Here was confirmation of Pious Truth’s tale, yet disbelief undercut Reiko’s gladness. “How can this have been going on for years?” she said. “Why has no one stopped it?”
“Because these reports are all hearsay.” With a gesture of repudiation, Fugatami shoved the ledgers aside. “I have not been able to obtain solid evidence to justify censuring the sect. I’ve interviewed the nuns and priests, who claim that all is well. I’ve inspected the temple and found nothing objectionable. I’m sure Anraku has spies who warn him that I’m coming, so that he can hide anything he doesn’t want me to see.”
Perhaps the cover-up also hid evidence pertaining to the fire and murders, Reiko speculated, and explained why Sano hadn’t found any suspects except Haru. “Can’t you ban the sect anyway?” she said, because she’d thought that the minister of temples had authority to act on his own judgment.
“Unfortunately, Anraku has loyal followers among my superiors,” said Fugatami. “They’ve persuaded the shogun to require material proof of my suspicions and testimony from sect members-exactly the things I’ve failed to get-before he’ll approve a ban on the Black Lotus.”
Reiko hadn’t realized that the Black Lotus had such strong influence within the bakufu. “Can Anraku’s spurious cures and teachings really have won the favor of so many high officials?” she said, disturbed by the thought of their power opposing her effort to clear Haru and expose the sect’s misdeeds.
“Oh, yes.” Irony twisted Fugatami’s mouth. “Some of my colleagues are as credulous as peasants. Besides, I suspect they’ve accepted monetary gifts from Anraku.”
Corruption was rampant, and criminals often bribed officials to sanction their illegal activities, Reiko knew. “What’s to be done?” she asked.
“It is my duty to protect the public from physical and spiritual harm by evil religious frauds.” The cold fire of dedication burned in Minister Fugatami’s eyes. “With your help, maybe I can at last shut down the Black Lotus Temple, dissolve the sect, and punish the leaders. I must definitely see your novice monk.”
“My husband promised to find Pious Truth.” Reiko wondered whether Sano had succeeded.
“Good. Still, an inside witness represents only half the proof I need.” Fugatami stroked his chin thoughtfully, then said, “Many new complaints have come from Shinagawa.” This was a village near Edo. “I plan to investigate them tomorrow. I shall ask the sōsakan-sama to accompany me so I can gain his support for my cause.” He took up a writing brush. “Will you convey my letter of invitation to him?”
“Gladly.” Reiko hoped Minister Fugatami could convince Sano that the Black Lotus was worth investigating, yet she doubted that her husband would agree to spend hours on a trip. “But he may not have time to go.”
“He can send one of his retainers,” Fugatami said, writing characters on paper.
A sudden inspiration quickened Reiko’s heartbeat. She and Lady Keisho-in were going to see High Priest Anraku tomorrow morning, but she had nothing to do afterward, and Shinagawa wasn’t far from the Zōjō district. “I could go as my husband’s representative,” she suggested.
“You?” Surprise lifted Minister Fugatami’s voice; he stopped writing and stared at Reiko with the same disapproval as when they’d first met. “That would be most inappropriate.”
“We wouldn’t have to travel together,” Reiko said, understanding that a woman couldn’t join an official procession. “Nor would I interfere with your business.” That would be an even worse breach of social custom. “I propose simply to watch and report back to my husband.”
The minister hesitated, studying her in the flickering lantern light. Reiko could see him estimating how much influence she had over Sano and weighing his desire for his mission’s success against the impropriety of honoring her request. At last he nodded.
“Very well,” he said reluctantly. He wrote the letter and handed it to Reiko. “If the sōsakan-sama cannot go to Shinagawa, and you happen to be there, I won’t prevent you from observing my investigation.”
15
Though wisdom be hard to fathom,
Be firm in power of will and concentration,
Have neither doubt nor regret,
And you shall perceive the truth.
– FROM THE BLACK LOTUS SUTRA
So the murdered woman was a peasant folk-healer named Chie,” Sano said to Hirata as they walked through the outer courtyard of Sano’s estate. “That was a good idea to post notices around town. I commend your excellent work.”
“Oh, it was just luck,” Hirata said modestly.
In the deepening twilight, lanterns burned outside the barracks; detectives led horses to the stables. Sano said, “A patient at the temple hospital says a nurse named Chie disappeared. Her name and vocation match those of the wife of the carpenter you interviewed.”
“Therefore, the murdered woman was connected with the Black Lotus,” Hirata said, “which contradicts the sect leaders’ claim that nobody is missing from the temple.”
“Apparently.” Consternation filled Sano. Had the many priests and nuns he’d interviewed today, who’d all said they knew nothing about the crimes or the mystery victims, lied to him? Was the peaceful harmony he’d observed at the temple an illusion that hid the activities that a young man purporting to be a novice monk had described to Reiko?
The identification of the woman lent support to Reiko’s theory of a Black Lotus conspiracy designed to sabotage the investigation; yet Sano still couldn’t agree with Reiko that Haru was an innocent victim, after what he’d learned about the girl today.
He and Hirata entered the mansion and found Reiko in the corridor, removing her cloak and talking to Midori and a maid. When Reiko saw Sano, she started nervously. “Oh. Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” Sano said, concerned because she’d obviously stayed out late again and wondering why.
The maid took Reiko’s cloak, bowed, and left. There was an uncomfortable silence as Hirata smiled at Midori, she looked away from him, and tension gathered between Sano and Reiko.
“It seems that we have things to discuss,” Sano said at last. “Let’s go to my office.”
There he sat at his desk on the raised platform. Hirata knelt opposite him to his right, Reiko to his left. Midori, who’d apparently thought his invitation included her, sat beside Reiko. Sano said to his wife, “What have you learned today?”
“This morning I went to see Haru.” Although she feared how Sano would react to what she was going to say, Reiko managed to match his controlled manner. She described how she’d found Priest Kumashiro trying to force Haru into confessing. She explained that Haru had admitted misbehaving at the Black Lotus Temple but had reformed, and been forced into sex with Commander Oyama. “Kumashiro says he has an alibi, but he and Oyama were enemies. He seems more likely a killer than Haru. He actually threatened me. I believe Haru is in danger from him, so I took her to stay at my father’s house.”
“You did what?” Alarm shattered Sano’s calm façade.
“Haru was so afraid of Kumashiro that she wanted to run away,” Reiko said. “You wouldn’t have wanted me to let her go, would you? I had to put her someplace she would feel safe. My father agreed to take her in. What’s wrong with that?”
Hirata frowned; Midori looked baffled. Sano drew and slowly released a deep breath, as though willing self-control. “Today I met Haru’s parents,” he said.
Startled, Reiko said, “What are you talking about?”
“Haru’s parents,” Sano repeated, adding with a touch of reproach, “are alive and well in Kojimachi. Haru isn’t an orphan at all.”