Samurai's Wife by Laura Joh Rowland Read Free Book Online Page A

Castle disguised as carpenters. Yanagisawa and Aisu had made the necessary preliminary arrangements before Sano's arrival, yet the fact that everything had worked out so far didn't negate the inherent dangers of the plan.

Leaving the seat of power, even for a short time, was a perilous move for Yanagisawa. He'd impressed upon the shogun the confidential nature of his mission in Omi Province and the need for only the two of them to know about his absence from Edo, yet he didn't trust the dull-witted Tsunayoshi to keep a secret. He'd sworn his staff to secrecy, threatening them with death should they fail to cover his absence, but what if people discovered he was gone? Yanagisawa pictured subordinates robbing his treasury, his spies taking a holiday from gathering the information he needed, rivals usurping his authority and turning Tsunayoshi against him. And what if the shogun learned that Yanagisawa had lied to him about the reason for this trip? The shogun cherished a deluded belief in his officials' honesty; he wouldn't forgive being tricked. When Yanagisawa got back, he might find himself in utter disgrace, stripped of his rank and wealth, and sentenced to death.

Still, the potential advantages of the move justified the risks. In Miyako, Sano was in a vulnerable position, without his political allies or detective corps to assist and protect him. He wouldn't know to beware of sabotage by Yanagisawa. And operating in secret, away from the shogun and all the spies who scrutinized his every move in Edo, gave Yanagisawa the freedom he needed. Now he brooded, wishing he felt more comfortable with his choice. The smoke from his pipe hung in the stagnant air; ghostly moths flitted around the lanterns. Gongs rang in the distance; the incessant whine of insects came through the open doors. Yanagisawa shifted uncomfortably inside his sweat-drenched clothes. He hated Miyako and its awful heat. He longed to be back in Edo, secure in victory.

"Solving the mystery of Left Minister Konoe's death from behind the scenes won't be easy," he said. "The need to stay hidden until the critical moment presents complications."

However, secrecy wasn't the only problem. Reports from Yanagisawa's Miyako agents indicated that Konoe had been the victim of a bizarre murder. Yanagisawa had never investigated a crime, and he felt handicapped by his inexperience. But he'd set his scheme in motion, and he must follow it through to the end. He must apprehend the killer before Sano did, in a manner that created the impression that he'd happened along during the course of his inquiries in Omi Province, observed that Sano was making poor progress, and stepped in to solve the case. No one must guess that Yanagisawa had come here specifically to beat Sano at his own game, or think he'd won by underhanded means, because he didn't want it publicly known that he'd resorted to such desperate tactics. By the time he was finished, Sano's reputation as a great detective would be his.

"Let's drink a toast for good luck," Aisu said.

He clapped his hands. Female bodyguards-the only attendants allowed in this most private chamber-silently entered the room. On Aisu's orders, they served wine, then silently departed.

Aisu raised his cup and said, "Here's to your victory and the sosakan-sama's downfall."

Yanagisawa and Aisu drank. From the street drifted the laughter and shouts of the Obon crowds; more gongs clanged. The tart, refreshing liquor invigorated Yanagisawa; he smiled.

Refilling the cups, Aisu proposed another toast: "May you capture Left Minister Konoe's killer the way you did the Lion."

Malice hardened Yanagisawa's smile. "No," he said, "not quite like the Lion. Remember, this time, Sano won't get another chance to redeem himself."

Aisu's hooded eyes glistened; his sinuous body squirmed with anticipation. "How shall Sano die?"

"I don't know yet," Yanagisawa admitted reluctantly. "Nor can I predict the exact outcome of the investigation."

He leapt to his