Текст книги "Death of a Doll Maker "

Автор книги: Ingrid J. Parker

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

17

THE MISSING GOVERNOR

A sudden spell of warm weather caused Akitada’s little tree to burst into blossoms. It cheered him until another summons from Dazaifu arrived.

At least it was not raining this time. He rode under a cloudless blue sky. The sun seemed mercilessly hot, and there was no breeze at all. The road had turned to dust, and passing horses and carts raised clouds of fine dirt that clogged his nostrils and covered his clothes. The weather had turned hot, and by the time he had completed the journey, he did not feel much better than last time. His clothes stuck to his body again, and sweat trickled down between his shoulder blades.

Otherwise, the atmosphere in the vice governor general’s office had improved. Akitada was admitted quickly, and Korenori rose and greeted him pleasantly before leading him to his study.

There, however, it became clear that a serious matter had arisen.

“Please be seated,” Korenori said. “We have a problem.”

Akitada sat and waited, expecting nothing good.

“Your predecessor has disappeared.”

“I believe you’ve already notified me of this, sir.”

“Yes, but now I have instructions from the chancellor himself.” He held up a rolled document with impressive seals and scarlet ribbons. “They came by a fast ship and express messenger. He has commanded that we make an immediate search for Lord Tachibana. It seems he never reached the capital.”

Akitada nodded. He had expected this but did not see how it affected him. Or the vice governor general, for that matter. “But why search here?” he asked.

“They think he never left Kyushu.”

“Oh.” Akitada absorbed this startling information. It seemed very unlikely. “What makes them think so? I was told he took ship in Hakata.”

“Ahem. Yes, but there is no evidence he actually did so.”

“Ah.”

It meant nobody had bothered to verify a dubious rumor about Tachibana’s having chosen to go by a separate ship. In fact, it had seemed to Akitada all along that there had been no very good explanation for this last minute change of plans. But his next thought made him sit up. Unless one assumed Tachibana was hiding out somewhere, it meant he had been abducted and possibly murdered.

Most likely in Hakata.

In Akitada’s own province.

And this made it his business.

His curiosity was aroused. Here was a mystery for him to solve, a case of sufficient magnitude, given Tachibana’s rank and status, to challenge his best investigative skills.

“I take it you want me to check into this, sir.” he said.

Korenori gave him an irritated look. “Naturally. What else would I call you for?”

Akitada did not remind him he had last summoned Akitada for meddling in Okata’s investigations. He nodded. “May I ask for your support?”

Korenori’ eyebrows shot up. “Naturally you have that.”

“I need to know about Lord Tachibana’s stay here in Kyushu. And I shall need to see all the documents your office has for his administration.”

Korenori bristled for a moment, then gave in. “Very well. What do you want to know?”

“Perhaps we might start with your impression of his personality.”

The vice governor general thought for a moment. “Well, I didn’t care for him, but he was very efficient. A good administrator. His final reports were perfect, as I told you before. I don’t know much about his private life. He did not bring his family.” Korenori frowned for a moment. “That’s not unusual, by the way. You yourself decided against it. Tachibana was known to be an expert on Chinese art and seems to have collected it quite passionately. I expect he took it all with him?”

Akitada grimaced. “Every last item, unless thieves got what he left.”

“No, I think he took it.” Korenori shook his head. “I think he was a little obsessive. Talked about Chinese culture constantly, and invited me to his place just so he could show off his treasures. This was probably the most striking thing about him. If you ask me, he was a bore, though rumor had it that he visited a local woman. Not unexpected for officials without their families.” He winked at Akitada.

Akitada flushed. “Did he socialize with the local Chinese?”

“I wouldn’t know. If you mean, did he invite them to his house, I doubt it. It’s not at all encouraged, you know. But I expect he knew the merchants dealing in imported art quite well.”

“Was there anything besides the art purchases and the occasional prostitute which might have put him in a financial bind? Was he a gambler, for example?”

“No, not to my knowledge. And as I told you, his accounts were in order.”

“Yes. I would like to see those now, and anything else of sufficient significance to have been recorded.”

Korenori clapped his hands. The door opened and a clerk peered in. “Gather all the paperwork for Chikuzen province and anything else pertaining to Lord Tachibana’s administration,” he said. The clerk withdrew.

“Is this all you require?” Korenori asked.

“Yes. Thank you, sir. If you recall anything else, perhaps you’ll let me know?”

“I will. Good luck, Sugawara. The court expects an answer right away.” The vice governor general rose. “You may use this room to look at the documents. I’ll leave you to it.”

