by I. J. Parker
Inabe pretended ignorance. "I've never worked for Murata-san. There must be some mistake."
"Murata left your pay with your wife. I think she'll be glad to confirm this."
Inabe wiped his brow. "I may have run an errand or two. I don't pay attention to such things."
"The money purse was quite heavy. As I said, your wife will know."
Matsuura made an impatient movement. "Getting back to the murder," he said, "your wife will testify against you. You'd do well to confess or it will go hard with you."
Inabe started cursing. "That fox womanl That evil spirit! I should've known better than to many the old hag. It's all a plot. They both were after me, she and her daughter. What's a man to do against such women? The girl seduced me so her mother would get rid of me. And it would have worked if I'd let her get away with it." He fell to his knees and looked up at Matsuura. "I went after her to beg her to go back and tell her mother it was all a mistake, but she sneered at me and called me names. I got angry. I couldn't help myself. It was an accident." He wailed and knocked his head against the stone floor of the cell.
Matsuura smirked. "Ah, a confession. That will save you some pain. Be sure you don't change your story before the judge."
Inabe sat up. "I know some things and will tell you if you go easy with me. The girl provoked me. I didn't mean to kill her."
Matsuura snapped "What things?"
"I know the prowlers work for Murata. I know who they are and what they've done. I can be a witness for you."
Matsuura raised his brows. "I don't believe you. You'd do best getting your story in order, or you'll be flogged." He turned to Akitada, "Let's go back to my office."
Akitada was not happy. He now had a clearer idea what Inabe's connection with Murata was, but when they were alone and Matsuura asked him about his interest in Murata, he said, "I've been wondering about it. Murata has been coming here regularly and until this week he always stayed at the River Palace. It occurred to me that Inabe might have been the reason for that."
Matsuura's eyes widened. "By the gods, I'll have the whole story out of Inabe. Don't you worry. He'll sing. Those bullies always do."
Akitada was inclined to agree, and this time he had no objection to the floggings that awaited Inabe.
37 Murata
Junichiro was sitting on the steps of the police station when Akitada emerged. A gust of wind raised clouds of dust from the road. It had been a dry fall, but surely now the rain would fall.
The dwarf jumped up. "I've been thinking, master." Akitada chuckled. "Excellent! And what have you come up with?"
"I'm probably wrong but what if Murata and the high constable are in this together?"
Akitada's first thought was to laugh, but he stopped himself. It had seemed far-fetched at first, but even members of high-ranking families had been engaged in theft and murder, and Sukemichi was only provincial gentry. There was nothing to prove that he was an honorable man, except perhaps that he held an appointment from the court in the capital, and that was not always a commendation. He asked, "What made you think of him?"
Junichiro disappointed hum. "I don't like him," he said, as if no more need be said.
"I cannot accuse a man of high crimes because you don't like him, imp. Have you ever seen Murata and Sukemichi together?"
"No, but I know Murata's been visiting Lord Sukemichi."
"How do you know?"
"Remember when you told me to find out something about Murata? I happened to see him rent a horse, so I followed." Junichiro made a face. "It was stupid. My legs can't keep up with a horse, but Murata can't ride. He went very slowly and held on for dear life until he got to the high constable's place. I waited outside, thinking it might be best not to be seen there. He came out again a little later and rode back to Uji-tachi. But here's the thing: the guards at the gate seemed to know him. Does this help?"
"Perhaps. I think it's time I had a talk with Murata." Akitada smiled down at the dwarf. "Yes, that helps indeed, imp. I can see that you'll make a very useful addition to my family. If I had my assistants Tora and Saburo with me, we would dare to take a closer look at Sukemichi's place. I'll have to tell you about my family when we have some time. You'll like them. Tora is an ex-soldier who is the most courageous man I know.
And Saburo was a spy until his enemies tortured him. He knows how to get into houses while their owners are asleep. He would be most useful at the moment." He tousled the dwarf's hair. "Oh well, the two of us must do the best we can. Shall we meet later?"
