“I’m neither a murderer nor traitor,” Sano denied vehemently. “I’m innocent, and I’ll prove it.”
Lord Matsudaira jabbed his finger into Sano’s chest. “Mitsuyoshi’s brothers and retainers know what you are, and if you approach them, they’ll kill you to avenge his death. Consider it a favor from me that I deny you permission to speak to them. I wouldn’t willingly trespass on His Excellency’s right to determine your fate, but if you come here again or go near any members of my household-” He drew his sword, brandished it at Sano, and shouted, “I’ll kill you myself and save the executioner the trouble!”
The detectives leapt between Sano and Lord Matsudaira’s sword; the guards drew their weapons, anticipating a battle. “Even as you accuse me and threaten me, the real killer is out there somewhere,” Sano said. “If you won’t cooperate with my investigation and you join my enemies in condemning me, you’ll deny your son the justice he deserves. The murderer will walk free.”
Fixing a long, hostile look on Sano, Lord Matsudaira said, “He already has.” Then he addressed the guards: “Escort the sōsakan-sama off the premises before I personally deliver him to justice.”
As soon as Sano and Hirata had left her to begin their inquiries into Lord Mitsuyoshi’s background, Reiko had gone to the palace to begin hers. She’d hoped to coax her cousin Eri and friends among the shogun’s concubines and their attendants into telling her what they knew about Lord Mitsuyoshi. But the chief female palace official said everyone was too busy to talk. Her cold manner told Reiko the unhappy truth: The women had heard that Sano was on the brink of ruin, and they all had withdrawn their friendship from his wife because they didn’t want her troubles to infect them. Visits to friends and relatives in the official quarter ended the same way, and Reiko went home feeling like a pariah.
As she sat in her parlor, terrified that she’d lost her power to help Sano, one of Sano’s detectives appeared at the door. He said, “I have information that the sōsakan-sama told me to report to you if he wasn’t available. I’ve found the bathhouse where Lady Wisteria’s friend Yuya works.” He gave a location in Nihonbashi. “I searched the place this morning, and there was no sign of Wisteria. Everyone denies knowing anything about her-but I think Yuya was lying.”
Reiko was thrilled, because her visit to the courtesan’s family had produced a possible lead. Perhaps if she talked to Yuya, she could get the truth. “Please summon an escort to take me to the bathhouse at once,” she said.
The detective went off to obey. Reiko hurried to her chamber to dress for the trip. She’d just strapped her dagger under her sleeve, when the nursemaid O-hana sidled into the room.
“You’re very busy lately, Honorable Mistress,” O-hana said.
Reiko frowned at the intrusion. She suspected that O-hana had been eavesdropping. “Yes, I am,” Reiko said in a tone that discouraged conversation. She noted that O-hana seemed nervous and her eyes were brighter than usual.
O-hana ignored the hint that she should go. “Are you going out again?” she said eagerly.
“Yes.” Reiko’s dislike of the girl increased, even though O-hana had done her a service by introducing her to Wisteria’s family. Her senses stirred alert to a new malevolence about O-hana. She inwardly rebuked herself for feelings based on fancy, not reason. How could she break the spell of the Black Lotus, stop imagining threats that didn’t exist, and concentrate on the ones that did?
“I heard that the sōsakan-sama has been accused of murder and treason.” O-hana edged closer to Reiko. “How awful!”
“Indeed,” Reiko said flatly. O-hana had overstepped the bounds of courtesy by mentioning Sano’s problems, and Reiko resented O-hana’s obvious hunger for sordid details.
“I’m so sorry. You must be very worried about what’s happened.” O-hana knelt cautiously, like a cat settling down in a place where it feels insecure. “I hope I haven’t upset you more by speaking of it.”
Instead of heeding her wish to order the girl back to work, Reiko forced a smile and said, “It’s all right.” O-hana was only offering sympathy as best she knew how. Personal problems were no excuse for ill temper toward an innocent servant.
“You and the sōsakan-sama have been good to me, and I’d hate for anything bad to happen to you,” O-hana said. An odd, furtive note echoed in her voice, almost as if she felt the opposite of what she said. After a pause, she blurted, “I wish I could make all these troubles disappear.”
Reiko fought her suspicion, because there was no reason to think O-hana meant her harm. “Thank you,” Reiko said more warmly. “I’m sorry if I seemed harsh. I am a little worried.”
O-hana blushed, hunching in inexplicable shame. “I don’t deserve your apology,” she mumbled.
But there definitely was something off about O-hana that Reiko couldn’t attribute to her own overactive imagination. “What’s the matter?” she said.
“Nothing!” The girl sat up straight, as if jabbed in the back. “It’s kind of you to ask, but I’m fine.” She gave Reiko a too-bright smile. “It’s your situation that concerns me. What are you going to do?”
Unconvinced, Reiko eyed her closely. “I’ll try to discover who killed Lord Mitsuyoshi and prove my husband’s innocence.”
“Maybe I can help,” O-hana said. “Shall I go with you?”
Her readiness to intrude again aroused new suspicion in Reiko. “You can help me by staying here and attending to your duties,” Reiko said.
“Yes, Honorable Mistress.”
A look of pique and disappointment flitted across O-hana’s face, but she bowed meekly, rose, and sidled away. Reiko hurried outside to her waiting palanquin.
Sano and his detectives walked down the passage leading away from the Tokugawa family enclave. Through the gun holes and arrow slits in the enclosed corridors that topped the high walls, Sano heard the guards conversing while they waited to shoot anyone who invaded the castle. He kept his eyes focused straight ahead and his face expressionless, concealing his fear as he passed beneath watchtowers occupied by more guards. There was no security here for a man accused of treason. Sano felt like an enemy soldier trapped in the castle, because the might of the Tokugawa would turn on him unless he somehow obtained the information he’d failed to get from Lord Matsudaira and cleared his name.
“Sōsakan-sama!” Rapid footsteps behind Sano accompanied the call. “May I please speak with you?”
Sano turned and saw, running down the passage toward him, the guard who’d watched him so intently at the Matsudaira estate. He halted, glad that someone from the household was willing to talk to him.
“Yes,” Sano said. The guard lurched to a stop before him, panting from exertion, and bowed. “Go ahead.”
The guard looked around, his sensitive face taut with nervousness. He mumbled, “In private, if we may?”
“As you wish.” Sano signaled his men to move ahead, while he walked with the guard.
“Many thanks.” Though the guard spoke with breathless relief, he dawdled, his shoulders hunched and his gaze furtive.
Sano studied the man while allowing him time to compose himself. He had a frown that wrinkled the skin of his upper eyelids, and a delicate mouth that lent him a vulnerable air despite his muscular heft.
“What’s your name?” Sano said.
“Wada,” the guard said, as if making a guilty admission.
“Don’t be afraid, Wada-san. I appreciate your coming to me,” Sano said.
They traveled some twenty paces before Wada said in an almost inaudible voice, “Family reputation is very important to my master. He loved his son and wants to preserve only the good memories of him.”