Laura Joh Rowland - Sano Ichiro 07 - Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria

by Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria(lit)

  "So he beat her to death."

  Sano wished more than ever that he'd bothered to find out what had become of Wisteria after their affair ended, and not just because he might have saved her life. His sense of responsibility extended to what she might have done, as well as what had been done to her.

  "The removal of the head was performed after death," said Dr. Ito, "because otherwise, there would have been copious blood in the room."

  "The dead don't bleed," Sano concurred, forcing a matter-of-fact tone even as he saw bits of gore clinging to mosquito net. "After he killed her, he laid her on the bed, then decapitated her."

  "And see how the neck is hacked and ragged at the edges." The concern in Dr. Ito's eyes said he guessed that something troubled Sano. "Whoever did this must have been in a violent frenzy of rage."

  From the jail drifted the howls of the prisoners. Sano envisioned Wisteria, her beautiful face contorted in terror, trying to ward off a shadowy attacker. He heard her scream as fists hit her, saw her clutch the wall as she went down under a storm of blows and kicks.

  With an effort Sano said, "Now that we know how she died, we just have to figure out if this really is Lady Wisteria, and whether Fujio killed her."

  "Let us first determine whether this woman matches the missing courtesan's description." Dr. Ito paused, clearly on the verge of asking Sano what was wrong; but either Sano's expression stopped him, or courtesy precluded prying. "How old is Wisteria?"

  "Twenty-four years," Sano said. Her age was the one thing she'd told him that he thought he could take as fact.

  "This woman was young," Dr. Ito said, studying the corpse. "Her flesh is smooth and firm. Twenty-four years is a reasonable estimate of her age."

  The similarity in age could be a coincidence, Sano thought; but the spreading hollow in his stomach said otherwise.

  "What is Wisteria's physical size and shape?" Dr. Ito said.

  "She's small." Sano raised his hand at shoulder height, assailed by a memory of embracing Wisteria. He tried to compare his knowledge of her naked body to the dead woman's, but the absence of a face, as well as the bruises and the pall of death, made recognition impossible. He swallowed and forced himself to continue: "She's slim, with narrow hips and small breasts."

  "As is the victim." Dr. Ito glanced at the part of the woman's body where Sano had avoided looking and said, "Her pubis is shaved. She was a prostitute."

  So many points of resemblance indicated that the dead woman was Lady Wisteria, even if they weren't final proof. Sano felt his hope that Wisteria was still alive yield to desolation; he turned away from the body.

  "Cover her, Mura-san," Dr. Ito said quietly.

  Whatever lies Wisteria had told or evils she'd committed, she'd been a proud, courageous woman. Sano recalled her aloof behavior the last time he'd seen her. Might she have had a premonition that her remaining time on earth was short?

  "Do you think the hokan killed her?" Dr. Ito asked.

  "It's hard to imagine Fujio being capable of such brutality. Hirata went to question him this morning. We'll see what happens."

  Sano stared grimly out the window as he pondered the consequences that the second murder held for him. His investigation could now continue, because even if the shogun believed that the killer of his heir had already been punished, he would expect Sano to solve the case of the decapitated woman. New inquiries might turn up new evidence to prove who had killed Lord Mitsuyoshi. Yet this prospect caused Sano dread as well as satisfaction.

  "Mura-san, please leave us," Dr. Ito said. The eta complied, and Dr. Ito stood near Sano. "Can I be of further assistance?" he said gently.

  The need to confide overcame Sano's reserve. "I knew her," he blurted, then told Dr. Ito his secret. "It's hard to be objective when the victim could be someone who was once my lover," he admitted. "But if I go on with this investigation, I'll have to keep my mind open to the possibility that the dead woman is Lady Wisteria"and that Wisteria was a murderer."

  Dr. Ito nodded in somber understanding. "If the treasury minister was innocent, then Wisteria, Fujio, and Momoko are the only suspects left. Wisteria may have stabbed Lord Mitsuyoshi."

