“I understand your problems, but you shouldn’t have taken the law into your own hands,” Sano said.

“Jiro-san, your wife’s death will be avenged,” Hirata said, “as soon as we determine who’s responsible.”

Sano believed he already had. If he’d arrested Haru sooner, she might have already been punished, and perhaps the riot wouldn’t have occurred. He accepted a measure of culpability for the violence. However, new doubt shook Sano’s certainty that Haru was guilty. That so many people hated the Black Lotus suggested that the sect could indeed be responsible for the murders and arson, as well as kidnappings and torture. For the first time, Sano wondered if Reiko might possibly be right. Hearing Minister Fugatami’s report on the Black Lotus might prove crucial to his investigation and not just a favor to Reiko. However, the meeting was several hours away, and he must address the problem caused by bis failure to solve the case quickly enough.

“Let’s go help break up the riot,” he told Hirata and the detectives.

By the time the riot was quelled and Sano reached Edo Castle, the Council of Elders had already convened. He entered the chamber where the five officials sat on the dais and their secretaries knelt at desks by the window.

“My apologies for arriving late,” Sano said. Kneeling on the floor before the dais, he bowed.

“This is a private session. You were not scheduled to attend.” Senior Elder Makino frowned in disapproval from his place at the center of the dais. “Why are you here?”

“The Honorable Minister of Temples and Shrines invited me,” Sano said. Minister Fugatami must have neglected to tell the elders, so they thought Sano was intruding on their meeting. He deplored the gross impropriety he’d inadvertently committed. Where was the minister, anyway? Sano felt extreme annoyance at Fugatami, and at Reiko for getting him into this situation.

“So you are now a comrade of the honorable minister?” Disdain wrinkled Makino’s emaciated face. The other elders looked concerned.

“He’s a potential witness in my investigation,” Sano clarified. Just as he’d feared, his presence signaled that he’d allied himself with a man of shaky reputation, a disadvantage that Makino meant to use against him. “I’ve come to hear his report on the Black Lotus.”

“Are you joining his crusade against the sect?” asked Elder Ohgami Kaoru, usually a supporter of Sano. His manner was cool, as though he wished everyone to forget about their alliance.

“Not at all,” Sano said, grimly aware that his name was now linked with Minister Fugatami’s, and relationships within the bakufu weren’t so easily dissolved as Ohgami hoped. “I only want to collect facts from him that may be relevant to my case.”

“Well, I fear that you shall be disappointed,” Makino said. “We granted Minister Fugatami this meeting he requested, and he has failed to appear.”

Dismay struck Sano. Standing up the Council of Elders was a serious breach of courtesy and protocol. “Has the honorable minister sent an explanation?” Sano said.

“He has not,” said Makino, and his colleagues fixed disapproving stares on Sano.

“This is an inconvenience to us all,” Sano said, vexed at Fugatami for leaving him to take the brunt of the council’s ire. The next time Sano asked cooperation from the elders, they would remember this.

“Since you’re here, you might as well report on the progress of your investigation,” said Makino.

The last thing Sano wanted was to offer up his work for judgment while the elders were in a bad temper, yet he had no choice but to obey. He described his findings, then said,”Yesterday I arrested the girl Haru.”

“And it took you how long to make this arrest which you should have made immediately? Four days?” Scorn twisted Makino’s voice. “The girl is obviously guilty, yet you’ve dawdled so much that I think you are more interested in favoring criminals than in upholding the law.”

That Makino thought he favored Haru, whom he disliked and believed to be guilty! “In the case of a serious crime, it’s important to do a thorough investigation before accusing anyone,” Sano said, bristling at the insult to his honor. “And thorough investigations take time.”

“You’ve taken enough time for civil unrest to arise,” said Makino. Obviously, he knew about the riot, and blamed Sano for it. “When is the girl’s trial?”

“It will be scheduled as soon as I’ve cleared up a few last details,” Sano said.

The elders’ faces reflected severe disapproval: The bakufu preferred arrests to be quickly followed by punishment. “I presume that those details include Minister Fugatami’s findings on the Black Lotus sect,” Makino said, disgusted. “Well, that explains the new alliance between you and the honorable minister. He is using you to further his own purposes, while you use him as an excuse to delay justice.”

“Justice shouldn’t be dispensed without certainty of a suspect’s guilt,” Sano said, avoiding further discussion about Minister Fugatami. The man’s findings had better be genuine and worthwhile to justify the trouble he’d caused Sano. He only hoped Reiko would appreciate his effort to placate her at the expense of his standing with the Council of Elders.

“Minister Fugatami has repeatedly failed to provide any proof of crimes committed by the Black Lotus,” Makino said. “His fanatical campaign against the sect has angered its followers within the bakufu and offended many other officials. There’s a definite possibility that a new minister of temples will soon be appointed.”

Makino’s meaningful look at Sano clearly implied that when Fugatami went down, Sano would too.

“Now I believe that we’ve waited long enough for Minister Fugatami,” said Makino. “This session is adjourned. Sōsakan-sama, you are dismissed. “ As Sano bowed in farewell, Makino added, “We do not appreciate people who abuse their authority or waste our time.”

“Throw the ball to me, Masahiro-chan,” Reiko called.

The little boy toddled across the garden, holding the stuffed cloth ball over his head. Laughing, he flung it at Reiko. The ball rose in a brief arc, plopped onto the ground, and rolled a short distance.

“Very good!” Reiko picked up the ball. “Catch!”

She tossed gently. He snatched at and almost caught the ball, then scrambled after it. Reiko smiled. The sun warmed her face, brightened the grass and red maples and pond. She’d missed playing with Masahiro, and in the few days she’d spent away from him, his strength and coordination seemed to have improved. He was growing up so fast! Yet even while Reiko enjoyed being with her son, she worried about Haru in Edo Jail and waited alertly for Sano to return from his meeting with Minister Fugatami and the Council of Elders.

Masahiro ran to the house, calling, “Papa!”

Looking around, Reiko saw Sano standing on the veranda. Anticipation leapt in her. “Oh, good, you’re back.” She hurried to him, but his grim expression halted her at the foot of the steps. “What’s wrong?”

“The husband of the murdered woman attacked some Black Lotus priests and nuns and started a riot. And Minister Fugatami didn’t show up at the meeting.” Sano lifted Masahiro in his arms, but the smile he gave his son faded as he said to Reiko, “The elders are angry. Makino seized the chance to criticize my handling of the case. Minister Fugatami stands to lose his post, and if Makino exerts his considerable influence with the shogun, I may lose mine, too.”

“Oh, no,” Reiko said, appalled. “I’m very sorry I got you in trouble.” Sano nodded, acknowledging her fault but unappeased by the apology.

“Minister Fugatami has had his chance to talk to me, and demonstrated that he has nothing to say. This will be the last time you meddle in bakufu politics.”