antiques. He seemed impressed with the evidence of scholarly pursuits and did not balk at Akitada’s brusque order.
“The victim is a poor woman who may have earned a living by occasional prostitution. She was found in the room she rented from a stonemason in the ninth ward. She had multiple stab wounds. It is thought that your retainer was her customer and that they had quarreled.” He glanced about the room again and added apologetically, “Sorry to bring bad news in the middle of the night. Such women have very bad reputations. They have been known to steal from their customers. I am sure there will be extenuating circumstances.”
“Tora attaches little importance to casual sexual encounters or to money. In fact, I have never known him to purchase his pleasures. He is very handsome and never short of female company.”
The lieutenant shifted on his cushion. “Nevertheless, he was caught in the act.”
“When did the woman die?”
“The constable from the warden’s office claims she was still warm when he got there.”
Akitada frowned. This was not good. Unless the real killer was found quickly, Tora was in for a most unpleasant time. He asked, “How was the crime discovered so quickly?”
“The woman’s landlord and his family heard sounds of a struggle and screams. They sent their boy to the warden’s office for help.”
“Do I take it that they did not go to the woman’s aid themselves?”
“No. They were afraid.”
“Did they hear or see anyone arrive or leave prior to the crime?”
“No. All was quiet. They were preparing for bed. People go to bed rather early in poor households, to save on oil. The suspect entered by a back door.”
“What is known about the woman’s associates?”
“Not much. She worked in the market in the daytime and kept to herself. Being blind, she earned money by singing. She may have augmented that income by performing sexual services after dark.”
Akitada sat up in surprise and stared at the officer. “What? The blind street singer?”
The lieutenant was instantly alert. “The woman’s name was Tomoe. Was your honor, by chance, acquainted with her?” His tone and manner were rapidly changing back to suspicion.
Akitada came to a decision. There was little point in suppressing facts. Rather, if he hoped for cooperation, he would have to offer assistance. Besides, the little he knew was bound to come out in any case. “Yes,” he admitted, “you surprised me. Your calling the woman a prostitute made me think this a matter unrelated to any of us, but Tora had taken an interest in this blind woman because she was afraid of someone. He spoke to me about her, asking me to investigate. I refused to become involved. Apparently I was wrong in thinking her problem trivial. But it means that Tora’s presence can be explained by his being worried enough to check up on her. He must have arrived on the scene shortly after the murder.” Akitada clapped his hands, and Seimei appeared so promptly that it was clear he had been eavesdropping outside the door. Akitada asked him, “Seimei, when did Tora leave here?”
“Right after his evening rice, sir. Just before the gong announced the hour of the boar.”
“The alarm was given in the last quarter of the hour of the boar,” said the lieutenant.
Akitada thought. “Probably less than an hour after Tora left here. He must have gone directly to her place. What does he say?”
“That he found her dead. But it is
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