Reiko believed as wholeheartedly as Sano did that Yanagisawa was Yoshisato’s father. But she knew that if Lady Someko confessed her fraud, she would face much worse consequences than divorce. The shogun would have her and Yoshisato put to death.
“That’s a good point,” Reiko said. “But I figured I might as well try.”
“You can stop trying my patience. Tell me about the investigation.”
Reiko watched Lady Someko closely as she said, “My husband thinks the shogun’s daughter was deliberately infected with smallpox.”
Lady Someko looked disappointed. “Tell me something I haven’t already heard.”
“A witness found a sheet stained with blood and pus hidden in Tsuruhime’s room.”
“Who is the witness?” Caution crept into Lady Someko’s voice. “Where is this sheet?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.” Reiko didn’t want to admit that the sheet was missing or reveal the witness’s identity.
“Ah.” Lady Someko’s expression suggested that the evidence was fabricated. She relaxed slightly.
“Have you heard that Yanagisawa is a suspect?”
“Yes. Did your husband whip up the murder investigation just to get him in trouble?”
Reiko was angry that Lady Someko dared accuse Sano of such a reprehensible motive. But of course Lady Someko needed to believe Yanagisawa was innocent. Her fate and Yoshisato’s were tied to his. Reiko said, “Yanagisawa had good reason to kill Tsuruhime. She was pregnant when she died.”
Lady Someko’s painted eyebrows flew up. “How do you know?”
“I’m not at liberty to say. Did Yanagisawa know?”
Lady Someko was silent. Reiko couldn’t read the thoughts behind the glitter in her eyes, Had Lady Someko known about Tsuruhime’s pregnancy? “What’s the matter? Are you upset by the idea that Yanagisawa killed a pregnant woman, for political reasons?”
“You’re the one who ought to be upset,” Lady Someko said, recovering her sly humor. “Your husband probably murdered Tsuruhime himself, in order to frame Yanagisawa.”
The accusation was so ludicrous that Reiko didn’t bother replying to it. “Did Yoshisato know?”
“No. He couldn’t have. He never even met Tsuruhime. He certainly didn’t kill her.” The white makeup hid the angry rush of blood to Lady Someko’s face, but the bare skin on her bosom reddened above the neckline of her kimono. “He’s not capable of murder.”
“A lot has happened to him during the past few months,” Reiko said. “All of a sudden he has power. That can change a man, especially one so young and impressionable.”
“Not Yoshisato. He’s a good boy,” Lady Someko declared. “I know my son.”
“Not as well as you think.” Reiko hated to disillusion a mother about her child; but she must, for the sake of her own children. “Yoshisato did meet Tsuruhime. He went to visit her shortly before she came down with smallpox.”
The anger on Lady Someko’s face froze. The skin on her bosom went white. “No. He never told me.” Reiko realized she’d been suspicious and afraid all along that Yoshisato was involved in Tsuruhime’s death. “You’re lying.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not,” Reiko said, genuinely contrite. “Yoshisato admitted it to my husband when they spoke yesterday. He had a chance to plant the sheet.”
“There must be some other explanation for why he went.” Lady Someko sounded uncertain yet eager to convince herself. “He didn’t kill Tsuruhime.”
“You think he might have,” Reiko pointed out. “You suspected it even before you found out that he’d visited Tsuruhime. That’s another reason you wanted to talk to me. Why did you suspect him? Was it something he did or said?”
“I didn’t! There was nothing!” Lady Someko’s chest rose and fell with quickened, anxious breaths.
“He may have started out good, but he’s been under Yanagisawa’s influence. Yanagisawa has had people assassinated. He wouldn’t stop at murdering the shogun’s daughter to put Yoshisato at the head of the regime.”
“Yoshisato isn’t like him!” Aghast, Lady Someko sprang to her feet.
“Then again, maybe Yanagisawa didn’t have to kill Tsuruhime,” Reiko went on, merciless in pursuit of the truth, “because Yoshisato did.”
As a child Reiko had gone to the city with her grandmother and they’d seen a woman tied to a stake, about to be burned as punishment for arson. Her grandmother had pulled her away before the fire was set, but Reiko had never forgotten the woman. Now Reiko saw the same wild, desperate expression on Lady Someko. She’d voiced Lady Someko’s worst nightmare-that Yoshisato would turn into Yanagisawa, his real father. A draft stirred Lady Someko’s robes. The reddish-bronze silk glowed like flames consuming her body.
“I’ve begun to think Yoshisato is guilty,” Reiko said, “and so have you.”
The thought that she was getting close to solving the murder gave her pause: Sano wouldn’t welcome evidence against Yoshisato.
Lady Someko said in a low, venomous voice, “Tell your husband to leave Yoshisato alone.” The glitter in her eyes concentrated into two brilliant pinpoints of hatred. “If he doesn’t, he’ll answer to Yanagisawa. And you’ll answer to me.”
22
Across the river, Hirata spied on Deguchi through the concealing foliage of the trees. More than three hours had passed while they sat on the roof of the barracks. Deguchi hadn’t moved, hadn’t taken his gaze off the garden inside the estate across the street. The garden was deserted, peaceful in the hazy afternoon sunlight. Then a man shuffled out of the mansion and down the steps of the veranda. A hump on his back distorted his stunted figure. It was Lord Ienobu.
As Ienobu slouched along the garden path, Deguchi leaned forward. His right hand held a small object, which he rubbed between his fingers. It looked like a pebble. Deguchi lifted his hand, sighted on Ienobu, drew back his arm. Hirata acted instinctively. He sprang, burst through the tree branches, and landed with a loud thump beside Deguchi at the same moment Deguchi hurled the pebble.
The pebble flew so fast that it made a whizzing sound, glowed white like a comet, and trailed a thin orange flame. It zoomed close by Ienobu’s head and struck the wall of the mansion with a thud. An instant later, a loud boom rocked the sky. Particles of plaster sprayed around a wisp of smoke. Ienobu looked around. He frowned in confusion. He didn’t see the hole where the pebble had embedded itself in the wall. He didn’t know that it had been meant to pierce his skull and kill him. Shaking his head, he ambled around the corner of the mansion.
Deguchi swiveled toward Hirata. Astonished and furious, he mouthed the words, You made me miss! What are you doing here?
“Why did you just try to kill Ienobu?” Hirata asked.
As they stared at each other in mutual bewilderment, Hirata realized he’d lost his chance to kill Deguchi. The priest now knew Hirata had been following him. He would be on his guard. Hirata also realized why General Otani had ordered him to kill Deguchi. General Otani knew Deguchi would try to assassinate Ienobu. Hirata had been sent to stop Deguchi.
“I think we both have some explaining to do,” Hirata said.
They jumped off the roof and walked to the townspeople’s quarter near the river. They sat on the bank of a stagnant canal. Hirata asked, “Why did you do it? You know General Otani wants Ienobu to be the next shogun. Why did you go against him and Tahara and Kitano?” Hirata was astounded by his discovery that he wasn’t the only member at odds with the secret society.
Deguchi reached over and took his hand.
“Hey!” Hirata flinched from the intimate gesture.
Deguchi waggled his finger to express that he wasn’t making sexual advances. He closed his hand around Hirata’s, and Hirata heard a quiet male voice that traveled along the nerves in his arm, up into his head: Can you hear me?