by I. J. Parker
"I wondered about that, but her mother said she was needed by the family she works for. That reminds me."
He got up and went to a bamboo stand laden with papers and files. On top rested a hollowed-out gourd. This he brought back with him. "Mrs. Inabe kept asking about an amulet her daughter had worn. It wasn't on the body, but I went back to the place where she was found and there were these beads. Looks like they're from a string of prayer beads that broke. No idea if they were hers, but I meant to ask her. No amulet though."
Akitada looked at the beads. A few still had a piece of broken thread holding them. He agreed with Matsuura that they looked like prayer beads. Most were made of wood and lacquered red or black, but a few were of golden amber. The beads looked finely made and had probably cost a good deal of money at one time. Would a girl like Keiko have owned such prayer beads?
He returned the gourd bowl to Matsuura. "They might have belonged to someone else," he said. "They are,very good quality. Will you take them to the mother to ask?"
Matsuura frowned. "They were very close to the place where her body was lying, though I had a hard time finding them. They were spread here and there in the grass. They may not all be from the same set of prayer beads. They don't match."
"I doubt that several sets of beads would have broken in the same place," Akitada commented. "And such rosaries sometimes use different beads to mark sections."
Matsuura nodded. "That's true. But I don't see what it proves one way or another. If she wore them around her neck, it's not surprising that they should have broken."
He was right, of course; Akitada had no better ideas. In fact, he had rarely ever felt so utterly at a loss in any case. And here, he was faced with three cases, each involving a young woman. He knew Michiko was connected with the princess, but her masquerade did not seem to call for her torture and murder.
Akitada said vaguely, "It's never wrong to pursue as many clues as possible. Maybe the beads mean nothing, but her mother may tell you something else after she identifies them." He paused. "And that reminds me. "Have you spoken with Mrs. Akechi and Michiko's friends about her activities before the inurder?"
"Anybody who saw her that last day says she was just as usual, maybe even more cheerful. Mrs. Akechi is a very busy woman. She said she didn't pay inuch attention but didn't notice anything unusual."
That last was a lie. Mrs. Akechi knew very well how Michiko had spent her last day. She had impersonated the princess, so the princess could escape the palace as Mrs. Akechi's assistant. Akitada thought he'd better take his own advice and confront Mrs. Akechi with what he knew. She was probably not responsible for the abduction, but she might know something that would help him identify the person who was.
"Give me the beads," he said after a moment. "I'll talk to Mrs. Inabe. That should give you tine to take some men to collect the dead prowlers and confiscate the goods in the hut."
Matsuura's lace fell. He glanced at the map. "We'll have to find it first. You don't remember anything about the location."
"I'm a stranger here but it must he somewhere near Taioe shrine and the road." Junichiro would know, but Akitada was determined to keel) him out of it. If the prowlers' boss discovered what he had done, the dwarf would be killed. And that was another thing he needed to do as soon as possible: warn Junichiro.
Akitada collected the gourd howl, promised to return with any new information and left for the River Palace.
22 The Silk Dealer
When Akitada entered the River Palace, he found Mrs. Inabe back in charge. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she looked older, he thought. For the first time he wondered about her strange marriage. Surely she was older than her husband. He would have guessed her to be past forty-five, while he looked to be in his thirties. Such things were not uncommon, of course, but having overheard them quarreling, he wondered.
She tried to greet him with a smile. Her bow was as courteous as always, another great difference between her and her husband who seemed to reserve his bows and smiles only for the wealthier guests like Mr. Murata.
Akitada hated to bring up the subject of their daughter, but she had asked about Keiko's amulet. He placed the gourd bowl on the ledge next to the guestbook and said as gently as he could, "Lieutenant Matsuura asked me to show you these in case they might have belonged to Keiko."
She stood on tiptoe, peered inside the gourd, and gave a little gasp. "They are the beads, but where's the amulet?" She looked at him anxiously.
