"Reasonably. We have ruled out robbery. Too many servants about and nothing was taken. One of the servants saw him running from Masayoshi's house as if devils were after him. Who can say what sets a violent person off? It does not take much."
Silence fell while Akitada wondered if he had any responsibility for Shigeyori's actions. Perhaps he could have handled the interview more gently. Then it occurred to him that Kobe must have something else on his mind with this personal visit. “Do you have doubts about his guilt?” he asked hopefully.
"Well, he denies doing it. Very firmly. And Masayoshi had enemies. I wondered if you...” Kobe stopped.
"Yes?"
"He gave you as a character reference and asked that we talk to you. He thought you might act on his behalf."
Akitada was appalled. What had possessed Shigeyori? And after their unpleasant talk this morning? But perhaps the clerk had been clever, thinking that such an appeal to Akitada's fairness would cause him to feel guilty. It did.
Worse, taking on Shigeyori's case would ruin tomorrow's holiday with his family. They were to take a boat ride on the Katsura River. He had disappointed his family too often already, and the excursion had been planned for months. His wife Tamako and her maid had been busy cutting and sewing new summer robes for the occasion. This very morning, Tamako had been in the kitchen, humming with happiness as she prepared delicious foods for the outing. No, he would not crush her hopes again.
He was about to refuse outright when it occurred to him that he might at least use the rest of the day to ask some questions. Possibly, something might turn up to help Shigeyori. And that would go a long way to ease his conscience and let him enjoy his holiday.
"I don't have much time,” he said to Kobe, explaining their plans, “but tell me what happened and I will talk to some people today."
Kobe nodded. “Briefly then: Shigeyori was seen running from the main house where Masayoshi's room is. The servant who saw him said he looked as if he had seen a ghost or something—his words. A short while later, another servant took the midday rice to his master and found Masayoshi slumped over his desk. He had been stabbed in the back. Masayoshi's known visitors that morning all insist that the man was alive and in good spirits when they left."
"And Shigeyori?"
"He claims he never saw Masayoshi. A lie, of course."
"What did he say he was doing there?"
"Secretly visiting the daughter."
"In broad daylight? When the father had forbidden the relationship?"
"Exactly."
"You have the weapon?"
"No. It was either a large knife or a short sword. We searched Shigeyori's rooms."
Akitada pursed his lips. “Hmm. Tell me about the other visitors."
"Two of Masayoshi's colleagues, Kajiwara Heizo and Kiso Yasuhira, stopped by on business matters. Neither stayed long. Nothing suspicious about it, but they came separately."
"Did they explain?"
"Routine. Something to do with the wardrobe office."
Akitada frowned. Few senior officials enjoyed being troubled at home. If Kajiwara and Kiso found it necessary to call on Masayoshi, it might be that they had a reason that was anything but routine.
Kobe apparently agreed. “Office gossip has it that neither was on good terms with Masayoshi."
"They are the enemies you mentioned?"
"Well, they may have motives, though there are others."
Akitada raised his brows. “Really?"
Kobe grinned. “He was not a likeable man, forever criticizing others. But there is only one other with a strong motive: Lord Inage. He was a secretary in the Council of State until recently. He and Masayoshi were both mentioned for a lucrative appointment to the governorship of Omi province next year. Masayoshi made some ugly accusations, and Inage was dismissed. And Inage called there today, very angry. He was not admitted, but he could have slipped in the back way—or sent in an assassin."
An assassin? Akitada frowned. It did not seem likely for someone like Masayoshi, who was of minor importance in the administration. “What about his family? Wives? Children?"
"Masayoshi was a widower with a grown daughter, Lady Otoku."
"Only one child? The one Shigeyori was courting?” Akitada, who had lost a child himself and was now raising a little daughter, felt a sudden sympathy for the dead man. Shigeyori was not his idea of a charming son-in-law. He sighed. “The body has been removed?"