Akitada spent the next four hours sifting through the paperwork he had wished to see when he had first arrived. Apart from sending in a servant with hot tea and some rice cakes, Korenori left him in peace.

He finally closed the last document box and stared into space. He was convinced Tachibana had enriched himself from government funds in multiple ways but no more so than most governors. Court nobles tended to consider a provincial assignment a miserable life away from friends and stimulating activities, but they sought out such assignments precisely because they offered a way of rewarding themselves and their families for the sacrifice. This was clearly understood in government circles, and no reprimand would attach to his predecessor for milking the provincial treasury and the rice taxes dry.

He got up and stretched his stiff back. For some time now he had been feeling that Tachibana Moroe was dead and, like the chancellor, he thought it had happened in Kyushu, more precisely in his own province.

He went out into the main office. Korenori was dictating a letter to a young clerk. He looked up and stopped.

“All done, Sugawara?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you. I’ll head back now and see what I can find out in Hakata.”

The other man nodded. “I take it you found all the paperwork correct?”

“Yes. The answer must lie elsewhere.”

“Good. Please find the man. It is extremely urgent.”

Akitada bowed. “I’ll do my very best, sir.”

He rode homeward almost unaware of the blazing sky as he tried to understand what had happened. Tachibana’s eccentric preoccupation with Chinese art did not suggest anything, but he promised himself a visit to Feng as soon as possible. Perhaps even more interesting was the casual comment by the vice governor general that Tachibana had visited a local prostitute. Such women were often the recipients of secrets their enamored customers poured into their ears.

The image of Fragrant Orchid passed across his memory. To his own shame, he had allowed the woman to distract him at the banquet. If he had weakened enough to accept her invitation, he might well have become seriously compromised.

Then, like a blinding flash, a thought struck him, and he reined in his galloping horse. He had asked her about Tachibana, and she had admitted she had known the governor. More than likely, she had been one of his lovers. He had been the highest-ranking official in the province and would have been acquainted with its most beautiful courtesan. No doubt, they had been introduced early, as had happened to Akitada himself. The note she had sent by the little girl took on a new meaning. She had asked him to come because she had something to tell him.

And he had torn up the note.

He spurred his horse again. In his vanity, he had assumed the note was an invitation to her bed when all she had done was to let him know she had information about the ex-governor.

As soon as he reached the Chikuzen tribunal, he sent for Tora and Saburo. In his private study, he told them about his meeting with the vice governor general.

“I’d be glad to see this Fragrant Orchid for you,” offered Tora. Saburo cast up his eyes.

Akitada said, “Thank you, Tora, but considering that the lady invited me, I’d better be the one to pay her a visit. You can find out for me where she lives.”

“Gladly.” Tora knew his way around willow quarters and looked forward to the excursion.

“Then we will check on shipping departures between the fourteenth and sixteenth days of the second month. I’m interested in any ships carrying passengers bound for the east. Tachibana may have had a secret reason for changing his travel plans. He may have taken passage incognito to an unknown destination. Or he may never have left.”

Saburo frowned. “It’s all rather vague, sir.”

“I know. I’ll see Fragrant Orchid as soon as possible. We may know a lot more then.”

They exchanged glances and looked at him gravely.

Akitada said defensively, “She has information about Governor Tachibana. I have no idea what kind, but since he seems to have had—er—dealings with her, I need to speak to her.”

With a grin, Tora offered again, “I could talk to her for you, sir. It might cause gossip for you to visit her.”

Akitada snapped, “Just for once, keep your lewd thoughts to yourself.”

They left in accusatory silence.

Akitada paced the small room. He was furious. This was what came of such cursed familiarity with servants and retainers. They took an unacceptable interest in one’s private affairs and dared to voice criticism. Tora’s level of familiarity had always been a thorn in his side, and now he was even infecting Saburo with it.

But Akitada’s conscience was by no means good. He had been tempted by the beautiful woman. He had wanted to see her again. He had thought with desire of her during the lonely nights away from home.

He bit his lip and stopped pacing.

*

Maeda was in the chief’s office when Tora arrived. He looked very much at home in the place previously occupied by Okata.

Tora looked around and admired the neatness with which Maeda had arranged document boxes, writing utensils, loose paper, and assorted weapons. Hanging from one wall were swords, clubs, chains, knives, arrows, daggers, axes, truncheons, and ropes. On shelves rested jars and vials and paper twists. Each item had a small wooden tag attached. Document boxes, paper, and ink and brushes rested on his desk, lined up perfectly with the corners.

“What’s all this?” Tora asked, nodding at the armory and peering at some of the tags. They bore names and dates.

