The Crane Pavilion (13 page)

“Oh, yes. Just a moment.”

Kunyoshi opened the door and put his head inside. “Your Excellency, Lord Sugawara is here.” Then he threw it wide.

Akitada walked in. Kaneie was at his desk, looking startled.

Sakanoue pushed past Akitada. “I protest, Excellency. I told Lord Sugawara you were busy, but this stupid man defied me and let him in anyway.”

Kaneie’s face took on an expression of distaste. “I’ll take care of it, Sakanoue. Go away.”

Sakanoue bowed, gave Akitada a hard look, and walked out.

“Can’t stand that weasel,” muttered Kaneie. “Sit down, Akitada.”

Akitada sat. “Has he taken my position?” he asked as calmly as he could manage.

“Not my doing.” Kaneie gave Akitada a searching look. “How are you?”

“As well as can be expected. Thank you for your letter. I’m afraid I haven’t answered it. Please accept my apologies. Things have been … difficult.”

“I can see you’ve been ill. Terrible climate in Kyushu.”

Akitada did not know what to make of this. “Umm, it wasn’t too bad, as I recall. I left before the summer heat.”

Kaneie frowned. “Problems at home?”

“Yes. I’m just beginning to get matters in order.” He reflected that this could not well be achieved unless he had some income. And the fact that Sakanoue now occupied his position did not promise well. “It was my plan to speak to report to Central Affairs to apologize for leaving my post so suddenly.”

Kaneie looked uneasy. “Forgive me, but why did you leave so suddenly? There have been questions.”

“But … surely you knew? The assistant governor general in Kyushu had my letter of resignation and must have reported. I left because my wife died.” He swallowed. Saying it was still very hard.
My wife died.
Three words that could not possibly encompass what the loss had meant, still meant. He added weakly, “My children are still small.”

Kaneie’s eyes widened. “Yes, but … surely the other ladies … it’s none of my business, but I think it has caused some raised eyebrows among our superiors.”

For a moment, Akitada did not understand. What other ladies? Then he realized for the first time that most men in his position could not conceive of a man having only one wife and a household too small to cope with her loss. He said quietly, “Tamako was my only wife. There was no one else. I needed to return to take care of my children.” Anger rose again, as it had in Kyushu. He said more sharply, “It seems to me that I did the country a significant service by clearing up the murder of my predecessor in Kyushu. I arrested several individuals who had plotted against the nation and could have involved us in a war with China. The least the chancellor and the senior minister could do was to allow me some time to mourn my wife and look after my children.” He found he was so upset that his hands were shaking and got to his feet. “Thank you for warning me. I see that I have a battle on my hands.”

Kaneie said, “Please sit down again, Akitada. Don’t rush off in a fit of anger. We must devise some strategy. I’m your friend, you know. I tried to hold your position but was overruled.”

Akitada subsided onto his cushion. He felt ashamed for having doubted Kaneie, who had always supported him. Yes, they were friends, or at least had been. This matter might well have strained their relationship.

“Forgive me,” he said. “I forgot for a moment what I owe you. Please let me hear your thoughts on the situation.”

“Well, you know you’ve always had your detractors in high places. I’m afraid they’ve been very busy. Your friend, Fujiwara Kosehira, has tried to counter the attacks, but he isn’t in the capital and has lost much of his influence. I’m not sure if matters were handled properly by the
Dazaifu
either. You may have followed procedure by tendering your resignation there, but that news should have reached the Ministry of Central Affairs by now and it hasn’t.”

Akitada recalled his visits to the Dazaifu and the unorthodox way in which affairs had been handled in Kyushu. This thought was not reassuring.

“What do you suggest? I suppose I had better go to explain. But to whom?”

Kaneie pursed his lips. “Hard to say. Your case may have gone to the censors by now.”

The censors were the dreaded watchdogs of the emperor. They investigated officials, even the highest-ranking ones, when they were suspected of malfeasance in office.

Akitada said blankly, “The censors? But what have I done wrong?”

“You left your post.”

“Yes, but I resigned because I could not desert my family.”

Kaneie sighed. “I know and I do understand, my dear Akitada, but those in power do not consider that an adequate excuse. Now if you had been too ill to function …” His voice trailed off, and he gave Akitada a sidelong glance.