"Yes. It looked like a straightforward stabbing.” Seeing Akitada's raised brows, he amplified, “Two wounds to the back. Close together. More than likely both fatal."
From across the Greater Palace grounds came the sound of the gong that marked the time. Akitada glanced out through the open doors at the tile-topped walls and curving roofs of the ministries and government buildings. Beyond, in the haze of cooking fires, the city spread southward toward the confluence of the Kamo and Katsura rivers. Tomorrow he would be there, on a boat, sailing away from his problems.
"The hour of the rooster already,” he said. “It will be sunset in another two hours. I had better start now if I am to find out anything useful today."
When they rose, Kobe said, “I assume you will want to speak to the prisoner first?"
"No.” The thought of seeing Shigeyori again was so unpleasant that Akitada almost snapped at Kobe. At best, Shigeyori had an unstable character; at worst he was a cunning criminal who planned to gain Masayoshi's wealth by marrying his daughter. Kobe gave him a curious look. “No,” Akitada repeated, more calmly. “I'll have a talk with Masayoshi's people. Perhaps there is another explanation."
As he walked through the eastern quarter of the city, he took pleasure in the clear skies, the pleasant breeze, a patch of orange daylilies nodding over a humble bamboo fence, and a pair of sparrows feeding their fluffy youngster. It would be fine weather for their outing tomorrow. Sailing on the river on a summer day was wonderful. He pictured tying off the boat at a charming bank and spreading mats on the grass for the cold picnic his wife Tamako was busily assembling at home. He imagined playing with his little daughter and teaching her how to fish. Perhaps there would be rice cakes filled with sweet chestnuts or sesame seeds, or cold steamed dumplings with shrimp, or quail eggs wrapped in seaweed.
He arrived at the dead man's residence with such an unsuitably happy expression on his face that the gatekeeper stared at him in surprise. Akitada rearranged his face and gave his name and Kobe's, adding that he was assisting the superintendent in his inquiries. The man bowed him in and ran off.
Akitada paused in the neatly raked entrance courtyard and looked about. He was impressed. The compound was large and well maintained, its walls newly whitewashed, and its double gate massive. The main house and adjoining pavilions had expensive tile roofs, and broad stairways led up to deep verandas with red-lacquered balustrades. In spite of the fact that the family consisted only of the master and his daughter, Akitada saw many well-dressed servants—far more than he could maintain on his own salary. Masayoshi's private income must be considerably larger than his stipend from the wardrobe office.
A man's wealth figured prominently among possible reasons for his murder.
He was about to approach one of the servants to begin his questioning when the gatekeeper reappeared at a run and bowed. “My lady will see you now, sir."
This astonished Akitada. First, no unmarried woman of good family received strange males. Secondly, her father had been murdered only hours before and her lover arrested for the crime.
Intrigued, he followed the servant past the main house to the rear of the compound. They passed a small courtyard garden with a dry landscape behind the main hall and approached a charming pavilion. At the foot of its stairs stood two large Chinese planters with small, neatly trimmed orange trees, in imitation of similar ones in the imperial palace. The white pebbles in one of the planters looked disturbed, perhaps by a bird. So far it was the only place that had not been carefully raked or swept. The dead man h
ad evidently insisted on good service.
Lady Otoku received him quite informally. She was at her weaving frame, busily moving a bewildering number of wooden shuttles with brilliant silk threads through the warp of what looked like an exquisite piece of brocade.
Many women of noble families were adept at weaving, but none received callers without hiding behind a screen, or at least covering her face with a fan.
Two maids were with her, already busy sewing the simple hempen garments to be worn by the household in mourning for their master. One of the maids was very young and looked tearful and agitated, but her mistress turned a calm face to Akitada. Lady Otoku was quite pretty, with a round face and even features, but older than he had expected, and that perhaps explained her composure.
He bowed. “Forgive my rude intrusion at this time, Lady Otoku. I hope to be of some help."
She nodded. On her gesture, the older maid dropped her sewing, placed a cushion for him, and then went to pour him a cup of wine.