"The beads are all they found and they may not all be there. We think the string broke when she was attacked and the beads flew everywhere."
"Oh," she said. "If the lieutenant would just tell me where they found my girl, I could go search myself. The amulet was a fine one. We gave her the beads and the amulet when she was five. They were to protect her." Her voice broke, and started crying again. "Forgive me, sir. It's been very hard. I loved my daughter and sent her to her death, you see. How can a mother live with such a thing?"
"You mustn't blame yourself. Blame the brute who killed her. She left in the daytime. You didn't know that those prowlers don't always just roam about after dark."
She nodded. "But it is strange. Still the police have done nothing about those prowlers. That's why they are getting so bold." She heaved a deep breath. "But it's still my fault for making her leave when she'd only just arrived. You see, we quarreled, and I was angry and told her to go back."
"Ahl" This explained the very short stay. And of course it would make the daughter's death much harder to bear. Akitada knew about a parent's guilt for a child's death and said gently, "You couldn't know what would happen."
She said nothing. Stirring the beads around in the bowl with her finger, she wept silently.
To break the heavy silence, Akitada said, "I take it the amulet was attached to the string of prayer beads. It could be hiding somewhere in the grass unless someone picked it up."
She nodded. "If someone found it, it's gone. It's valuable."
It should not have surprised Akitada, given the quality of the beads. "Can you describe it?"
"It was green jade and about this big," She made a small circle with her fingers. "Two dragons were carved into it. My husband said they stood for wealth and safety. It had been in his family for generations, and was much too fine for a small girl. But he doted on Keiko, and when she reached her fifth year, he went to a curio shop in the capital and bought the best string of prayer beads they had and had them attach the amulet. I told him she was only a girl, but he wanted her to have it."
Akitada pondered this generosity and fatherly love in view of what he knew of the loutish Mr. Inabe. It was evidently still easy for him to misjudge men.
Then she said, "He died two years later. Keiko loved him and she took very good care of the amulet, always wearing it under her clothes, so it wouldn't get lost." She paused to look at him. "The animal who attacked her must have found it and ripped it off. But if he wanted the amulet, why did he have to kill her?" She started to sob again.
Akitada was glad that Mrs. Inabe's current husband was not, alter all, the pretty Keiko's father. He put his hand on her mother's arm. "Don't think about it. Think about her the way she was. She loved you, too."
It was the wrong thing to say, for now she burst into a storm of tears, moaning under her breath, her shoulders shaking.
Upset by such grief, Akitada said, "Please be calm. I'll have a look around for the amulet and also tell Lieutenant Matsuura to check the local curio dealers in case someone found it and sold it there."
She nodded, and he left her to her tears.
==
His next visit was to Mrs. Akechi's silk shop. Here all was business as usual. The shop was full, two customers being waited on and a third peering at the bolts of many-colored silks resting on the shelves. Two sales women and a shop boy were occupied with them. Mrs. Akechi could be seen in the back, working over her accounts.
Akitada caught the eye of the shop boy and told him lie wis
hed to see Mrs. Akechi privately. He waited and saw the boy deliver the message and his employer looking up and at him. He thought she had seemed startled, but she relaxed when she recognized him.
The boy returned and took him to the backroom where Mrs. Akechi now stood and made him a deep bow.
"You honor my shop again," she sand with a smile. "I'm grateful and will do my very best to serve you. I trust the silks you bought were satisfactory?"
"Yes. Please sit down again, Mrs. Akechi." Akitada cast a glance toward the shop and decided they were private enough, given the distance and the preoccupation of the customers and stall. He sat down himself. "The silks are fine. I'm here on another matter."
She looked mildly surprised and made him another small bow. "Please go on."
"It concerns your sales girl Michiko and her activities belore she was murdered."
She stiffened a little at this. "May I ask why the gentleman takes an interest in the crone:"
"A Iriend has asked me to help him find out what happened."
"Surely that is for the police to do?"
