His cousin glared. “How dare you suggest such a thing!”
“What did you and Tomoe quarrel about the day before she died?”
“Who says we quarreled?”
“Kenzo. He overheard you. My guess is that you tried to dismiss her and she threatened you. What did she know that would make you tolerate her in your house?”
Koremori flushed and looked away. His pudgy fingers drummed on the desk. After a moment, he heaved a deep sigh. “I suppose it had to come out. You see before you a broken man. I’m ashamed of my foolishness. Look at me, Akitada. I’m old and ugly. Yoshiko only wanted me for my wealth. I knew about those visits from the handsome Sakanoue, but she claimed they were related and merely good friends. I accepted it. I’ve been very lonely since my wife died. I did not want to lose Yoshiko. It was hopeless, of course. I surprised them caressing each other. The nurse, who should have been there, left them alone together—a serious dereliction of her duty, but no doubt Sakanoue paid her off. I was very angry with the woman and called her to my study to dismiss her. She became rude and threatened to tell people about the affair. That is what Kenzo overheard.” Koremori shuddered and buried his face in his hands.
Akitada felt an unaccustomed surge of pity for his cousin.
Koremori dropped his hands. “It must have been Sakanoue who tried to poison me. Yes, I’m sure it is his handwriting on the tag. Yoshiko recognized it too—do you remember? Dear heaven, perhaps she even helped him. Oh, what a fool I’ve been!”
Akitada did not like any part of this theory and stiffened his resolve. “Are you accusing your mistress and Sakanoue of plotting to kill you? What would be their motive?”
Koremori made a face. “Isn’t it obvious? They are lovers.”
“That is ludicrous. The poisoned incense could have killed everyone at the party, and Sakanoue was to be a participant.”
“You forget that I test all samples first. He knew that and expected me to be dead before the judging. I don’t think I like your attitude, Akitada. What is the matter with you? You’re my cousin. We are family.”
Akitada snapped, “By marriage only, I’m thankful to say.”
“What?” Koremori’s face reddened. “You would do well to think before you insult me.”
“I have thought. You killed the old woman because she blackmailed you, and now you are trying to punish Yoshiko and Sakanoue by accusing them.”
Koremori’s eyes bulged. “Have you gone mad?”
“Sakanoue and Yoshiko have no need to kill you. Yoshiko can leave you anytime. But your pride cannot tolerate scandal. I expect the nurse knew that.”
“That is an outrageous lie. Get out of my house, now!”
“I’m not done, Cousin. There is still the little matter of murder. As an expert in the preparation of incense, you are familiar with poisonous substances, and you knew the nurse was fanatical about her shrine ritual. You made sure there would be none of the usual incense in the house. Then you prepared the poisoned incense and left it where she would find it. You murdered her, Koremori.”
Koremori stared at him. “I never knew you, Akitada. Your mother was right about you all along.”
Even coming from Koremori, that hurt. Akitada rose and looked down at his cousin. “You don’t know me at all, Koremori. I never liked you, but I didn’t think you capable of murder. You actually gloated over the old woman’s death and made verses about it. Then you tried to use me to pin the crime on your rival. You made sure that I had all the clues: the tag written by Sakanoue and his relationship with Yoshiko. And, while you were about it, you got rid of Yoshiko’s kitten. It irritated you, and you used it to test your poison.”
Koremori gave him a twisted smile. “You think you’re clever, but you are only a fool after all. Even if you were right, you could do nothing. There is no proof.”
“That remains to be seen. I will lay charges against you, and the police will question your friends, your servants, and Lady Yoshiko. They will find I am right. Even if by some miracle you escape prosecution, the scandal of the investigation will put an end to your social life.” Seeing Koremori’s fury, he added, “What would your son have thought of such a father ... or did the old nurse perhaps reveal something of his true parentage?”
Koremori turned perfectly white. “You would not dare drag Akemori’s name into this. His memory is sacred.” He looked up at the scroll about a man’s duty to his past and future generations. “Have you no family feeling?” he asked with a shaking voice. “We are related, Akitada. What about your mother? What about your sisters? Will you ruin them too?”
Akitada had hit on the true motive for the murder. Akemori had not been his cousin’s son. He cared nothing whatsoever about Koremori’s reputation or his family pride, and he did not want his money, but he knew his mother. In her world, the life of an aged servant was negligible when compared to the honor of an aristocratic house.
His cousin was a broken man. The aging lover had been betrayed by his mistress. The doting father had learned that his beloved son was not his own. Koremori seemed sad and pathetic rather than evil.
Koremori saw Akitada’s determination waver and pleaded. “Don’t do this. I’m an old man and have nothing left but my name. Yes, I wanted to punish the old woman for her lies, but I didn’t know she would die. I just wanted to make her ill. It was an unfortunate accident.”
“I am sorry for you, Cousin,” Akitada said uneasily, “but you know that I must tell the police.”
Koremori’s head sank. “I understand,” he muttered. “You want my life. Very well. Give me until morning to put my affairs in order. My will. I want to make provisions for the old woman’s family and for my servants.”
“You will only get exile,” said Akitada.
“I want to die. I have nothing left. Akitada, would you let me die by my own hand? Please Akitada? A death for a death. Isn’t that enough? Let me keep my honor and my good name.”
Suicide was not what Akitada wanted; it made him both judge and executioner. It was also improper to suppress his knowledge of a crime. But he knew that to his cousin death was preferable to the public shame, which would accomplish little for the victim.
They stared at each other. “Please!” Koremori said again, and Akitada nodded.
* * * *
The next morning Akitada sat in his room in the black depression that had seized him during a sleepless night. He had regretted his promise almost immediately. Soon he would be told of Koremori’s death. Nothing had been gained by it, except some money for the dead woman’s family. The fact that he was spared his mother’s wrath only made him feel worse.
When Captain Kobe was announced, Akitada was gloomy but not apprehensive. “Please sit down, Captain. What brings you?”
Kobe sat and looked at him fixedly. “There has been a tragedy at the Kiyowara mansion. Koremori was your cousin, I understand?”
Akitada nodded and sighed. “On my mother’s side. Thank you for bringing the news, Captain.”