“His Excellency is right,” Lord Matsudaira said, hiding annoyance and feigning contrition. “Forgive me, Chamberlain Sano. This latest murder isn’t your fault.” His dark glance at the elders proclaimed whose fault he thought it was. “Tell us what progress you’ve made toward catching the killer.”
“I’ve identified a suspect,” Sano said.
Lord Matsudaira leaned forward. “Who is it?”
Sano watched Kato and Ihara brace themselves for an accusation against their clique. “Captain Nakai.”
Surprise showed on the faces of Lord Matsudaira, the elders, and Yoritomo. The shogun frowned as if trying to recall who Nakai was.
“But Captain Nakai…” Ihara began, then stopped.
Fought on Lord Matsudaira’s side during the faction war. How could he be the person who is trying to undermine the new regime? The unvoiced words echoed in the room.
“Why do you suspect Captain Nakai?” said Lord Matsudaira.
Sano explained that Nakai had had contact with Chief Ejima and Treasury Minister Moriwaki during the critical period before their deaths. “And he’s displeased that he hasn’t been honored for his recent performance.”
Lord Matsudaira narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin as he caught Sano’s meaning. The elders couldn’t quite hide their relief that one of his own men had been incriminated instead of them. “Let’s hear what Captain Nakai has to say for himself,” Lord Matsudaira said. “Where is he?”
Sano would rather question Nakai privately, but his position was weak enough already. “He should be on duty in the castle guard command post.”
“Fetch him,” Lord Matsudaira told an attendant.
Soon Captain Nakai strode into the audience chamber. As he knelt and bowed, he shone with pride. “Your Excellency-Lord Matsudaira-this is an honor.” Sano could tell that he thought he was about to receive, at long last, the reward he craved. Then he saw Lord Matsudaira’s dark expression and noticed Sano. Apprehension crept into his eyes. “May I ask what this is about?”
“Colonel Ibe has been murdered. Did you do it?” Lord Matsudaira said, eschewing formalities and cutting straight to the quick.
“What?” Captain Nakai gaped in shock that appeared genuine to Sano.
“Did you also murder Metsuke Chief Ejima, Treasury Minister Moriwaki, Court Supervisor Ono, and Highway Commissioner Sasamura?” demanded Lord Matsudaira.
“No!” Captain Nakai looked at Sano, and his shock turned to offense. “I told you I was innocent. I swear I am.” Horrified comprehension stunned him. “You’ve told His Excellency and Lord Matsudaira that I’m guilty.”
“Well?” Lord Matsudaira’s stare challenged Sano. “Is he or isn’t he the culprit?”
“There’s one way to settle the question. I must ask you to wait a moment.” Sano whispered to Detective Marume, “If Detective Tachibana is doing his job, he should be someplace nearby. Go find him and bring him in.”
Marume went. A short interval passed, during which Lord Matsudaira and the elders waited in grim silence. Yoritomo murmured to the shogun, explaining what had happened. Captain Nakai looked from one person to another, as if for rescue. He opened his mouth to speak, then bit his lip. His muscles twitched and his hands fidgeted. All the physical strength that made him a hero on the battlefield couldn’t help him now. His fear of ruination and death permeated the air like a stench. Sano felt the tension in the room building toward a point beyond tolerance. Not a moment too soon, Detectives Marume and Tachibana arrived.
“It’s most likely that the killer touched Colonel Ibe yesterday, at the festival at Asakusa Temple,” Sano said, then addressed Captain Nakai: “Where were you last night?”
Something like relief, combined with defiance, crossed Nakai’s expression. “I was at home.”
Sano turned to Detective Tachibana. “Is that true?”
“Yes, Honorable Chamberlain,” Tachibana said, nervous in the presence of their superiors, but confident of his answer. “He was there all night. He never stirred from his house.”
“I’ve had Captain Nakai under surveillance,” Sano explained to the assembly. “My detective’s statement confirms his alibi.”
“You had your man following me around?” Nakai glared at Sano, affronted and shocked anew.
“You should be grateful to him,” said Kato. “He has exonerated you.”
“Indeed.” Lord Matsudaira bent a speculative, disapproving look on Sano.
Yoritomo whispered to the shogun, who nodded, then said, “Captain Nakai, it, ahh, appears that you are not the murderer we seek. Go back to your post.”
Flabbergasted, Nakai didn’t budge. “Is that all?” he demanded of Sano. “You accuse me in front of everybody, you drag my honor through the mud, then I’m sent off as though nothing happened?” His face was red with fury. “How am I supposed to hold up my head in public?”
Sano truly regretted that he’d damaged an innocent man’s reputation. He also had cause to regret that Nakai wasn’t the assassin. “Please accept my apologies. I’ll see that everyone knows your honor is intact and that you’re compensated for any inconvenience you might suffer.”
Nakai fumed, then lashed out at Lord Matsudaira: “After all I’ve done for you, you let me be disgraced when you should reward me?”
“I suggest you obey His Excellency’s order and leave before your mouth gets you in trouble,” Lord Matsudaira said coldly.
The captain rose, huffing with wounded pride. “You’ve never forgotten that I have connections to your enemy’s clan. You’ve always held it against me even though it’s not my fault!” He stomped out of the room. The assembly sat quiet for a moment, waiting for the poisonous atmosphere to clear. But Sano knew that more trouble was yet to come. He sensed dread akin to his own behind the stoic faces around him. Only the oblivious shogun was calm.
“I must say I’m not surprised that Captain Nakai is innocent,” Lord Matsudaira said. He didn’t seem displeased, either. “Nakai has been blessed by good luck. Other men aren’t so fortunate.” His gaze, replete with accusation, impaled the two elders.
Kato and Ihara tried to conceal their dismay that his suspicion was aimed again toward their faction. The shogun nudged Yoritomo, wanting a translation of what had just passed, but Yoritomo’s luminous, frightened eyes watched Sano.
“You have a problem, too, Honorable Chamberlain,” Lord Matsudaira continued in the same menacing manner. “Now that your principal suspect has been exonerated, your investigation is back where it started-with no idea who the assassin is.”
Although distressed by the setback, Sano couldn’t afford to let Lord Matsudaira think the situation was as hopeless as it seemed.
“There are some other leads,” he began.
Lord Matsudaira cut him off with an impatient gesture. “Don’t bother me about them until they prove more worthwhile than what you’ve turned up so far.” His glance flicked to the two elders, then back to Sano, his meaning clear: Any new leads Sano developed had better point to his enemies. “Should the assassin strike again, there will be some changes in the regime’s upper echelon. Don’t you agree that Hachijo Island has room for more than one exiled chamberlain?”
“Yes, my lord.” Sano kept his expression and tone deliberately serene. Although he’d risen so high in the bakufu, nothing had really changed; his rank didn’t exempt him from The Way of the Warrior.
He fought anger because he must still accept abuse, no matter how undeserved.
Cruel amusement glittered in Lord Matsudaira’s eyes as he perceived Sano’s inner struggle. “But don’t be afraid that you’ll find Hachijo Island a lonely place. You’ll have plenty of company.” His gaze pierced Hirata, who gave an involuntary start. “As goes the master, so does his retainer.”