“Murder weapons,” said Maeda with a grin.

“Your cases?”

“No. Things aren’t that bad here in Hakata. I found them in a shed and thought they should play a more prominent role. People like to see them. What do you think?”

“Very impressive! Pity we never found the knife Mitsui used on his wife.” Tora paused. “Some day when I have more time, I’ll ask you about some of those. Today I’m on an errand for my master. He wants to know where a courtesan called Fragrant Orchid lives.”

Maeda’s jaw sagged open. “F-fragrant Orchid? He wants to know about Fragrant Orchid?”

“Don’t look so shocked. It’s not what you think. The beauty has some information about the last governor. The master is looking into problems concerning his administration.”

Maeda still gaped, shaking his head. “I don’t believe it,” he muttered.

“What do you mean?”

“The lady is dead.”

“Dead? You don’t mean she’s been murdered?”

Maeda uttered a humorless laugh. “No. Not that. She killed herself.”

Tora digested this. “When and how?” he asked.

“Nearly three weeks ago. She took poison.”

Tora shook his head, baffled. “That’s strange,” he mused. “It must have been right after the mayor’s banquet.”

“Unlike you, I wasn’t invited. When was the banquet?”

“I wasn’t invited either. The master went. That’s why he’s asking about her. It was the day after you and I talked to Yoko.”

Maeda reflected and nodded. “Yes. That sounds right.”

Tora asked, “How sure are you it was suicide?”

Maeda said unhappily, “It can’t be anything else. There was a letter she left, and the poison was hers. Some of the other women said she’d had a disappointment recently, a love affair … or whatever. Maybe the rich man she’d had her eye on decided against marriage. It certainly looked like suicide.” He paused. “But you’re going to investigate anyway, right?”

Tora sighed and got to his feet. “Where did she kill herself?”

“She shared a house with a young girl she was training. Here, let me draw you a map.” Maeda rubbed some ink and dipped his brush in it. He drew lines for streets and a river, marking the spot with a miniature house.

Tora took the drawing. “Didn’t know you’re an artist, too.”

“Let me know what you find out. I’d hate to look like an incompetent fool so early in my new job.”

18

FRAGRANT ORCHID

Tora took the news of Fragrant Orchid’s suicide straight back to the tribunal. An hour later Akitada arrived at Fragrant Orchid’s house accompanied by Lieutenant Maeda, Tora, Saburo, and a scribe belonging to the police headquarters. Two constables walked ahead.

The courtesan had lived in a quiet residential part of the city not far from the center of town. Her house was small and hidden in the back of a lovely garden. Cherry trees bloomed and birds sang. A small fountain splashed water from a bamboo pipe into a basin and thence into a narrow pebbled stream which lost itself among the shrubbery. The air was cool and scented and birds sang in the trees, but the house lay in a deep silence.

One of the constables shouted, “Ho! Open up! Police.”

Akitada grimaced. Onlookers were already gathering in the street outside, trying to get a look, but Lieutenant Maeda seemed untroubled. When nothing happened, Maeda tried the door. It opened easily, and they entered single-file, walking along a flagged corridor to a set of folding doors with carvings of orchids on them. Maeda opened these also. Beyond lay a raised room open to a broad veranda and the back garden.

The space was not large but extremely luxurious. It had clearly belonged to a woman of exquisite taste. The reed shades over the doors to the garden were trimmed in green brocade. Silk cushions in deep purples and reds, some with gold embroidery, lay about. Painted screens and rare speckled bamboo book racks stood against the walls, as did red and black lacquered trunks. Lacquered food trays, porcelain dishes, carved braziers, and elegant paper lanterns proved that Fragrant Orchid had entertained lavishly.

Akitada noted the finely painted screens, several musical instruments, and books, and immediately pictured her in their midst. Here, in this enchanting world, Fragrant Orchid had received her lovers, those lucky men whom she had found attractive enough or who had possessed enough wealth to tempt her.

Akitada might have come here himself, and then perhaps she would not have died. He had no proof this was so, only the nagging feeling he was responsible somehow because he had ignored her invitation.

Maeda walked into the middle of the room and pointed at the floor. “We found her here,” he said. “She collapsed after vomiting. You can still see the stains.” He turned and pointed to a wall. “Over there on the little tray we found a used cup and her folded letter.”

Brought back to the ugly reality of such a death, Akitada asked, “Did your coroner identify the poison?”

“Yes. It was hishima. Common enough among prostitutes who use it in their cosmetics and in larger doses to cause abortions.” Maeda made a face.

“But in this case the dose was very large?”

