The Samurai's Wife Read Free

ruler of Japan in all but name, Yanagisawa had virtually absolute power. Then Sano, the upstart scholar, martial arts teacher, son of a ronin-masterless samurai-and former police commander, had been promoted to the position of sosakan-sama. The shogun had developed a high regard for Sano, who now commanded a staff of one hundred detectives and had gained influence over the bakufu, Japan's military government. Yanagisawa faced opposition from Sano whenever he proposed policies to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and the Council of Elders; they sometimes took Sano's advice instead of his own. Sano's daring exploits over-shadowed Yanagisawa's own importance, making him crave the adventure of detective work. And those exploits often meant serious trouble for him. A case of double murder had led to Sano's discovery of a plot against the Tokugawa regime; he'd saved the shogun's life and won a post at Edo Castle. During his investigation of the Bundori Murders, when a madman had terrorized Edo with a series of grisly killings, Yanagisawa had been taken hostage by the murderer and nearly killed. Last year he'd exiled Sano to Nagasaki, but Sano had returned a hero. The final outrage had come when Sano, while investigating the poisoning of the shogun's concubine, had caused the death of Yanagisawa's lover.
     
     
Now Yanagisawa couldn't stand the sight of Sano and Reiko's happiness together. Tonight he would be rid of them. There'd be no more competition for the shogun's favor; no more humiliation. And as a bonus, he would steal Sano's reputation as a great detective.
     
     
A movement in the street outside caught Yanagisawa's eye. The foreshortened figure of an old man with a cane passed beneath the window. Yanagisawa beckoned Aisu, who glided swiftly to his side. They watched as the old man approached the noodle restaurant.
     
     
"Go!" Yanagisawa ordered.
     
     
"Oh, yes, Honorable Chamberlain." Aisu snatched up the cloth bundle and vanished without a sound.
     
     
Reiko said, "Look! He's stopping."
     
     
The old man beat his cane on the restaurant's door. It opened, and he disappeared inside.
     
     
"Let's go," Sano said to Hirata, then told Reiko, "We'll be back soon."
     
     
Her face shone with excitement. "I'm going with you!" She pushed up her sleeve, revealing the dagger strapped to her arm.
     
     
Consternation halted Sano. The problem with their partnership was that Reiko always wanted to do more than he could allow; to go places where a respectable woman could not be seen, risking social censure and her own lite for the sake of their work. Always, Sano's desire for her assistance vied with his need to protect her. Sympathizing with Reiko's desire for adventure didn't ease his fear that their unusual marriage would provoke scandal and disgrace.
     
     
"I can't let you," he said. "You promised you would just watch if I let you come."
     
     
Reiko began to protest, then subsided in unhappy resignation: Promises between them were sacred, and she wouldn't break her word.
     
     
Sano and Hirata bounded down the staircase. In the dim shop, six detectives, waiting by the tobacco bins, sprang to attention. "The Lion is inside," Sano said. "We'll surround the place, and-"
     
     
From above the ceiling came a clatter, as though something had hit the floor upstairs, then the whump of a muffled explosion, followed by a scream.
     
     
"What was that?" Hirata said.
     
     
"Reiko!" Sano's heart seized. He turned to run back upstairs.
     
     
A fist-sized object flew in through the window. It landed in front of Sano and erupted in a cloud of smoke. Sulfurous fumes engulfed the shop. Coughs spasmed Sano's chest; his eyes burned. Through the dense haze, he heard the men coughing and thrashing around. Someone yelled, "A bomb!"
     
     
"This way out," Hirata cried.
     
     
Sano heard Reiko calling from the attic, but he couldn't even see the stairway. "Reiko!" he yelled. "Don't come down here. Go to the window!"
     
     
He rushed outside and