==
Akitada returned to the Golden Dragon as the first rain began to fall. He had wished for rain, but now the thought of his new silk clothes made the change in weather a problem. He hesitated at the entrance, frowning at the way the large drops marked the dusty road outside, causing small mud puddles to form. 'The drops carne more quickly now. The innkeepxr joined him.
"The weather's worsening," he said. "I can provide you with a straw raincoat and hat if you need them, my lord," he offered.
Akitada gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you. I've discarded the old robe I arrived in and must purchase something simpler if the rain persists."
The innkeeper chuckled. "It will get worse. We are to have a big storm, I'm told. If you'll tell me what you need, I'll have our boy get it for you."
Akitada thanked the man again, thinking that the higher prices at the Golden Dragon did provide some welcome services. He was about to list the particulars, when another guest ducked into the inn, muttering under his breath and shaking himself like a dog.
Murata.
"Ah," Akitada said affably, "There you are, Murata. I'd been hoping to have a word with you."
Murata stopped shaking out his wet clothes and stared at him. "I don't know you," he said coldly.
"We must remedy that. I've come to know quite a lot about you. Your room or mine?"
Murata glanced toward the innkeeper. "I don't want to talk to you," he said.
"I'm sorry to say there's no way around it. There are some dubious activities to be explained."
The innkeeper tried to look busy. Murata flushed. "How dare you? You can't say such things in front of people." He kept his voice low.
Akitada compressed his lips and waited.
After a moment, Murata said, "Very well. I expect an explanation of such outlandish remarks. My room." Murata stalked off down the corridor and turned in at one of the doors, leaving it open for Akitada to follow. Akitada did so and closed the door behind him.
They were alone and Akitada suspected that he was in the presence of a killer. He was not particularly worried because he was still wearing his sword and Murata did not look dangerous. Besides, he had decided to leave Murata some false hope for his future so long as he implicated Sukemichi.
Neither man sat down. The room was impersonal as such rooms are in inns. Some chests held bedding during the day and a clothes rack was provided for the guest's robes. Two thin cushions and a small desk made up the rest of the furnishings. Oil lamps and heating braziers would be supplied as needed. Murata had added nothing to the sparse furnishings except a bundle and small trunk, securely closed and pushed into a corner.
Akitada said, "Let's not continue this pretense of your not knowing who I am. I expect you have been informed of my name, my title, my rank, and the powers given to me by the emperor." He had not been given any powers but hoped that Murata did not know this.
Murata opened his mouth to protest, but Akitada saw the fear in his eyes and glared at him. The ship owner closed his mouth again.
"Good," Akitada said. "I see that you understand. My assignment gives me the right to investigate crimes against the emperor and the nation. I'm prepared to assume that your own activities were of a more local nature. But someone else knew of your involvement with the prowlers and used you to help him carry out his own crime."
Murata had grown very pale. His eyes flew around the room and to the door behind Akitada. In his panic, his voice rose. "I don
't know what you're talking about. I have nothing to do with prowlers. I don't know of any crimes. Why are you accusing me with such things? I'm an innocent businessman from Owari. You must have made a mistake. Please go away."
Akitada shook his head. "No mistake. I myself saw you pay off the man Inabe. You passed a bag stuffed with coins to the man's wife. Inabe has been arrested for an unrelated murder and Mrs. Inabe will testify against her husband."
Murata's background in shipping, his regular trips to Ise to check on a business that no one seemed to know about, his anger at Precious Butterfly's questions, and his association with criminal types all suggested that he was involved in the illegal activities here.
Murata's eyes bulged with shock. "I-Inabe's in jail?" he stuttered, then caught himself. "I was paying for my room. I stayed there just like you did. I was paying my bill."