“Yes. According to Doctor Fujita, it would have killed a horse. Unpleasantly. Violent vomiting and convulsions.”

“What about the letter? Do you still have it?”

Maeda pulled a folded paper from his coat. “I thought you might want to see it, sir.”

Akitada recognized the tiny flecks of gold and the stiff handwriting. His heart contracted at the memory of her beautiful face. The letter was in the form of a poem:

“Unmindful that ships must wait for high tide, I parted from you too soon … oh, for a vermilion boat and a pair of jeweled oars so that I might row across to meet you on the other side.”

The words were beautiful and sad. They spoke of lovers parting in this world and of the hope of meeting after death. Not surprisingly, Maeda and others had taken it for proof that Fragrant Orchid had ended her life because she had lost the man she loved. Akitada thought of Governor Tachibana. Was he the man who had broken her heart? Tachibana had planned to leave Kyushu, and he had been a womanizer; it made sense that his affair with the most beautiful woman in Hakata should have been a passionate one. If he had been murdered, had she known something of his death? Was that what she had been about to tell him?

He decided against the broken heart. The woman he had conversed with had not been grieving over the death of a man she loved. In fact, he did not believe for a moment that she had committed suicide.

“Where did you find this?” he asked.

Maeda pointed to a writing box. “It was inside. On top.”

“Allow me to keep this a while, Lieutenant,” he said to Maeda. “Something about this note puzzles me.”

Before Maeda could answer, they heard running footsteps in the garden and turned.

“Go away!” The little girl who had given him the note from Fragrant Orchid rushed down a path and into the room. Her eyes were filled with tears and her pretty face flushed. Behind her huffed an older woman in the clothes of a servant. When she saw them, she stopped timidly on the garden path.

Not so the little one. She dashed up the steps into the room.

“Go away!” she cried again, her small fists clenched as she stamped her foot. “This is her house. You mustn’t be here. It’s wrong to touch her things and stare at them.” She burst into loud sobs.

Tora went to her. “Sorry, little one,” he said soothingly, bending down and putting an arm around her shoulders. “We’ve come to make sure the poor dead lady is not forgotten. Who are you?”

She stared at him, sniffling and sobbing, and mumbled, “Umeko. I live here.”

Akitada said, “I think she is Fragrant Orchid’s protégée. I met her after the banquet.”

The girl turned her head to look at him and nodded. “Why didn’t you come?” she asked accusingly.

“I’m very sorry.”

“She was so worried. She kept saying, ‘I hope he comes.’”

Tora straightened up and looked at Akitada. For once, he was not grinning.

Akitada took it hard. Here was the proof. She had indeed wanted to tell him something, something she knew to be dangerous. She had hoped she would be safe by telling him about it. Instead, the risk she had taken at the banquet had brought a killer to her house.

Umeko still looked at him with eyes swimming in tears. He said softly, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was important.” With unforgivable conceit he had thought Fragrant Orchid had been flirting with him, had thought him a desirable lover.

Umeko nodded with a small sob. She dabbed at her eyes with a sleeve of the gorgeous small gown she wore.

“You must have loved her,” Akitada said, feeling inadequate.

She nodded again.

“We’ll find out what she was afraid of,” Maeda promised. “With your help. Were you here the day she died?”

A head shake.

“So you don’t know if anyone visited her?”

Another shake. “She sent me and Keiko to the dance master when the man came.”

“Keiko is her maid?”

She nodded and pointed to the woman outside.

Maeda called, “Come up here, Keiko.”

The woman approached and knelt. She had a plain face. Her hair was partially gray and twisted into a knot on her neck.

Maeda said, “So your mistress sent you and the little girl away because she was entertaining a customer that day?”

Keiko giggled. “Not a customer. No more customers after the governor.”

“Then who came that day?”

“Nobody. “

“So you weren’t here when Fragrant Orchid took the poison?”

“No, Lieutenant.” She made him a bow and stared at Akitada and his companions.

“This is his Excellency, the governor, and the two men with him are his officers. You mustn’t be afraid. We’re trying to find out why your mistress killed herself. Was she sad?”

The maid shook her head. “She was in a temper. She got in a temper when his honor Tachibana left.”

“A temper?” Akitada raised his brows. “I because the governor left?”

The maid nodded. “She liked him. My lady did not have many men come into her bed.”

Akitada’s glance went to Umeko. It was an improper conversation in front of a child her age, but Umeko was a courtesan in training. No doubt she was wise beyond her years in the ways of men and women together.