  "In other words, my former lover killed my lord's heir."

  Sano felt sicker than ever. "There's another problem. My wife doesn't know any of this. I never told her about Wisteria and me because I thought it wouldn't matter. But if Reiko keeps on with her inquiries, she may find out that I freed Wisteria and think I haven't told her because I have something to hide."

  Fraught with anxiety, Sano clenched his hands around the window bars. Never had he expected his minor omission to grow into a major threat to his already shaky marriage. "I wish I'd told her at the start. What should I do now?"

  "A tiny pebble rolling down a mountain can start a landslide," Dr. Ito reminded him. "I suggest you tell your wife as soon as possible, because the longer you wait, the worse your problems may get."

  22

  The palanquin carried Reiko out the gate of Edo Castle's official quarter. Huddled beneath a quilt, she brooded as she rode along the stone-walled passage leading toward the palace.

  Sano's behavior last night disturbed her, as did the fact that he'd left home this morning before she'd awakened. Perhaps this latest murder was too much for him? She feared for his spirit. And at any moment the shogun might condemn him for interfering with Treasury Minister Nitta's trial and failing to solve the murder case.

  Reiko also worried about Midori, who'd come to the house earlier to announce that she'd received a message from Lord Niu, ordering her to come to him. Midori was now headed to Lord Niu's estate, while Reiko traveled toward the palace women's quarters, where her cousin Eri was an official. Eri, the center of Edo Castle's female gossip network, could perhaps identify the samurai who'd freed Lady Wisteria. Finding him seemed more important to Reiko than ever. If Wisteria was still alive, he might know where she was. If she was the corpse in the summer house, he might have information relevant to her murder.

  The thought of Wisteria caused Reiko more worry about Sano. She'd guessed that he didn't want her investigating the courtesan's background. Was there something he didn't want her to discover?

  Suddenly Reiko heard hoofbeats and footsteps approaching. Her palanquin rocked to a standstill as her guards, bearers, and maids halted. Reiko put her head out the window to see who was blocking the passage. She saw a procession of troops and attendants facing her, escorting a large black palanquin. Out of its window popped two heads. One belonged to Lady Yanagisawa, the other to her daughter, Kikuko.

  The girl smiled and waved. As Reiko waved back and bowed, Lady Yanagisawa murmured something to her escorts. Her guard captain addressed Reiko's: "The wife of the Honorable Chamberlain wishes to visit the wife of the sosakan-sama."

  Reiko was surprised that Lady Yanagisawa wanted to see her again so soon. Though reluctant to delay her inquiries, she had no choice except to tell her attendants, "Take me home."

  Inside the reception room of Sano's estate, Lady Yanagisawa and Kikuko knelt opposite Reiko. Lady Yanagisawa politely declined Reiko's offer of refreshment.

  "We won't stay long," she said. Suppressed emotion ruffled her composure, and a blush tinged her flat cheeks. She held in her lap a small bundle wrapped inside a square of dark blue silk printed with white leaves. "I'm sorry to bother you when you were on your way somewhere."

  "Oh, it's no bother," Reiko said. "I'm glad to see you again."

  Yet she feared that their acquaintance would become an onus if her new friend wanted more attention than she wanted to give. The peculiar sheen of Lady Yanagisawa's narrow eyes made Reiko uneasy.

  "Please believe that I wouldn't have interrupted your business except. except for the most urgent reason." Lady Yanagisawa's voice dropped; she paused, fingering the tied ends of her bundle. Then she blurted, "Last time we met. I said I would do whatever I could to assist you with your husband's inquiries. That's why I've come today."

  Kikuko hummed a
tuneless song, turning her head from side to side. Reiko regarded Lady Yanagisawa with surprise.

  "You've found information that will help the murder investigation?" Reiko said. Eyeing the package her guest held, she wavered between skepticism and hope.