"I watched you, Murata. You first paid your bill; and then you passed over the bag of money, telling Mrs. Inabe it was for her husband. You said it was `as agreed.' And Mrs. Inabe saw nothing surprising in it because she had become accustomed to her husband working for you."
"So I owed Inabe some money for a few favors he did me. It means nothing."
Akitada sighed. "We are wasting time. Inabe is being interrogated at the police station at this very moment. He'll talk and he'll sell you out for a reduction in his own punishment."
Murata wilted. "Oh, that crookl I should never have trusted him. It was bad karma." Covering his face with his hands, he collapsed on the floor.
Akitada said nothing. After a moment, Murata straightened and dropped his hands. He peered up at Akitada. "Allow me to explain, Excellency."
Relief washed over Akitada. The fact that Murata had used his title meant that his bluff had worked. He could only know his rank if he had seen the papers the prowlers had taken. "Yes, you'd better make a clean breast of it or there's nothing I can do for you."
Giving him a weak smile, Murata said, "About my work here in Ise. I engaged some local men to drum up business, that's all. I offer shipping transport of lumber and other goods and earn a fee. Unfortunately, I've just become aware that my employees also engage in crimes, some of which may include robbery. I hired Inabe to investigate. That's what the money was for. He brought me information about the so-called prowlers. I'll gladly share this information if you will help me clear up any lies he may be telling the police. I know nothing about the other crime, but he's the type to blame anything else on me." He gave Akitada a pleading look.
It was as good a story as could be expected on such short notice. Murata was no fool.
"Hmm," said Akitada noncommittally. "Start with Inabe's reports on the prowlers."
What followed was a list of depredations, mostly in the nature of robbing pilgrims who travelled lonely roads after dark, but Inabe had supposedly also uncovered a supply network of pirates who worked out of Oyodo harbor. It explained the stores of goods in the shed. Of course Murata denied any connection with any of this.
When his tale came to an end with another plea for help against the infamous Inabe, Akitada asked, "What did Inabe tell you about the murder of the girl Michiko?"
This was clearly a new shock. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Really? The girl was flogged and killed in the shed where your people stored their goods."
"that is horrible, but I know nothing about it, Excellency."
"I was told that you knew Michko from the Peach Bower."
"Michiko? I may have seen her there. She was a prostitute."
"Tell me what were you doing at Sukemichi's place just before Michiko disappeared?"
Murata gulped. "Nothing. Just paying a friendly visit."
"I don't believe you. Remember that I can ask Sukemichi, and believe me, he will talk."
There was a silence. Akitada waited patiently. For what? Another lie probably, but even lies could contain the seeds of truth.
Finally, Murata said, "Lord Sukemichi mentioned some gossip. I like to keep myself informed about what's happening in places where I have business interests, but it was just gossip."
"What gossip?"
Murata managed another weak smile. "Some silly tale about the Ise Virgin. Someone had told him she was going to run away. Someone was to take her place so she could leave the palace for a short while."
Akitada had hoped for this confirmation, but it upset him nonetheless. With unscrupulous men like Murata and Sukemichi aware of the scandal, he would not he able to protect the reputation of the princess, or that of the young fool Minanoto, or of His Majesty. He thought for a moment, then took another gamble. "I assume the high constable decided to interfere?'"
Murata hesitated but probably realized he was too deeply implicated to rescue anything. "Lord Sukemichi's a man of the world, but he thought it his duty to stop the princess."
"How was he going to manage it'"
"I don't know. I was to pass a note to my people. That was what I paid Inabe for."
Akitada did not believe that Murata did not know what was in the note or that there had even been a note, but he let it go. He said, "You will take paper and write out two confessions. One will cover your connection with Inabe and the prowlers. The other concerns your conversation with the high constable. I shall dictate: them to you. Afterward, I expect you to remain here until I return. If you leave or attempt to communicate with anyone, I will see to it that you are arrested immediately. Your future depends on your cooperation."