Akitada could see that this woman was not easily manipulated. She was a businesswoman alter all and used to protecting hersclf and her allairs. But it struck him that there was a big diflerence between Mrs. Akechi and Mrs. Inabe. The latter had not asked questions and simply accepted his interest. She, too, owned a business, but she had inherited it after her first husband died. Instead of remaining single, she had married again, while Mrs. Akechi, a much handsomer female, had remained single. The two women's personalities seemed almost diametrically opposed.
"the police are aware that I'm taking an interest. I may be able to help them. I assume you want Michiko's killer found"
"Of course. But I must tell you that I know nothing about her murder. She worked here that day and left at the usual time. The next morning she did not arrive for work. That's all I can tell you."
Akitada pursed his lips. "I think you took her along to make a delivery that day. Am I right?"
She looked startled. "You are well informed. Yes. That happens from time to time. When highborn ladies wish for silk, we go to them. The shop is mostly for ordinary visitors. And like yourself, they are usually men."
"This delivery was intended for the Ise Virgin herself, I think."
Now she compressed her lips. "We made a delivery to the palace. I cannot tell you who the silk was for. We are not admitted to the inner apartments."
"Come, Mrs. Akechi, you know very well why you and Michiko were there that day. In fact, you left the Bamboo Palace without Michiko, didn't you?"
Now she had grown pale. She was glancing around, and he saw that her hands shook inside her full sleeves. "I don't know what you mean? It was a perfectly ordinary delivery and we both returned."
"I have Lady Tamba's confession, Mrs. Akechi." "Who are you? I've done nothing. I've had nothing to do with Michiko's death. I did as I was told. You cannot blame me." She sounded panicked.
"Ssh!" Akitada glanced over his shoulder. One of the salesgirls had heard and was looking toward them. Mrs. Akechi controlled herself with an effort. "What do you want?" she asked more quietly. Her voice still shook a little.
Akitada considered her reaction. If she and Michiko had only acted on instructions from Lady Tamba, then she should have nothing to fear. But there was fear in her behavior. He did not answer her question and let the silence between them stretch. She reacted with more nervous movements and then repeated her question, "What do you want? If you know that Michiko stayed behind, then you know as much as I do. I never saw her again."
"I see. Where did you take the young woman who took her place?"
"She walked out with me through the front gate and a short distance along the road. Then she took a path leading up the hill and into the forest. I don't know where she was going. She didn't talk to me." She ran a hand over her neat hair. "I think she was one of the palace ladies, going to meet a man. It was very careless of her. So many girls have disappeared, and now there are murders. It's terrible. The police are useless." She took a deep breath and went on. "Michiko was a hard worker and a great help to me. Now I'm short of staff and have to do more work myself. I was only doing a favor for Lady Tamba, and look what it's got me."
She had talked herself into a calmer mood by suggesting that she was another injured party. Akitada said nothing.
She shot him a brief glance and plucked at her gown. "If you ask me, all those young noblemen who are supposed to guard the palace carry on with the young ladies there. That's what I thought was going on when one of them borrowed Michiko's clothes to slip out."
Apparently Mrs. Akechi had not known who her companion had really been and where she was going. But she could also be a good actress and know more about the affair than she was letting on. In any case, that still left the murder of Michiko. Who had killed her and why?
"What exactly was Michiko's part in this?"
"Lady Tamba took Michiko to another room. When she came back, she told me Michiko had agreed to let one of the young ladies take her place for an hour or so. The young lady would leave with me, and Michiko would come home by herself later."
"And you did not think this very strange and improper?"
"Strange, yes. Improper, no? What is improper for the good people? They do as they wish. Who was I to question Lady Tamba? Besides, I need the palace business. I thought it was some sort of silly game. They get bored and think up entertainments. Only poor Michiko didn't come back. I thought they'd kept her at the palace overnight, but then they found her body the next day. If she left after dark, the prowlers probably got her."