  A brief frown shadowed Lady Yanagisawa's aspect. "I wish I could say that my discovery will benefit your husband... but I fear the opposite is true. May I please explain?"

  When Reiko nodded, Lady Yanagisawa said, "Yesterday this came for my husband."

  She untied the bundle, revealing a flat, rectangular package wrapped in rough brown paper and bound with coarse string. Reiko saw the words, "For the Honorable Chamberlain Yanagisawa. Personal and Confidential," written on it in simple black characters.

  "My husband wasn't home," Lady Yanagisawa said. "I overheard his secretaries saying they didn't know who sent the package and discussing whether to open it. Finally they decided not to, and left the package on my husband's desk. My curiosity was aroused. I went into the office, slipped the package into my sleeve, and took it to my room."

  Reiko sat speechless with amazement that anyone would dare steal from the chamberlain.

  Lady Yanagisawa sighed. "If my husband finds out what I've done, he'll be very angry with me. But when I looked inside the package. I knew I must risk his displeasure."

  Her intense, yearning gaze flitted over Reiko. "You've been so kind to me, and I shall now repay you. This package represents a terrible threat to your husband. I brought it to you so that he will understand the danger. so that he can protect himself, and you."

  "What danger?" Reiko asked in alarmed confusion.

  Kikuko emitted a loud keening sound, made faces, and rocked back and forth. Lady Yanagisawa put a hand on the girl's shoulder, quieting her. "Perhaps it's better that you see for yourself than that I should tell you. Please accept this with my sincere wishes for your good fortune, and allow me to bid you farewell until we meet again."

  Extending the package on her palms, she bowed to Reiko.

  "Many thanks," Reiko said, accepting the gift.

  As soon as her guests had gone, she took the package into her chamber and closed the door. Eager yet fearful, she untied the string and unwrapped the paper. Inside was a book covered in lavender silk, bound by a green ribbon threaded through holes near the spine. A thrill of recognition and disbelief shot through Reiko. She opened the book.

  The first of some twenty pages of thin white rice paper bore an inscription: The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria.

  The daimyo maintained great fortified estates in the district east and south of Edo Castle. Here the provincial lords resided during the four months they spent in the capital each year. Here Tokugawa law required them to leave their families as hostages when they returned to their provinces, to prevent them from staging a revolt. Here Midori rode in a palanquin down a wide avenue crowded with mounted samurai.

  Lines of barracks, their white plaster walls decorated with black tiles arranged in geometric patterns, surrounded each estate and housed thousands of retainers who served the daimyo. Elaborate gates boasted multiple portals, tiered roofs, and guardhouses occupied by sentries. As Midori's palanquin halted outside the gate that bore the Niu dragonfly crest, her chin quivered with apprehension.

  This had once been her home; but the place harbored bad memories, and she never came back unless it was absolutely necessary. If not for her father's summons and the hope of salvaging her chance of marrying Hirata, she would have avoided the estate forever.

  Inside the estate, multitudes of samurai patrolled a large courtyard or sat in guardrooms. Barracks for the officers formed an inner wall around the daimyo's mansion, a vast complex of half-timbered buildings joined by covered corridors and intersecting tile roofs and elevated on granite foundations. At the door to Lord Niu's private room, Midori met Okita, her father's chief retainer.

  "He's waiting for you," Okita said.

  His dour face and neutral tone gave no hint of what Midori should expect. "How is he?" she said.

  "Slightly better." That meant Lord Niu had calmed down. "I advise you not to upset him."

  "Why does he want to see me?" Midori asked.

  In answer, Okita opened the door. Reluctantly Midori entered the room. Okita followed, closing the door behind them.

  The room could have belonged to any noble, but for features known only to those familiar with Lord Niu. Cabinets, chests, and secret compartments in the walls and under the floor contained hidden weapons, as Midori was aware. A mural bore dents and stains from objects hurled by her father during fits of rage. The two guards stationed inside the door were there to protect Lord Niu from himself, and everyone else from his bad spells. The room had a peculiar sweet smell, as if tainted by poison in his blood.