Murata balked a few times as Akitada dictated, but eventually the two signed statements were in Akitada's hands. He said, "Remember, what I said. Stay here and don't communicate with anyone."
38 A Desperate Gamble
Akitada now knew that Murata and Sukemichi had both been involved in the abduction and the murder of Michiko, but Murata had not really confessed to anything except hiring the prowlers to drum up business and using Inabe to contact them. It did not matter. Lieutenant Mori could get the truth out of Inabe. And that truth would reveal that Michiko had died at their hands.
Murata and Sukemichi had discussed the princess's escapade and Sukemichi had taken some sort of action as a result. Although there was no proof that Sukemichi had abducted her, he was the only person with both the means and the opportunity and he was, according to Minamoto, an ambitious man. No other explanation was possible.
And just what had the high constable hoped to gain from such a crime? Akitada could guess, but he had no time left to prove it. He had to try the same bluff with Sukemichi that he had used on Murata. And he had to do it immediately before Murata could warn the high constable.
Akitada borrowed the promised straw raincoat from his host. He was convinced he knew where the princess was, and he intended to set her free immediately.
The innkeeper cautioned him. "They say it's going to be a bad storm, sir. Perhaps you should wait it out. The Golden Dragon is well-built, but the rest of the houses of Uji-tachi are not so fortunate. You could get hit by flying debris."
Akitada peered outside. The rain was blowing at a slant, and the street was empty. It was the worst possible time for his endeavor, but he had no longer a choice in the matter. He must confront Sukemichi as soon as possible before he could be warned and take some desperate action. The biggest danger was not the weather, but rather Sukemichi's armed guard. Akitada had no such troops at his disposal. On the other hand, this could not be resolved with a battle which would endanger the princess. He must convince Sukemichi to release her. Any prosecution would have to come lateror not at all. Saving the princess was more important.
The coming storm raised other fears. He hoped Tora was making his wife and children safe. He also wished he knew where Junichiro was. His small shed on the river offered no protection at all and might well float away if the river rose.
He told the innkeeper, "I must go out, but shall return later tonight. If my friend Junichiro should show up, please allow him to shelter in my room."
The innkeeper promised.
&n
bsp; After a moment's thought, Akitada added, "Murata asked me to tell you that he wants to rest. Please do not disturb him."
The innkeeper nodded again, and Akitada plunged into the stone. The water on the street was not very deep and he had his boots, but the hem of his new trousers became acquainted with Uji-tachi's mud.
He splashed his way to the police station. It was still daylight, but shops and restaurants had already lit their oil lamps. The acrid smoke from cooking fires hung low over the town and made it hard to breathe.
At the station, he found a number of wet constables peering out from under the veranda. They looked surprised to see him. He left his dripping straw coat there and went inside.
Lieutenant Matsuura was dry. Like the businesses along the street, his office was lit by oil lamps. He shot to his feet when Akitada entered. "Sir! In this weather?"
Akitada's gray silk trousers slapped wetly at his legs. He said, "We have a problem."
"Yes. The storm. We've been warned that it would be bad. Already people are coming from Oyodo to seek shelter on higher ground. Looks like it'll be even worse than our last storm. And night is coming. If houses collapse, there will be fires." He glanced at his own oil lamp. "And at night, people will be helpless. Please sit down, sir. What can I do for you?"
Perhaps Matsuura thought that mention of storm dangers would discourage Akitada from burdening him with some other, more trivial, matter. What had brought him here was anything but trivial, and Akitada did not sit down.
"I have discovered that Sukemichi is in league with the prowlers. This surely explains why he has been no help in arresting them. He has been in a partnership with the ship owner Murata who was staying at the River Palace and was running the enterprise with the help of Inabe."
Matsuura gaped at him. "You're accusing the high constable of being a highway robber' Surely that cannot be, sir. And in this weather, we cannot do anything about it anyway. Please, sir, let this matter wait. If Murata is indeed involved, we can get the whole story from him and Inabe."