"I am weaving,” Lady Otoku said in a soft voice, “because I find that keeping my hands busy calms my mind. The police have arrested a young man, I believe?"
Akitada was not sure he had heard correctly. Perhaps she was signaling that she wished to keep her relationship with Shigeyori quiet. He glanced at the maids. The older woman was bent over her work again, but the young girl stared at him with wide, frightened eyes. Or perhaps Shigeyori had lied about the relationship. The weaving loom produced soft clicks as Masayoshi's daughter worked. He said cautiously, “His name is Shigeyori. I have been told that you know him."
"Yes.” She paused to look up from her weaving. “Did Shigeyori do it?"
Her voice was as serene as her eyes. Akitada felt out of his depth at such self-control. “He has denied it, but your servants saw him leaving the main hall shortly before the murder was discovered."
She sighed. “He was here this morning. I do not know if he saw my father also."
Well, she was honest to a fault. Akitada asked, “Who had reason to wish your father dead?"
She frowned at this. “You mean other than Shigeyori?"
Startled, Akitada made sure he had understood her. “Are you saying that Shigeyori had a motive to kill your father?"
"Oh. I thought you knew. He asked to marry me and my father refused. I understand that unpleasant words passed between them."
Akitada digested this. Perhaps her loyalties had shifted to her father after the murder. “This happened today?"
"Oh no. A few weeks ago. Shigeyori and I hoped my father would change his mind."
"And he continued his visits to you? I take it you welcomed his attentions? Are you still planning to marry the young man?"
If he had hoped to embarrass her, he was disappointed. She looked sadly at him. “I don't know what to do. I wish to honor my father's wishes, but I cannot think that he fully appreciated Shigeyori.” She paused. “I suppose I would really like you to find my father's murderer and prove Shigeyori innocent."
Akitada looked at her calm face, her proper gown, the way her hair was tied back so neatly, her air of domesticity at her loom, and wondered how she had inspired passion in the younger Shigeyori. Of course, Shigeyori was ambitious and, as an only child, she would have her father's money. The more he thought about the law clerk, the less he liked his courtship of Lady Otoku.
"The police will do that,” he said firmly. “I take it that you don't really suspect Shigeyori. What about others then?"
"My father had many enemies. He said it was a matter of envy. Men wanted his position, or he threatened theirs.” She paused to eye him speculatively. “I will pay you well to bring his murderer to justice."
"Thank you, but I won't have the time. I am told some other people called here today. Of course, you may not know about all the comings and goings in the compound."
"On the contrary, I know precisely what goes on. I have run my father's household for a number of years now. The servants keep me informed. My father had several visitors today, but only three of interest. Lord Inage stopped by briefly. The two clerks from the wardrobe office also reported. Their names are Kiso and Kajiwara and they came separately, Kiso first and then Kajiwara."
She was truly an astonishing female. A sudden suspicion crossed Akitada's mind. “Do I take it that you have already given Superintendent Kobe these facts?"
"Of course."
He bit his lip. “Is there anything you have not told him?"
There was not. Akitada departed, after repeating his condolences while she repeated her offer, then went to speak to the house servants. Here, however, he got no further. The man who had seen Shigeyori running away was positive the young man had come from the main house and not from Lady Otoku's quarters. He said again that Shigeyori had looked as if he had seen an apparition. This might be an imaginative touch on his part, but so far nothing absolved Shigeyori, and Akitada knew he had a temper. They also confirmed that the two clerks had called earlier and that there had been nothing unusual about such visits. Finally, Akitada asked to see where Masayoshi had died.
Masayoshi had conducted his business in a pleasant room in the rear of the main building. One of Kobe's constables lounged on the veranda overlooking the small courtyard, no doubt hoping for a glimpse of one of the maids. Akitada gave his name and briefly peered into the room. The body had been removed and fresh grass mats covered the floor. A neat stack of account books was carefully lined up with a box of writing tools on the desk. The household was nothing if not well run. Akitada almost wished for slovenly servants.