Maeda must have thought the same, because he began to question the maid Keiko about Fragrant Orchid’s suitors. He asked about her affair with the ex-governor, and the men before and since. There were few names. Keiko explained that Fragrant Orchid’s rank among the courtesans meant she could pick and choose who she slept with. She chose rarely, but whoever it was paid well.

Akitada did not recognize any of the names. Maeda did, however. Two of the men were local nobles, while two others served in high-ranking positions at Dazaifu. None had visited since her affair with Governor Tachibana. Fragrant Orchid had apparently been celibate since.

Maeda and his men searched Fragrant Orchid’s house without finding anything helpful. Akitada trailed along. Only the main room and the garden could be called luxurious. The other rooms, and there were few, were at best utilitarian. Fragrant Orchid had spent her money where it would do most good. It also explained why she had kept no servants except the maid and Umeko.

Keiko was a country woman and not particularly quick-witted. Umeko had to translate some of Akitada’s and Maeda’s questions. The maid had no idea why they were being asked, nor was she very upset by her mistress’s death.

“What will happen to you and Umeko now?” Akitada asked, feeling vaguely responsible for them.

The maid chuckled. “We go away. To another lady.”

In the end, they left with more questions than answers.

Outside, Maeda said to Akitada. “I think you suspect she was murdered, sir, and perhaps it is so, but would you explain to me what makes you think so?”

Akitada considered how much he should tell Maeda. He thought it best not to publicize the disappearance and probable murder of Lord Tachibana yet, but in the end, he decided to trust the man. He could not manage this search on his own. He said, “After the mayor’s banquet, Fragrant Orchid sent me a note because she had something to tell me. I ignored it, thinking it merely a device to increase business.”

Maeda blinked but he kept a straight face. “Fragrant Orchid had no need of new business,” he said. “She was quite a wealthy woman. You think she knew she was in danger?”

“Yes, but I didn’t know that. There’s another matter. Lord Tachibana never arrived back in the capital.”

Maeda’s eyebrows shot up. “Great gods!” he muttered. “Don’t tell me. More trouble, and this time it’s big.”

Akitada nodded. “Since Fragrant Orchid had been the ex-governor’s lover, and since Umeko said her mistress was very worried, I thought perhaps her death was convenient for someone.”

Maeda said nothing for a moment. Then he nodded. “If something has happened to Lord Tachibana, the people responsible would do anything to protect themselves. Now and in the future. They will be dangerous. If Fragrant Orchid was murdered, this proves it.”

Akitada looked at him uncertainly.

Maeda flushed and added quickly, “I’m not sure how to proceed. I don’t know who is involved in this.” He paused and added, “I’m afraid nothing is as it seems in Hakata.”

Akitada weighed the policeman’s words. “Yes. I suspect you are right. We must find out who this silent killer is, and how he operates. We can guess what made him kill Fragrant Orchid, but why did they attack Lord Tachibana, if that’s what happened? It’s a very serious crime to lay hands on a government official of his rank.” He frowned. “Do you always have so many murders here?”

Maeda looked puzzled. “So many murders?”

“Tora kept me informed about the Mitsui case and the neighbor woman’s murder. He seems to think the man Hiroshi killed her and his step mother. Fragrant Orchid died around the same time.”

“We know who killed Mrs. Mitsui, but we’ll take another look at Hiroshi if you insist.” He sighed. “Do you believe they are all related, sir? That seems unlikely.”

“I don’t know, Lieutenant. I’m just trying to understand how much crime there is in this province. Or rather, in Hakata.”

“Murders are somewhat rare here in the city, sir. But the harbor area is rough. There are many knife fights. We’ve had a few bodies wash up in the harbor or a sailor knifed in a drunken brawl. Still, I cannot believe …” He broke off and bit his lip.

“I wondered if my arrival has perhaps stirred up a nest of vipers.”

Maeda flushed. “Surely not, your Excellency. It’s probably just coincidence. There is no connection between the three women, and I don’t see what a doll maker can possibly have to do with the tribunal.”

Akitada sighed. “Well, investigate Fragrant Orchid’s death as murder. I have a notion that she sent Umeko and the maid away on purpose because she was meeting her killer. Perhaps he had offered to buy her silence. Otherwise I doubt she would have admitted him. My people and I will look into the ex-governor’s disappearance. Something is bound to turn up, and we may see the connection in time.”

Akitada dismissed his escort and turned to Saburo. “I want you to return to the tribunal now. Tonight you’ll grow your beard again and find out about the man with the missing fingers. I want to know what he does at the harbor. But be careful. Tora and I will call on Merchant Feng and then check ship departures with the harbor office. Report to me in the morning.”