by I. J. Parker
“What if I told you a witness saw you and Ling take Lord Tachibana to your home?”
Feng grew very still, but the twitch was still there. He said, “Is this the same person who accuses me of abducting your Lieutenant Sashima?”
“You deny taking Lord Tachibana to your house?”
“Absolutely. His Excellency was anxious to go on board. He would not have accepted an invitation to my house.”
“How was it that Lord Tachibana went unaccompanied by his people on his way to the harbor?”
“I cannot tell. I think there was a last minute delay and he expected to catch up.”
Akitada had made no progress. He switched subjects abruptly for the second time. “On my visit to your store I saw some very pretty dolls. Your clerk said they were made locally. By any chance were they made by Mrs. Mitsui?”
Feng frowned. “The name’s familiar, but my clerk handles such matters. Once he gets here, he will be able to tell you. He said you bought two dolls for your children. Quite exquisite for such trivial things, aren’t they?”
“Yes. And they were very inexpensive for something that must have taken many hours of work. I intended to get the plainer versions, but Ling was quite rude when I reached for one of those.”
“Alas, I did not know this. My apologies. Ling has not been in this country long. It was a misunderstanding, I think. I would be pleased to send you several of those dolls at no charge whatsoever to make up for the unpleasantness. Or perhaps a painting would be more acceptable?”
“Thank you, no. Mrs. Mitsui received five pieces of gold for a special order just before she died. Did she get this payment from you?”
“I don’t deal with craftspeople in person. My clerk does.”
Feng looked positively pleased by now, smiling expectantly as he waited for the next question. Akitada was casting about for inspiration when Maeda finally returned from the harbor.
He came in and closed the door behind him.
“We found twelve strongboxes in the hold. They were very heavy. I had one of them broken open. It was filled with gold and silver coins.”
Feng lost his smile.
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” said Akitada. “Your property, Mr. Feng?”
“Not mine,” Feng managed through clenched teeth. “You must ask the captain. It’s probably money he earned engaging in legal trade.”
“Somewhat rich for a short visit to our country, I would think,” Akitada commented. “As for legal trade, Hakozaki harbor belongs to Akisuki Masanobu according to provincial records. His trading powers are restricted by the court. I think we’ll confiscate the strong boxes, Lieutenant Maeda. An investigation into illegal trade with a foreign nation is indicated.”
Maeda saluted and left.
Feng said nothing.
“I’m afraid I must cancel your planned journey while we are investigating,” Akitada informed him.
Feng nodded and prepared to rise.
“Your family may return to their home, but you’ll remain here in the Hakata jail until these matters are resolved.”
“In jail?” Feng collapsed again. “But that’s unjust,” he protested. “I have done nothing wrong. You cannot keep me without cause. I shall complain to Dazaifu. No, I’ll complain to the government in the capital. There are many powerful men there who know me and my family. We have served this country’s noble families now for three generations. Such things are not forgotten.”
Akitada thought of Tora. Feng’s threat, though probably well-founded, meant nothing to him. “There’s no more to be said,” he snapped and called for a constable.
When the man appeared, Akitada ordered Feng bound and taken to jail.
On the way out, Feng cried, “Wait. I may have information about your Lieutenant Sashima.”
“Speak then, and make it quick.”
“I heard the former police chief, Captain Okata, held a grudge against the lieutenant.”
Akitada stared at Feng. Could Okata have been behind Tora’s disappearance all along?
Feng pleaded, “I can help you find your lieutenant, but I must be free to do so.”
“No. Take him away, Constable.”
Feng departed, muttering.
Saburo and Akitada looked at each other. “Captain Okata?” Saburo asked. “Do you think it could be the answer?”
“It’s as likely as anything. Let’s go get him.”
Akitada went in search of Maeda. He found him in the courtyard, giving instructions to a group of constables about removing the strongboxes from the ship and placing a guard on it to make sure it did not depart for its homeland.
“Do you know where Okata is?” Akitada asked.
“Okata? Not really. His family owns land near the korokan. Why?”
