“I was working at the Ministry,” Akitada said.
“You might have considered that my problem outweighed whatever it is you law clerks do all day long,” Koremori said angrily. “You are a great disappointment to your mother and me. At your age, my son Akemori was already a captain in the emperor’s personal guard.”
He was probably right about his work, but Akitada was not about to agree. Koremori had always thought his late son excelled in all areas while Akitada was a dismal failure. He had this in common with Akitada’s mother.
“I wanted you to be here to make sure the police don’t gloss over this matter,” he continued when Akitada said nothing. “My assassin must be found. Frankly, this Kobe fellow struck me as a lazy official.”
“Kobe is a hardworking and conscientious officer. You can safely leave the matter in his hands.” It was the truth, even though the captain had never missed an opportunity to be ungracious to Akitada.
Koremori seemed to swell. “Are you refusing to help me?”
Akitada bit his lip and said, “What makes you think someone is trying to kill you?”
His cousin settled down. “That’s better. Well, as you know, I am preparing for another incense party. I believe the old crone helped herself to some of the incense from that table over there. With the judging to be tomorrow! And now I have a death in the house, and the whole affair will have to be called off. It is outrageous.”
A house where there had been a death was taboo because contact with the dead made people ritually impure. But clearly this had not prevented Koremori from sending for Akitada, who said somewhat curtly, “Tell me about the dead woman.”
Koremori scowled. “She was my late wife’s nurse and then my son’s. I should not have kept her. She was clearly past her duties. She only took care of the ancestral altar, replacing the food offerings and burning incense to the spirits of the dead every morning. When the servants found her dead, they called me.” He paused and gazed into the distance—perhaps picturing the scene in his mind. “‘Dead as dust and cold as copper coins,’ you might say.”
In addition to incense parties, Koremori was also devoted to poetry contests and practiced whenever an opportunity arose.
“Dust and copper coins?” Akitada did control his sarcasm.
“Don’t be dense. It’s what she was lying on. Ashes from the overturned incense burner and a little pile of coins from one of the offerings to the dead. The line symbolizes the futility of human desires rather neatly, don’t you think?”
“Very appropriate.” Akitada felt slightly sick.
“You may jot it down for future reference,” Koremori said.
“What about the incense? How did she get it?”
Koremori rose. “Come and see for yourself.”
On the table near the door, the tray now held only one small packet wrapped in paper, tied with silk, and labeled with an elegantly brushed phrase. One end of the paper twist had been opened and refolded carelessly. Akitada bent and sniffed. The remnant of ground incense inside seemed to have the same odor as the ancestral shrine.
He had heard stories about people becoming ill after experimenting with exotic combinations of incense ingredients, but like the constable, he had never encountered a case where the victim had been killed. The opened package was labeled transcendent life.
“How do you know this was poison?” Akitada asked. “Apparently the police think the nurse died from natural causes.”
“Hah! That shows you what they know. There was a very unpleasant smell in the shrine. When we found the dead woman, my majordomo mentioned that she had complained earlier about running out of incense, but she had clearly found some. Then I came in here and I saw that this sample had been opened. It arrived late yesterday. I decided to test it. But after getting a pinch started, I was called out of the room. When I returned, there was the same strong stench in the room and Yoshiko’s cat lay on the floor, dead. I held my breath and ran to open all the shutters to air out the room but nearly fainted anyway. There’s your proof that someone wants to murder me.”
Akitada regarded his cousin. Koremori looked very ill, but Akitada did not like the note of triumph in his voice. Still, poisonous incense would explain the dead flies in the shrine. There was something vaguely troubling about the scenario, something that had nothing to do with Koremori’s fears. “Whose incense sample is this?” he asked, nudging the opened paper with his fingernail.
“I don’t know. The samples are anonymous. We identify each sample by its title.” Koremori detached the label and gave it to Akitada before returning to his desk.
Akitada followed, frowning at the label. “But why would the nurse help herself to a contest sample?” he asked.
“How should I know? She was a very unpleasant and disobedient servant and was probably too lazy to get fresh incense from the household stores. Really, it served her right.” He paused, then added, “It was lucky in a way. If she had not helped herself, I would not have discovered the plot and would be dead by now.”
Akitada thought the luck depended on your point of view. His dislike for Koremori increased. He laid the label on the desk. “Whom do you suspect?”
“No idea. That’s where you come in, my dear Akitada. Your success in criminal investigations is well known. You will work it out quickly, I’m sure.”
“If this is a murder case, I’m afraid I cannot get involved. The minister has strictly forbidden it.”
“Soga?” Koremori waved a dismissive hand. “Never mind. I will speak to him.”
“I doubt he will permit it. He has been very clear on that point in the past. I regret that I cannot be of assistance, Cousin, but Captain Kobe is very efficient.”
Koremori opened his mouth to protest when the door opened and a teary-eyed and agitated Lady Yoshiko rushed in. “Oh, Koremori,” she cried, wringing her hands, “it is too dreadful! What shall be done about poor Oigimi? I’m too distraught to manage.” She saw Akitada and blushed. “Cousin Akitada,” she murmured, raising her sleeve to dab at her eyes.
Koremori looked away.
“Perhaps,” offered Akitada, “I may be of assistance, Lady Yoshiko. If you are worried about funeral arrangements for, er, Oigimi, I could stop at a temple and ask the monks to come and read the services.”
She looked at him with a tremulous smile. “You are the kindest man, Akitada,” she murmured. “Do you think they would come?”
“Don’t be an idiot, Akitada,” snapped Koremori. “Oigimi was her cat.”
“Oh,” said Akitada.
The young woman looked reproachful. “She was a very beautiful cat, black with four white paws, and so sweet. She never left my side. I am sure some divine creature’s soul inhabited her body.”
“Never mind, my dear.” Koremori was irritated but he restrained himself. “We are very busy just now. Please speak to one of the servants about the cat.”