Free The Samurai's Wife by Laura Joh Rowland Page A

get suspicious if I objected."
     
     
Perceiving a possible connection between Kozeri and the murder, Yanagisawa fumed at the thought of such valuable information in Sano's hands.
     
     
"I pointed out reasons he should consider Kozeri irrelevant to the case," Hoshina said. "He won't ignore her, but I managed to convince him to put off following up on her until after he interviews the suspects."
     
     
"Good," Yanagisawa said. Perhaps Hoshina's initiative was an asset rather than a liability; his quick thinking had bought Yanagisawa time to send someone to investigate Kozeri before Sano could. Admiration for Hoshina increased Yanagisawa's desire, although another man's wits had never attracted him before. His past lovers had been young maidens, adolescent boys, or frail, older men like the shogun-all physically smaller and weaker than himself, and intellectually inferior. The unexpected departure from habit troubled Yanagisawa.
     
     
"What else did Sano find?" he asked Hoshina.
     
     
The yoriki reached into the pouch at his waist and removed a small object. Yanagisawa extended his open palm; Hoshina reached up and placed a coin in it. Their hands touched. The warm contact of flesh against flesh startled Yanagisawa; he stifled a gasp. For an instant, their gazes held. Hoshina smiled uncertainly, his boldness vanished. Something incomprehensible passed between them. To hide his confusion, Yanagisawa examined the fern-leaf design on the coin.
     
     
Hoshina sat back on his heels. "There were three of those hidden in Konoe's cloak." Rapid, audible breaths punctuated his speech. "Sano's detectives have the others. When Sano told them to find out what the coins are and whether they have any relevance to the murder, I said I would make some inquiries too. My contacts in the city should give me an advantage over Marume and Fukida."
     
     
"Whatever you learn, report it to me, not Sano." Recovering his composure, Yanagisawa said, "What are Sano's plans for tomorrow?"
     
     
"I'm taking him to the palace to interview Emperor Tomohito, Prince Momozono, Lady Jokyoden, and Lady Asagao," Hoshina said, his voice steady now. They regarded each other coolly, master and servant again-at least on the surface. "In the evening, we'll attend the shoshidai's banquet."
     
     
Yanagisawa mentally arranged his plans around these events, then said, "Have you located a site that meets the criteria I specified in my message to you yesterday?"
     
     
"Yes, Honorable Chamberlain." Hoshina described a certain house and its location.
     
     
"That sounds just right," said Yanagisawa. They finalized plans for Yanagisawa to pursue the major lead in the case, while Sano investigated the minor ones for him, with Hoshina as his eyes and ears. "Be ready to report everything to me tomorrow night. I'll let you know the time and place."
     
     
Then a thought occurred to Yanagisawa. "What has Lady Reiko been doing?"
     
     
"Staying in Nijo Manor. The innkeeper's wife is my informer, and I've ordered her to watch Lady Reiko. So far, she hasn't done anything of interest."
     
     
However, Yanagisawa knew enough about Reiko to doubt that Sano had brought her all this way just to keep him company. "I want to know where she goes, whom she sees, and what she does."
     
     
"Yes, Honorable Chamberlain."
     
     
Their business was finished, but Yanagisawa didn't utter the command to dismiss Hoshina. Outside, a distant temple bell tolled the hour of the boar. Hoshina waited, watching Yanagisawa. Neither moved nor spoke, but their silence clamored with questions, expectancy, and the inaudible, accelerating pulse of blood.
     
     
Then Hoshina said, "Honorable Chamberlain.... If there's anything else you wish of me..." His voice was quiet, his expression somber yet highly charged. "I would be more than happy to provide it."
     
     
The sexual innuendo inflamed Yanagisawa, but Hoshina's nerve affronted him. How dare Hoshina make the first move toward a personal