The Fire Kimono(52)

“Maybe those witnesses will lead us to some evidence,” Hirata said.

“I had a feeling that Lady Ateki and Oigimi know more than they told me,” Sano said. “I’d like to find out what it is.”

On his way out of the house, Sano met Reiko in the corridor. She said, “I heard you were home. I need to talk to you.” Looking around, she said, “Where’s your mother?”

When Sano told her, Reiko’s face showed dismay, but none of the shock he’d expected. “What is it?” He recalled how he’d come upon her and his mother arguing in the garden, but he didn’t have time for her now. He explained where he was going and why. “Can we talk later?”

Reiko hesitated, then said, “Yes. It can wait.”





A brief rain spattered Sano and his men during their second trip to Fukagawa. When they arrived at the estate where Tadatoshi’s family lived, the wet street was deserted. With its shutters closed against the rain and its eaves dripping water, the house had an inhospitable air. And the moment Sano walked into the reception room, he noticed a change in the atmosphere.

Lady Ateki and Oigimi greeted him with the stiff courtesy due a stranger visiting for the first time. It was as if they’d forgotten the conversation they’d had with him yesterday. Lady Ateki made the usual offer of refreshments. The tiny, birdlike old woman was pensive, her gentle face troubled. She sat in silence while food and drink were brought. Oigimi brooded under the black head drape that hid the scars from her burns. She exuded coldness.

“How may we serve you?” Lady Ateki said politely.

Sano knew something had happened. “I’m still investigating your son’s murder, and I’m looking for more witnesses. Do you know the whereabouts of anyone who belonged to your household when Tadatoshi disappeared?”

The women didn’t answer.

“Any family members, retainers, or servants?” Sano prompted.

“We have already informed you that most of the people from my father’s estate were killed by the fire,” Oigimi said in a distant tone.

“More have died in the years since,” Lady Ateki said, equally distant. “Others have scattered. We don’t know where or if they’re still alive.”

“Are any living in this house?” Sano asked.

“No,” Oigimi said.

“I’m sorry we can’t help you.” Lady Ateki’s air of finality hinted that Sano should leave. When he didn’t, she said, “Was there something else?”

“Yes,” Sano said. “I want you both to tell the shogun what you said about my mother yesterday.”

“Why?”

“To attest to her good character and help me prove that she’s innocent.”

Lady Ateki and Oigimi exchanged glances that united them in opposition. “I don’t believe we can do that,” Lady Ateki said.

Sano began to have an idea why he’d lost their cooperation. “Have you recently had news about Tadatoshi’s murder?”

“As a matter of fact, we have,” Lady Ateki said.

“We’ve learned that you’ve found Egen the tutor,” Oigimi said, “and that he says your mother and a soldier from the estate kidnapped and killed my brother.”

Bad news traveled fast. Sano was dismayed to have one of his suspicions proved correct. “How did you learn that?”

“Lord Matsudaira was good enough to send an envoy to tell us,” Lady Ateki said.

Sano’s other suspicion had hit the mark. Lord Matsudaira had wasted no time capitalizing on Egen’s treachery. He’d quickly moved to influence these witnesses. They now believed Sano’s mother was guilty and so was Sano, by association.

“Egen lied,” Sano said, hiding his rage lest it offend the women and increase their antipathy toward him. “He and my mother were both accused of the crime. He told me they were both innocent, but when he testified in front of the shogun, he changed his story. He put the blame on my mother to protect himself. Did Lord Matsudaira’s envoy tell you that?”

Sano could tell from Lady Ateki’s and Oigimi’s blank expressions that they hadn’t been told. “Egen can’t be trusted. Don’t believe anything he said.”

“We don’t believe everything we hear.” Oigimi’s tart voice rebuked Sano for implying that she and her mother were so gullible or should take his word as the truth. “But the news about Egen made us think.”

“About Etsuko,” said Lady Ateki.

“We decided that maybe we didn’t know her so well after all,” Oigimi said.

“She seemed like a good, harmless girl,” Lady Ateki said, “but that could have been just the face she showed us.”