“Feng says Okata is behind Tora’s disappearance. I think I’ll take Saburo and some soldiers from the tribunal and arrest Okata.” Akitada was both angry and miserable. Maeda and the assistant governor general had warned him that Okata might take revenge. He had brushed their warnings off.
Leaving Saburo behind, he gathered his soldiers and, still wet and chilled from the ride to Hakozaki, climbed back on his horse.
They had not yet left Hakata on their journey west when a constable on a lathered horse caught up with them, shouting and waving his arm. They stopped.
“He’s back,” shouted the man. “He’s safe. Lieutenant Maeda says to tell you Lieutenant Tora just got back.”
They crowded around him. “What happened?” Akitada asked, scarcely believing the good news.
“Lieutenant Tora says Captain Okata and his men caught him and sent him to Tsushima on the convict ship. Not sure about the rest, Excellency, but the lieutenant thought you might want to come back.”
Of course, he was going back. The gods had been kind once again. Tora was alive—and apparently well. Akitada was too overcome to speak.
29
THE SKEIN UNRAVELS
Tora looked wet, filthy, and battered, his face bruised and covered with stubble, his ragged clothes torn, and his legs and feet bare. Beside him was another man, a big, shaggy-haired and shaggy–bearded fellow. Saburo hovered by their side.
When Tora saw Akitada, he gave a happy shout and they embraced.
“I’ve never been so glad to see anyone,” Akitada said, holding him. Tora used only his right arm to return the hug. “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?’
Tora still had his irresistible grin. “Just a little. We’ve been to war, both of us.” He turned. “This is Shigeno. Show ‘em your chest, Shigeno.”
The big man lifted a ragged and blood-stained shirt. The crowd gasped at the many stab wounds and slashes. Shigeno sat down quickly.
“We’ve sent for a doctor,” Saburo supplied.
“Coming!” cried a voice from the door. “Let me through.” A very short monk appeared with his medicine case. He nodded to Maeda and looked the two patients over before crouching beside the big man and taking his shirt off. Shaking his head, he said, “Amida! I need to sew you up,” and produced a long, dark needle and some silk from his case.
Shigeno grew a shade paler.
Akitada asked Tora, “How badly hurt are you?”
Tora grinned. “Only one small cut that’s stopped bleeding. I want to get that bastard Okata. He’s the one set his thugs on me and bundled me off on a convict ship. Him and Hiroshi.” Tora put a hand on Shigeno’s shoulder. “But we showed them, didn’t we, brother?”
The big man nodded.
“Hiroshi?” Akitada asked.
“Oh, yes. And he killed both his stepmother and Yoko. Seems Yoko confronted him with being at the Mitsui place the night she was stabbed. Hiroshi hated her and thought she’d stolen gold from his father.”
“It explains a lot, sir,” Maeda said.
“I told you, Maeda. You should’ve listened.” Tora returned to his story. “Anyway, I woke up in the hold, but Shigeno and I and two convicts, we got out and we fought them all, guards and sailors bot
h. They got distracted and wrecked their ship on Ikishima. We escaped, all but one of us, found a fisherman and hired him to bring us back. I owe him fifty pieces of silver, sir.” Tora paused to give Akitada an apologetic grin.
“I can hardly believe it,” remarked Akitada, shaking his head. “You fought them? Why didn’t you identify yourself to the person in charge of the transport?”
“I tried to, but they just laughed. I have a notion the policeman and the guards work for Okata.”
“Ah.” Akitada glanced at Maeda. “You’d better look into this.”
Maeda nodded. He looked stunned.
Akitada spoke to the fisherman and his wife and paid them the promised sum. The couple seemed to regard their visit as a great adventure and the astonishing reward as a miraculous event. They kept bowing and muttering thanks.
When Tora and Shigeno were able to answer more questions, Maeda, ever the policeman, started with, “You told us three convicts escaped. What happened to the other two?”
“One died, I think,” said Tora. “The other didn’t trust the authorities and took off.”
Maeda glowered. “No surprise.”
