Falling Through Glass by Barbara Sheridan Read Free Book Online

important,” Kaemon said. “I could have gone to the Mimawarigumi, but we both know that sometimes the integrity of that group leaves something to be desired.”
    “I must agree with that,” Yamanami said. “I wouldn’t put any woman’s safety in their hands.”
    Hijikata cast Emmi another hard look. “Fine,” he said flatly before stalking away to a room farther down the hall.
    “There’s Captain Harada,” Yamanami said. “I will ask him to have men ready a cell and have a food tray prepared.”
    “Thank you. I’m sure Maeda-dono is hungry and tired.”
    Yamanami stepped away, and the reality of the situation hit Emmi. Impulsively, she grabbed Kaemon by the arm. “Are you insan—” she began in English, quickly shifting to Japanese. “What are you doing? Are you having me arrested? I’m no criminal! I haven’t done anything!”
    “I told you earlier that I’d like you to speak with the governor of Kyoto. Until then, I need to keep you secure in Kyoto. You can consent to the questioning and be a guest for the night, or continue to be difficult and become a certified prisoner for an indefinite period. The choice is yours.”
    Wonderful. So this was the story he was passing around, that she must be some informant or something and needed to speak with the “Feds,” as it were. Emmi exhaled a long, defeated sigh as Yamanami came back onto the porch and went into his room for something.
    “Fine. I’ll cooperate.”

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    “But I’m afraid,” Emmi said as the harsh truth sank in. She was a prisoner.
    “It’s only for tonight,” Kaemon said. “I’ll come back for you tomorrow.”
    Emmi swallowed back her unease and nodded. He almost seemed to care.
    “What about my mirror?”
    “Yamanami-san will see that it is secure.”
    She nodded again and lowered her gaze, determined not to cry in front of this guy. She looked up when he spoke again, his tone much softer than it had been all night.
    “Yamanami-san, could you assign a guard to her for the night?”
    “Of course.”
    “Could you choose someone totally trustworthy? Someone who would never think to take advantage of the situation?”
    Yamanami placed his hand on Kaemon’s shoulder. “I’ve been having difficulty sleeping lately. Let me lock her mirror away, and then I’ll go stay with her.”
    Kaemon bowed deeply. “I am in your debt, Yamanami-san.”
    When the older man left, Kaemon looked at Emmi a long time, and she tried to figure out what was going on behind those piercing dark eyes of his. For the first time, she took a long look at her “rescuer.” He was young. She doubted he was much older than she was.
    In fact, he was awfully good-looking.
    Yamanami returned from his room and Kaemon left without saying another word or even looking back.
    “I won’t lie to you, Maeda-dono,” Yamanami said as they walked toward a small L-shaped building at the far end of the compound. “The men we have detained are typical dogs, and, even though we rearranged them to place empty cells adjacent to yours, they’ll still be able to glimpse you coming in, so don’t be surprised if they say things you might not be used to hearing said to a lady.”
    Unnerved at the thought of being stuck in an actual jail with violent criminals, Emmi stumbled.
    Yamanami placed a steadying hand on her arm. “It will be all right. I’ll see to it that you’re not alone in there.”
    “Thank you.”
    As predicted, the prisoners began calling out when she stepped inside the jail. Emmi was glad they spoke so quickly. She couldn’t process it all, but even the gist of their words made her want to throw up.
    “Silence!” Yamanami yelled in a voice infinitely more commanding than his measured speaking tone.
    Emmi kept her eyes focused on her feet. She followed the vice-commander to the middle of the three small cells that formed the shorter portion of the L. Blankets had been hung on the sides as makeshift walls. Yamanami picked up the clean