Since chairs were by no means common—in fact, not even the emperor used such a piece of furniture—Akitada stared in surprise. If it had not been for the elaborate coils of shiny black hair trimmed with red ribbons and the chalk-white face with heavy “moth” eyebrows painted somewhere high above the kohl-rimmed eyes, he would have taken Miss Plumblossom for a fat abbot of a Buddhist monastery.
“Well, if it isn’t the superintendent himself!” fluted the lady in the chair. “How very gratifying!”
“How do you do, Miss Plumblossom,” said Kobe, stiff-faced. “Now, where is this man you suspect of being the slasher?”
The painted eyebrows rose another inch. “Tsk. Tsk. Superintendent. Is that mannerly? Surely there is no need to be so abrupt, seeing that I have saved the police months, maybe years of trouble, by catching the monster.”
“Madam,” snapped Kobe, “I have little time to waste. Let me see the fellow now. We have absolutely no proof that you have the right man.”
“Ah! But I have. Identified by his victim, Superintendent. When he was about to attack her again.”
Kobe glanced at the young woman with the averted face. “If I recall, last time I spoke with her, your maid said she could not describe her attacker. She said it was too dark and she passed out. How, then, can she be sure now?”
“She knew him, all right. The monster grabbed her again. The other night, right outside my establishment. Out in the alley. Meant to kill her this time, no doubt, to keep her from identifying him. We would have caught him then, but it was dark and he got away.”
Kobe muttered something that sounded like a curse. Miss Plumblossom’s eyebrows climbed again and she pursed her red lips disapprovingly.
“If he got away,” Kobe said with forced patience, “how is it that you have him now?”
“Hah! The fool made another attempt in broad daylight, thinking he hadn’t been recognized. Walked right in here, bold as brass. Poor Yukiyo happened to be with me.” Miss Plumblossom put a pudgy hand on the head of the young woman, who seemed to shrink into herself. “Yukiyo’s eyes almost popped out, she dropped the dishes and screamed so loud the tiles rattled on the roof. That’s when the animal rushed forward to wring her neck, but I kicked him in the jewels. Appropriate, don’t you think?”
Kobe grimaced. “Ouch!”
“Well, of course that brought him to his knees. Then Mr. Oishi here, who was waiting for his wrestling lesson, jumped on top of him, and flattened him out proper. We tied him up and threw him in the back room. I doubt he’ll give you any trouble, but you’ll have to carry him back.”
“All right, let’s have a look at him!” Kobe’s impatience carried him in the direction of the door behind the dais, but Miss Plumblossom stopped him.
“A moment, Superintendent!” she cried, rising majestically from her chair.
He paused, and she preceded him to the door. Willy-nilly the superintendent of the capital police and a highly entertained Akitada followed a mere female, famed acrobat though she was. The constables and Mr. Oishi pressed after them.
Because Miss Plumblossom’s bulk and the broad shoulders of Kobe blocked Akitada’s view of the captured criminal, his first inkling that something was amiss was Kobe’s indrawn breath and the words, “But that’s …” before he stepped aside for Akitada to see the bound man on the floor. The shock of recognition propelled Akitada forward. Pushing both Kobe and Miss Plumblossom rudely aside, he fell down on his knees beside Tora.
Tora was conscious, his face white and glistening with perspiration. “Thank heaven, sir,” he whispered. “Take me home.”
Akitada touched Tora’s face and found it ice-cold. He used a sleeve to dab gently at the beads of sweat. “Yes, of course.” He looked up at Kobe. “I want him untied. Tora was working for me. I trust you remember him?” When Kobe nodded, he went on, “The women have made a terrible mistake. Tora may be badly injured and needs a doctor immediately—if there is a decent one available in this neighborhood. And then perhaps an oxcart to take him home. I will pay the costs.” He turned back to Tora and, tugging at the knots in the rope which tied his hands, asked, “How badly are you hurt, do you think?”
“Don’t know. My ribs. Can’t breathe well.” Tora paused, took a careful breath, and added, “That fiend of a woman kicked me in the groin. The second kick today.” He closed his eyes. A tear escaped and slowly trickled down the side of his face. Akitada, sick with worry, tossed aside the rope and dabbed Tora’s face again.
Kobe finished untying Tora’s feet and then confronted a very nervous Miss Plumblossom. “Well, it looks like you put your foot in it properly this time, madam,” he growled. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Miss Plumblossom stammered, “B-but he was attacking Yukiyo right in front of us. We saw him. Didn’t we, Mr. Oishi?”
“Well,” said Mr. Oishi, with a voice surprisingly high for a man of his bulk, “he was certainly walking fast. When you kicked him, I naturally assumed he meant you harm. Else why would you do such a thing?”
“Quite right.” Miss Plumblossom nodded. “I was provoked into a defensive action. The law permits me to protect myself and members of my family. I know my rights, because I had a learned man read my license to me.”
“Get the doctor!” Akitada was on his feet, glaring at her, furious at the delay. “He is in pain and may have suffered permanent damage. We can unravel the tale later.”
Miss Plumblossom flushed and offered timidly, “I have some knowledge of treating injuries. I’ll take a look at him.”
“No!” Tora gasped, wild-eyed. “Keep the fiend away from me! Get Seimei!”
Akitada laid a soothing hand on Tora’s wrist. “Seimei is too far away. You need some help now, and then we’ll take you home.” Turning back to Miss Plumblossom, he demanded, “Who is the best doctor hereabouts? Quick, woman, before I lose my temper completely and lay charges for your arrest! You are clearly a menace who should never have been licensed in the first place.”
Miss Plumblossom shrank back before his flashing eyes. “The Temple of the Twelve Divine Generals is just around the corner. One of the monks there practices healing. But he’s getting old—”
Akitada told one of the constables, “Get the man!” The constable looked at Kobe, who nodded.
“Tell him to bring ice!” cried Miss Plumblossom after him, adding for Akitada’s benefit, “To bring down the swelling of the jewels.”
Tora groaned and turned his face away. Akitada knelt back down by his side. “My poor fellow. I am so sorry. I suppose you were looking for that girl. Gold, was it?”
Tora nodded.
“I should not have spoken to you the way I did yesterday. Please accept my apologies.”
Tora nodded again, then reached for Akitada’s hand and squeezed it.
“What’s this about a girl?” asked Kobe, startled by Akitada’s humble apology to a servant.
“I asked Tora to find a group of actors who may have witnessed the murder in the temple. One of the young women promised to meet him last night in the pleasure quarter. I would not let him go, so he came today, no doubt worried about her safety.”
Miss Plumblossom gave a little gasp. “Gold! I might have known!” Raising her voice, she called, “Yukiyo! Come here this instant!”
The maid crept in. Her face was averted, but Akitada saw enough of it to be appalled.
“Come here, girl,” commanded Miss Plumblossom. “Look at this young man well! Are you certain that he cut your face?”
The maid trembled and wept, but she shook her head mutely.
“He didn’t?” roared Miss Plumblossom. “Then how could you say so?”
“I… I… he grabbed my arm outside … in the alley. He frightened me.” The maid’s speech was marred by her missing upper lip, but they understood her.