Free The Samurai's Wife by Laura Joh Rowland

and oiled hair, and the elegant silk kimono patterned with silver trees and rivers: Hoshina had groomed himself for this occasion.
     
     
"Did you win Sano's trust?" Even as Yanagisawa recognized Hoshina's ploy as one he himself had used on the shogun, he admired the yoriki's daring.
     
     
"As much as possible," said Hoshina. A note of pride, veiled with modesty, echoed in his voice. "He clearly knows better than to trust a man he's just met, but he requested my particular assistance. He didn't seem to suspect that I'm anything besides a policeman who wants to advance his career."
     
     
"Excellent. I need someone to keep me informed on Sano's progress." Yanagisawa also needed the benefit of Sano's expertise to help him solve the case. "What did Sano deduce from the crime scene?"
     
     
"He decided that the sound heard on the night of Left Minister Konoe's death was a spirit cry," Hoshina said. A faint, derisive smile twisted his lips. "But I don't believe that a spirit cry killed Konoe, because kiai is just superstition, and I told Sano as much."
     
     
The idea of kiai seemed like superstition to Yanagisawa, too. Still, nothing else could explain the condition of the corpse, and he couldn't encourage Hoshina's disturbing tendency to take the initiative and assert himself. "You shouldn't have disagreed with Sano," he said. "I don't want you to antagonize him. From now on, keep your opinions to yourself."
     
     
Bowing his head, Hoshina said, "Yes, Honorable Chamberlain. Please forgive me."
     
     
"Very well," Yanagisawa said, mollified. He mused, "I'm sure there will be some circumstance of the case that I can use as a weapon against Sano. What did you tell him about the murder?"
     
     
"I said I'd done a preliminary investigation and identified Emperor Tomohito, Prince Momozono, Lady Jokyoden, and Lady Asagao as suspects," Hoshina said, "just as your message ordered. He knows there was a cover-up by the Imperial Court, and that Konoe banned everyone from the Pond Garden that night."
     
     
Yanagisawa nodded his approval. "Much as I dislike making things easy for Sano, you had to convince him that you're competent and honest by giving him useful information that will stand up to any checking he may do. But you didn't tell him about your other findings, did you?"
     
     
"No, and I'm sure he doesn't even suspect that there are any."
     
     
Yanagisawa smiled. The withheld information, which he deemed more valuable than what Hoshina had revealed to Sano, gave him an advantage over his enemy. "What else happened?"
     
     
"Sano interviewed the Konoe household," Hoshina said.
     
     
"And?" Although Hoshina had made discreet inquiries among the victim's associates before Sano arrived in Miyako, it was possible that Sano had turned up clues that Yanagisawa wouldn't want him to have.
     
     
"It was a waste of time."
     
     
"I suppose Sano inspected Konoe's chambers." Yanagisawa had sent Aisu to search Konoe's house and remove everything of potential interest prior to Sano's visit. Several chests of papers were now in Yanagisawa's possession. "He didn't find anything important, did he?"
     
     
Hoshina hesitated, then said, "Actually, he may have." Seeing Yanagisawa's frown, the yoriki hastened to add, "There were things hidden in places that would have been overlooked, had Sano not searched as thoroughly as he did. It's understandable that your man missed them."
     
     
The news of yet another mistake by the formerly reliable Aisu infuriated Yanagisawa. He couldn't afford to tolerate errors, and he must find a new chief retainer soon.
     
     
"Sano found some letters in a secret compartment," Hoshina said. "They were written by Left Minister Konoe to his former wife, Kozeri."
     
     
"Kozeri. Ah. Yes." Yanagisawa recognized the name from Konoe's metsuke dossier. "What did the letters say?"
     
     
Hoshina described the passages that Sano had read aloud. "Unfortunately, Sano took the letters, and I was afraid he would