“I wasn’t ill. I was mourning my wife.”

“Hmm. And of course you won’t try to make excuses. Yes. I don’t know, Akitada. It’s difficult. Most of the officials I know would make the round of all their friends and supporters and call in some favors.”

Appalled, Akitada said, “Favors?”

“Never mind. Well, I don’t know what to suggest. I suppose you must throw yourself on their mercy. Why not start with Central Affairs? Your appointment for the post in Kyushu originated there.”

Akitada said nothing. He had already made up his mind to making his apologies, but from what Kaneie said, his case was conceived to be far worse than he had naively supposed. Those in power in the government did not consider the death of a spouse to be cause for more than the customary ritual withdrawal. After that, a man was expected to return to work as if nothing had happened. Furthermore, Akitada had neglected to inform everyone of the death and beg dispensation to attend to his family. He, of all people, should have known to follow the rules.

Strangely, he felt a little relieved that his own actions had caused the situation. It was better than having undeserved misfortune brought down upon oneself.

He sighed and said, “You’re quite right. Thank you for being so frank. I will follow your advice.” He paused. “By the way, do you happen to know anything about Abbot Genshin?”

Kaneie was startled by this change of subject and looked at Akitada uncertainly. “Does this have anything to do with your situation?”

Akitada smiled. “In case I find myself without an income, I had thought to take up private investigations again, and there has been a rather strange death at the abbot’s residence.”

“Oh, surely things aren’t going to come to such an end.” But Kaneie’s interest was raised. “When you refer to his residence, I take it you don’t mean the monastery?”

“No, his mansion here in the city. It seems he has allowed an odd assortment of people to make use of it. One of his guests, a Lady Ogata, has hanged herself.”

“Lady Ogata?” Kaneie frowned. “It sounds vaguely familiar.” He shook his head. “Sorry. It escapes me. But why investigate a suicide?”

“It may not have been a suicide. I knew the abbot in his womanizing past, and that has raised certain suspicions in my mind.”

Kaneie sat up, alarmed. “Oh, you cannot get involved. It will ruin you. Genshin is the special pet of the empress.”

“Is he? You know that doesn’t surprise me at all. His Majesty had better see to his household, I think.”

“Akitada, you’re playing with fire. Don’t say such things! Not to anyone!”

Akitada smiled again and rose. “Thanks, Kaneie, for the warning, but I expect you know me by now. Please try to remember what you know about Lady Ogata. Now I’d better make my report to the Office of Central Affairs.”

14
Gossip in the Bath

Tora ignored his master’s instructions to leave the bathhouse murder to the police. As soon as the gate closed behind Akitada, he said to Saburo, “Let’s go talk to some of the people in the bathhouse. Seems to me, you should have done that right away.”

Saburo glared at him. “How was I to know there was a killer loose? You may recall at the time I only knew a blind shampoo girl had killed a customer.”

“Well, chances are the real killer was still hanging about to see what was happening. Some killers do that, you know.”

Saburo shook his head. “That’s stupid. Seems to me he would have gotten out of there fast.”

“Not necessarily. Think how much he would have enjoyed watching the police take the blind girl away. Besides we need to know who was there that day. You have the list of those borrowers. Let’s see that.”

Together they bent over the names provided by Nakamura’s son. Tora had some problems making out the writing, but Saburo helped. Nakamura Junior had put some helpful comments beside each name, such as “sick child,” “father made threats,” “lost his job and cannot pay,” “claims family is starving,” and “well-known criminal.” The poor school master’s name was there. His comment was the one about the starving family. Apart from the criminal, all of the debtors seemed to be suffering such despair that it was at least possible they would try to end it by killing their tormentor.

“That Nakamura was a bastard,” said Tora when he had grasped the gist of it. “Let me get some money, and then we’ll go see if any of these people went for a bath that morning.”

“I’d rather it were Saito.”

“We can ask about him, too.”

They found the bathhouse busier than ever. Jinzaemon bustled about, greeting arrivals, chatting with regulars, collecting money.

His face fell when he saw Saburo. “You again? I hope this time you’ve come for a bath.”