She fell silent and looked at him. Now that she had told her story, she was quite calm again. Perhaps she had merely panicked earlier because he had surprised her and she was afraid Michiko's murder would be laid at her door. It was impossible to tell how much of her tale was true.
He rose and said, "If you or her co-workers should recall anything else about Michiko's role in this or about her plans for the rest of that day and night, be sure to report it to Lieutenant Matsuura."
She got up and bowed, murmuring, "You have my word, sir."
23 An Ally
When Akitada emerged from Mrs. Akechi's shop, he saw that the sun was already high. As if to confirm the time, his stomach growled. He had not eaten all day, and he had also not seen Junichiro. The latter was disturbing. He owed the dwarf his life. The night before, he had been too tired to thank him properly. Now he began to worry. It was unlikely that Junichiro had been seen last night, but if he had, his life was in danger.
Junichiro was by nature curious, and this curiosity could lead the little fellow into serious trouble. He had followed Akitada even though he had not been invited to accompany him. On the other hand, it made him extraordinarily useful to Akitada. Not only had he been there to help him the night before, but most likely he knew a lot of the secrets of the people of Uji-tachi. Even if he did not realize what he knew, he might help Akitada find the killers of the two girls.
Given the fact that he owed Junichiro his life and could not trust anyone else in this place, Akitada made up his mind to tell him something about his mission.
But first he must be found. He started the search by walking out of town to check Junichiro's shed. Not finding him there, Akitada turned back to pass slowly between the houses and businesses of the town, looking from side to side, hoping to see him peddling his pictures or offering his services to out-of-towners.
Again nothing.
Hunger eventually asserted itself. He decided to return to the place that served the good fish soup. As he passed his own inn, he heard shouting and saw that a small crowd had gathered before its entrance. Raised voices suggested an argument. Akitada was about to pass without looking-he hated gawkers-when he recognized one of the raised voices.
Junichirol
Then he heard the dwarf howling with pain and pushed through the crowd. Elbowing the last watchers out of the way, he saw what h
ad caused Junichiro's outcry. Before the entrance to the inn stood his host, the burly Inabe. He had Junichiro by the scruff of his neck and was shaking him like a dog while shouting insults at him.
"I'll kill you next time you come near my place, you piece of dung" he shouted. "I told you to stay away, you repulsive cripple. You're driving my customers away and getting me in trouble by stealing from my guests." Junichiro protested, but Inabe shook him harder. "Do you hear me, or do I have to cut off your ears, you goddamned freak?"
Akitada had reached them. "Put him down this instant!" he barked.
Inabe looked up and stared at him. Reluctantly, he let the dwarf drop to the ground. Akitada balled his fist and struck Inabe squarely in the face. It hurt like the devil, but he had the satisfaction of seeing blood spurting from the man's nose and a split lip. He felt good. Junichiro scrambled up and ran behind Akitada where he clutched his leg like a frightened child. "I was looking for you, master, and he attacked me."
Inabe touched his streaming face and looked blankly at the blood on his hand. "You hit me," he said, sounding both surprised and outraged. "You hit me over a deformed little bastard like that?"
"Certainly. You were mistreating him. As you are much bigger and stronger than he is, that makes you a brute and a coward. For the future I'll expect you remember that Junichiro is a friend of mine. If you ever lay hands on him again or insult him, I'll hurt you worse than this. You will allow him access to the inn and to my room whenever he desires it. Do you understand me?"
Inabe pressed a sleeve to his nose and blustered, "We'll see about that. I'm going to report you for hitting
me. A stay in jail will teach you a lesson about attacking local businessmen. And you can leave my inn. I don't rent rooms to scum like you."
Mrs. Inabe had come out and listened. Now she ran to her husband and shook his arm. "No, Seijiro. Don't do this. The gentleman was in his rights. Apologize to him."
He flung her away so violently that she stumbled. "I'll get to you later, woman!" he told her, scowling. Turning back to the crowd, he shouted, "What are you waiting for? Call the constables! I'll see this seedy tax collector jailed if it's the last thing I do."