Shigeno began to look very uneasy, and Akitada asked him, “But you decided to put your faith in us? Or did Tora make more promises?”
The big convict flushed. “It’s true that Tora said you’d fix things but, frankly, I didn’t believe he could do anything for me. I decided to take the risk of making my case to you.”
Akitada raised his brows. The man was educated, not your run-of-mill convict. “What were you sentenced for?”
“Murder. Of a prefect, I was told,” Maeda snapped.
Saburo gasped. “You killed a prefect? That’s hardly an insignificant crime.”
Tora frowned at him. “Just wait till you hear his story. The prefect was a crook who had Shigeno’s father killed so he could steal their gold mine.”
“Gold mine?” Akitada stared at Shigeno.
“Well, someone found either gold or silver on our mountain,” explained Shigeno. “Not sure if there’s a lot of it. We never had a chance to look.”
“But you killed a prefect?” Akitada shook his head. “There are better methods of settling land disputes.”
Tora pointed out, “If Okata can be a crooked police chief, then Shigeno’s prefect can be a murderer or worse.”
It was true; not all officials were honest. And this was Kyushu. Akitada said, “You’re right. Very well, we’ll look into it. Meanwhile Shigeno will be my guest at the tribunal. I want his word he won’t run.”
Shigeno smiled. “You have it, your Excellency. And thank you.”
“Has Maeda told you, Tora? A lot has happened since you disappeared.”
Tora nodded. “They found my clothes in the abandoned well where Yoko’s body had been. That bastard Hiroshi! He was there, working me over. And Okata was, too. I recognized his voice. He’s the one set it up for getting dismissed. I expect Hiroshi took me to the ship on his cart. He had to get rid of my clothes. Much too official-looking on a convict. Too bad he’s dead. I was looking forward to meeting him again.”
Maeda asked, “Are you sure he admitted killing both of them?”
“Yes. He was pretty cool about it, too. Killed his father’s wife for stealing from his father. My guess is he found the gold coins, and she refused to give them to him. Hiroshi had gambling debts that went away after her death. As for Yoko, she apparently saw him at the house the night of the murder and asked him about it.”
Maeda shook his head. “Yoko was the type to confront Hiroshi. She’d mention seeing him even if she didn’t think it important.”
“Poor Yoko.”
Akitada cleared his throat. “As it turned out, the well seems to have been a popular burial place. My predecessor was also down there.”
“Maybe Hiroshi had a hand in that, too. And to think you’d never have known any of this if it hadn’t been for me.” Tora grinned.
“We found Yoko before you disappeared,” Maeda objected.
Akitada added, “We certainly can’t pin the governor’s murder on Hiroshi, busy fellow though he was. It’s not the sort of crime he would commit. But at least we can be certain of his killing his stepmother and Yoko.”
Tora nodded. “The boy Kichiro said Hiroshi got very angry when he saw him looking over the fence. That must have been right after Yoko was killed. I expect Hiroshi go rid of whatever was in that hole. Best do some more digging, Maeda.”
Maeda made a face. “Well, I’m glad you left me something to do.”
“If you like, I’ll help you.”
You’re going to bed,” said Akitada. “Both of you, since Shigeno has agreed to be our guest.”
*
They returned to the tribunal, where their arrival caused gratifying pleasure. Akitada cut all questions short with a brief statement, and Saburo saw to it that Tora and his new friend had baths, food, and a rest.
In the tribunal office, Akitada asked Mori, “Did the report to the assistant governor general get off?”
“Yes, sir.”
Akitada next filled Mori in on some of the other news. The secretary was dumfounded. “Lord Tachibana was murdered?”
“Yes, Mori. Right after he left here. Do you recall the day?”
“Yes, your Excellency.” The old clerk showed little grief. He merely shook his head in amazement. “His Excellency was irritable. He didn’t look forward to going home. Most of the officials sent from the capital hate Kyushu, but Lord Tachibana made friends here and bought many beautiful things. Of course, there was the matter of the recall.”