“We have our own facilities,” Saburo told him. “And you’re not hurting for business. This must be your lucky day.”

“It won’t last. Most of them are here to look and gossip. They want to see the room where it happened. I’ve started charging them if they don’t stay for a bath or shampoo.”

Tora grimaced. “That’s disgusting!”

Jinzaemon gave him a black stare. “And who’re
you
? What business is it of yours? I’ll have you know I’ve lost the use of that room. People refuse to go in there for a massage or a
moxa
treatment. In fact, they’re nervous about getting themselves shaved.”

Saburo tried to calm the man. “That won’t last. People forget quickly. You’ll be doing a better business than ever in no time. I bet you picked up some new customers.”

Jinzaemon admitted it.

“Well, we’re interested in your old customers,” said Saburo. “Have a look at this list. Anybody there who’s a regular customer and was here that morning?”

Jinzaemon looked at the list and frowned. “Why?”

“Possible witnesses.”

“Since when do the police send civilians to find witnesses?” countered Jinzaemon, handing back the list. “I’d be out of business fast if I turned in my customers to be questioned by the police. I run a reputable business. That means I protect my customers’ privacy.”

Tora fished out a couple of silver coins and tossed them casually from hand to hand. Jinzaemon’s eyes flickered his way.

“Look,” Saburo tried again, “they won’t know you told us. We’ll go and ask them if they saw anything.”

Tora added a third coin and juggled all three. “Actually,” he said, “you should point out those that are your customers, even if you don’t recall seeing them that morning.”

Jinzaemon’s eyes had become fixated on the flying silver pieces. “You’re pretty good,” he said grudgingly.

Tora flashed him a smile. “Thanks! If you can distract me and I drop one, it’s yours.”

“Give me that list again,” said Jinzaemon.

Saburo passed it over. The coins spun smoothly.

“Well, a few names here I recognize.”

“Oops!” Tora dropped a coin.

“Let me see. Yes, I seem to remember Matsuoka.”

The remaining two coins flew back and forth.

“And Harada is a regular. He may have been here.” Jinzaemon paused. “And the same for Ozaki and Kato.” Tora dropped another coin. Jinzaemon eyed the remaining coin hungrily as Tora tossed it from hand to hand. “That’s it,” he said. “I don’t know the other people. Where’d you get those names anyway?”

Tora grinned. “One more question, my friend. Are Nakamura’s family and his brother Saito also regulars here?”

“Saito comes sometimes. Haven’t seen him recently. I don’t know Nakamura’s family.”

“Thanks!” Tora tossed Jinzaemon the last coin. “We’ll take a look around.” He rubbed his chin. “Then maybe we’ll have a bath.”

They walked away as Jinzaemon bent to scoop up the other two coins.

“You’re very extravagant with your money,” Saburo said. “That bastard didn’t deserve it.”

“You have to pay for information,” Tora told him. “And the nastier the informer, the higher the price.”

Saburo, who was very shy about showing his scarred body, said, “I don’t want a bath.”

Tora was unfeeling. “You’ll have to bear it if we can get some information that way.” He burst into laughter. “Bare it! You’ll have to bare it. Get it?”

Saburo gave him a sour look. “Ha ha.”

They peered into a number of rooms where men had massages or shaves. The workers were all men, two of them blind, all of them with the shaven heads of their profession. Saburo wondered whether the customers were afraid of women barbers since the murder.

In the steamy room where people soaked in two deep tubs, they also found customers, the men in one tub, the women in another. A screen separated the two. Either the bathhouse was always well attended at this hour, or the notoriety of the crime had brought more business to Jinzaemon.

Tora appeared to be satisfied with his inspection. He returned to the front, paid the fee for both of them, and they went to the dressing room where they left their clothes. In the steamy room of the tubs, the bathers paid them scant attention as they washed themselves and then climbed into the tub where three men were already soaking.

There were some stares at Saburo’s lean, scarred body, but they seemed more impressed with the muscular Tora, who also sported mementos from his military career and other violent encounters. The three bathers, most likely tradesmen, offered timid nods. A brief silence fell.

Tora broke it first. “There was a nasty murder here, we hear,” he offered.