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Authors: Laura Joh Rowland
Tags: Suspense
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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 samurai officials. I have a better chance of getting the information you need."
Sano nodded in reluctant agreement, then frowned, placing his chopsticks together across the center of his rice bowl and contemplating the equally divided contents.
Reiko sensed in him the struggle between love and duty, between caution and the need to employ every possible method to solve the case. Taking Sano's strong, hard hands in her small, slender ones, she said, "When we married, our lives and our honor were joined forever. I want to deliver the killer to justice as much as you do. For good or bad, I share your fate. Shouldn't I do everything in my power to bring us success?"
They shared a long look. Then Sano clasped Reiko's hands, expelled a breath, and nodded, his misgivings obvious. But triumph filled Reiko. She had enough faith in their partnership for both of them.
At Nijo Castle, a servant entered the White Parlor, bowed, and said to Chamberlain Yanagisawa, "Your visitor has arrived."
"Good. I'll receive him in the Grand Audience Hall." Yanagisawa turned to Aisu. "I'll handle this alone."
Disapproval flickered in Aisu's eyes. "But how can you be sure he's trustworthy?" Yanagisawa had been communicating with his chief Miyako agent via written messages; they'd never actually met. But now,
"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 samurai officials. I have a better chance of getting the information you need."
Sano nodded in reluctant agreement, then frowned, placing his chopsticks together across the center of his rice bowl and contemplating the equally divided contents.
Reiko sensed in him the struggle between love and duty, between caution and the need to employ every possible method to solve the case. Taking Sano's strong, hard hands in her small, slender ones, she said, "When we married, our lives and our honor were joined forever. I want to deliver the killer to justice as much as you do. For good or bad, I share your fate. Shouldn't I do everything in my power to bring us success?"
They shared a long look. Then Sano clasped Reiko's hands, expelled a breath, and nodded, his misgivings obvious. But triumph filled Reiko. She had enough faith in their partnership for both of them.
At Nijo Castle, a servant entered the White Parlor, bowed, and said to Chamberlain Yanagisawa, "Your visitor has arrived."
"Good. I'll receive him in the Grand Audience Hall." Yanagisawa turned to Aisu. "I'll handle this alone."
Disapproval flickered in Aisu's eyes. "But how can you be sure he's trustworthy?" Yanagisawa had been communicating with his chief Miyako agent via written messages; they'd never actually met. But now,
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