  Lord Niu knelt on the dais, sharpening a dagger. The motion of his blade against the grindstone produced metallic rasps. He didn't immediately acknowledge Midori's presence. As she knelt before the dais, she thought how ordinary he appeared today, like any other noble who spent his leisure time tending his weapons. Then Lord Niu raised his skewed face to her.

  A tremor of dread passed through Midori. Hastily lowering her gaze, she bowed.

  "Little whore. Little traitor." Lord Niu spoke the insults in a pleasant, ordinary tone of voice that made them all the more chilling to Midori. His hand continued swiping the dagger across the grindstone. "How could you betray your own father to consort with the son of the enemy?"

  Too frightened to answer, Midori pressed her lips together to still their trembling. Her hope that he'd changed his mind about the marriage seemed ludicrous now.

  "I ought to kill you for your treason," Lord Niu said.

  The rasp of his blade quickened, as did Midori's heartbeat. Glancing at Okita and the guards, she saw them move closer to the dais. Lord Niu had never yet killed a family member, but this was no guarantee that he wouldn't.

  "But you're my flesh and blood, no matter what you've done," Lord Niu said. "I'll give you a chance to atone for your evil." His left eye twinkled at Midori. The right eye dreamed. "Tell me everything you know about the Hirata clan's strategy for destroying me."

  Midori wished she could run away, but her father's will held her captive, and she must defend Hirata. "But I don't-they're not-I can't-"

  "Don't pretend to be ignorant." The rasping ceased as Lord Niu stopped sharpening the dagger. His hands were black with grit; his expression scorned Midori. "You and that boy are lovers. What secrets does he whisper to you when you lie together?"

  Midori hoped her father didn't really know the things she and Hirata-san had done, or suspect she was pregnant.

  "Speak!" Lord Niu ordered.

  Desperation loosened Midori's tongue. "There's nothing to tell. Hirata-san and his father aren't making war on you."

  Lord Niu snorted in disgust. "They're trying to lull me into believing I'm safe. And they're using my own daughter as a messenger for carrying their lies to me."

  "I'm telling the truth!" Midori cried. "They're good, honorable men who came to you in peace."

  The grindstone suddenly flew out of Lord Niu's hand and crashed against the wall. Midori shrieked. Okita and the guards started.

  "Do you take me for a moron?" Lord Niu shouted. "My enemy wants to sneak his son into our clan, to cause discord among us and weaken us so we'll be vulnerable. I should cut off your head and send it to him as proof that I'm onto his scheme!"

  Midori whimpered as he brandished the dagger. He crawled to the edge of the dais, tilted his head, and scrutinized her. She recoiled in terror from his fierce, distorted gaze. Then the left side of his mouth curved upward in a pitying smile.

  "Ah. I see," he said. "You really don't know anything. You're too innocent to recognize my enemies for what they are."

  Rage suffused his features. "That boy has tricked you into thinking he loves you, all the while he's used you for his evil purposes. That dirty, vicious scoundrel!"

  Lord Niu jumped up and stalked ar
ound the dais; he slashed the dagger at the air. "Son of a snake! Demon from hell! I'll see him destroyed before long!"

  Cowering, Midori put her hands over her ears to block out her father's voice, but Lord Niu shouted more curses against Hirata. Wild, reckless terror overcame her.

  "Stop!" she screamed.

  Lord Niu abruptly fell quiet. He stood still, weapon dangling, as he and his men regarded her in surprise that she dared command him. Midori quailed at her own boldness; yet her love for Hirata and need to marry him inspired courage. She said what Reiko had suggested might bend Lord Niu to her wishes: "Do you want to be safe from your enemies?"

  Caught off guard and startled out of his rage, Lord Niu said, "... Yes?"

  "Do you want to make sure that the Hirata clan will never attack ours?" Midori's voice quavered; she pressed her thighs together, fighting an urge to urinate.