It was well past sunset by then, but in the scented dusk, Akitada returned to the Greater Palace to visit the wardrobe office, a large cluster of buildings directly north of the imperial residence. The gorgeous outfits and fabrics for the court and for state occasions were commissioned and stored here, but Masayoshi's duties as director would have been light. Kiso and Kajiwara carried out the day-to-day chores. Akitada hoped to find at least one of them still in.
They both were. The festival had kept things bustling in the wardrobe office because the ladies of the imperial household vied with each other in their festive costumes. He found the two clerks together, bent over order books and stacks of precious fabrics. They became guarded when he identified himself and his errand.
Kiso was about thirty—a short, round-faced man with a dark complexion, his button eyes as restless as his movements. Kajiwara reminded Akitada of an emaciated rat. He was much older, with thin gray hair and closely set, narrow eyes. The small goatee and mustache disguised a receding chin.
Fear can rarely be hidden completely, and Akitada had seen it in many forms. These two had the panicked look of small animals cornered in their hole and desperately trying to find some escape.
Of course, many lower-ranking officials lived in constant fear of their superiors, and their nervousness might mean nothing. He countered their apprehension with urbanity. A frightened man might blurt out something, but he might just as well freeze into protective paralysis.
They relaxed a little when questioned about the workings of the office and their coworkers and began to make the obligatory remarks about what a loss Masayoshi's death was to the government.
"Who will take his place?” Akitada asked.
They glanced at each other. Kiso said quickly, “Kajiwara here has the experience and seniority..."
Kajiwara cried, “No, no. Kiso is much the better man. Youthful vigor is needed."
Apparently both hoped for promotion. A motive, albeit weak. Akitada asked, “Do you have an idea who might want Masayoshi dead?"
That brought back some of the earlier fear. Kiso said anxiously, “But we heard the police already caught someone."
"They are not entirely satisfied they have the right person."
Kajiwara pursed thin lips. “The young lady was much troubled by unwanted attentions from this young man. The director was very angry about it."
"As I said, the police are looking into it, but the
re are certain unexplained facts.” In truth, Akitada was nearly convinced of Shigeyori's guilt, but he wanted to make sure that these two had nothing to hide. He became aware that Kajiwara was staring at his court hat and remembered the missing rank ribbon. Touching the hat lightly, he said with a smile, “I must have lost the ribbon—or perhaps one of our cats stole it."
Kajiwara rose instantly. “But that is quite easily taken care of. After all, you are in the wardrobe office, my dear sir.” He bowed. “Allow me. We have all the rank ribbons here. Sixth, is it?"
"Yes. Junior, upper grade. You are very kind."
Kajiwara bustled out, and Kiso looked after him. When the door had closed, he said, “Poor man. He has aged greatly since the affair with his son."
"How so?"
"Oh, it was quite a tragedy. The son fought with a senior noble and inflicted a minor wound. An affair of the heart, they say. It could have been suppressed, you know, but someone insisted on punishment. Kajiwara's son was exiled and died shortly after."
"I am very sorry to hear it.” Tragic love affairs seemed the order of the day. Akitada made a note of the information and of the fact that Kiso had intended him to. He eyed the smooth-faced Kiso thoughtfully and asked, “Perhaps you can tell me why you went to see Masayoshi today?"
That wiped the complacent look off the bland face. Kiso stammered and came out with a feeble, “Oh, it was nothing.” He realized that that did not answer the question and added, “Some new weaving technique the director had heard about. He thought he'd found someone to do the work for us.” He smiled nervously. “The director liked sending for us."
That certainly sounded like Masayoshi.
Kajiwara returned holding a green ribbon with a very nice diamond pattern. “This is it, I think?"
"Yes. Beautiful work. Thank you.” Akitada offered to pay, but Kajiwara would not hear of it.
AHMM, Sep 2005 Page 4