“Yes, indeed. If you recall what the governor was wearing, you’d better report to Lieutenant Maeda. It will help identify the body.”
“Yes, sir.” Mori sighed. “It’s hard to believe. Merchant Feng made a lot of money from him and must have hated to see him leave.”
“I don’t doubt it in the least.”
“Merchant Feng was a frequent visitor here and came to see his Excellency off. They left together. His lordship, Merchant Feng, and that Chinese servant of his.”
“Feng admitted as much. By any chance, were you aware that Lord Tachibana had a relationship with a courtesan called Fragrant Orchid?”
Mori blushed. “Oh, yes. We all knew. He was very taken with her. Merchant Feng introduced them.” Mori paused. “I’ve had a look at Mr. Feng’s account book.”
Feng’s secret account book must hold the key to Tachibana’s death, and they badly needed evidence again Feng. The recalled governor’s very close business relationship with the merchant had ostensibly been based on his obsessive acquisition of Chinese art, but such a fixation was a weakness that could be exploited by unscrupulous men. If Tachibana had indeed engaged in illegal and treasonous dealings through Feng, then his departure for the capital, where suspicion of malfeasances would have brought interrogation by the censor’s bureau, was a mortal danger to Feng and possibly others.
Akitada gave Mori an encouraging nod. “Excellent! And what have you found out?”
Mori went to his desk and returned with the book.
“I am not quite sure, your Excellency. Mr. Feng used colloquial Chinese, but I also believe some of the names and objects are disguised by other words.”
“Very likely. Have you learned anything at all?”
“Yes. Merchant Feng has been ordering pictures and some carved figures in exchange for certain sums or unspecified favors. He listed expenditures also, in one case, one of the last entries, he mentions children’s toys. Since the pictures and so forth were for Lord Tachibana, possibly the moneys and favors might have been supplied by Lord Tachibana in payment?”
“Probably. I hate to think what favors Lord Tachibana did the Chinese merchant.” Locking away the account book, Akitada thanked Mori, adding, “We’ll let Lieutenant Maeda ask one of the Chinese merchants to translate this.”
Akitada went to his study for a cup of tea and a brief rest before returning to Hakata. The
distance between the tribunal and police headquarters was becoming a nuisance. At least the rain had stopped. To his surprise, he found the houseboy Koji squatting on the floor. The boy shot up and immediately prostrated himself.
“Askin’ pardons, zir. Is a message.”
Irritated to be kept from his refreshment, Akitada snapped, “What message? And why didn’t you give it to Mori?”
Koji shrank. “Very private. Only for governor’s ears. I promise on my mother’s grave.” The boy eyed him anxiously. “You’re angry. I cannot tell you if you’re angry.” He turned to go.
“Koji!” thundered Akitada.
The boy froze, his back to him. Akitada said more gently, “I’m not angry, but I have much to do, so please say what you’ve come to tell me.”
Koji did not turn. “I waited ‘cause I promised.”
“It’s all right. I appreciate your patience.”
“Someone’s here,” Koji offered, looking at him over his shoulder. “He won’t come out if you’re angry.”
Come out? “Who is here?”
Koji shook his head. “I cannot tell if you’re angry.”
Akitada controlled himself with an effort and managed a smile. “Did you ask his name?”
“Yezzir. I ask many times. No name.”
Akitada sighed. “Where is this person?”
Koji walked into the adjoining eave chamber and pointed at one of the trunks standing in a corner. It had held Akitada’s books and papers but was now empty.
Or so Akitada had thought. He crossed quickly to it and flung back the lid.
A man cowered inside. He was on his knees and had his head tucked under his arms as if he expected to be beaten.
“Don’t hurt him, zir,” Koji cried. “He’s afraid.”
“Get out,” snapped Akitada.
After a moment, the slight figure of Feng’s clerk Masashi unfolded its thin limbs and stepped out of the trunk. He was sobbing. He stood for a moment, then fell to his knees and knocked his head against the floor. “Save me, your Excellency,” he cried. “They are going to kill me.”
