Yasuko looked stubborn. “But the man he stole from was a bad man. You said so yourself. He beat Genba’s girlfriend. That’s breaking the law, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we stop bad men from beating women?”

Akitada sighed and looked at his wife. “Yes, Yasuko. But that is why we have laws, and we must let the police take care of such matters and not have everybody make their own rules.”

His daughter pondered this with a frown, then nodded. Brightening, she ran to the door. “I’ll talk to Saburo and explain it,” she cried and was gone.

Akitada chuckled weakly.

Tamako was still frowning. “You’ll have to see what you can do for him.”

He stiffened. “I cannot recommend a thief.”

She looked at him. “You’ll find a way.”

Akitada stared at his wife blankly, then got up to leave. “I don’t know how, but I’ll think about it,” he muttered, a little resentfully.

He went in search of Saburo, though he had no idea how to soften the dismissal. Maybe something would come to him. When he got to the room Saburo and Genba shared in the stables, he found it empty. The neat blue robe and black sash Saburo had worn in his service lay neatly folded on his bedding roll.

As he walked back to the house, he met Tora, who held Yasuko’s hand. Tora’s normally smiling face looked grim.

“You dismissed Saburo, sir?” he asked, anxious eyes searching his master’s face..

“Yes. He stole the contracts. I cannot employ a thief.”

Yasuko cried, “I explained it to Tora, Father, but he doesn’t understand.”

Tora said bitterly, “All he did was try to help Genba and his girl. And you know damned well how Tokuzo’s been treating her and the others.”

Shocked by this attack and Tora’s language, Akitada glanced at his daughter. She looked back at him, unsmiling. With some difficulty, he controlled his anger.

“Tora, I will not have you use that tone or language. Especially not in front of my daughter!”

Tora flushed. “Sorry.” He bent to Yasuko. “Leave it to me, sweetheart,” he said. “Don’t you worry, Tora will take care of Saburo. All right?”

She nodded. But she gave her father a look so filled with doubt that he was struck to the core. His own child had turned against him.

Tora was unaware of the bitter resentment that was building in Akitada’s heart. “Saburo didn’t steal the contracts,” he said in a calmer voice. “Someone else took them from Saburo after attacking him. There’s your thief.”

That might be true, but Saburo had been the first thief. Akitada said nothing and stepped past Tora to head for his study.

Tora followed uninvited. They sat down, and Akitada glowered at Tora. Apparently he was still unaware of how deeply he had offended. They had all turned against him. What ill fortune had marked this day for his entire family to oppose him as if he were an ogre? Controlling his anger with difficulty, he said, “Kobe was here. He accused me of covering up for a murderer. You know I’m engaged in a very important case concerning Lord Kosehira and the prince. I relied on Kobe’s help in that matter. The last thing I needed was for my people to get into trouble over conditions in a brothel.”

Tora raised his chin. “Genba’s important, too. And so is Saburo. What will he do now? He has no work or money. Nobody will hire him.”

“I’ve paid him his wages. How can he not have any money?”

“He gave his savings to Genba to buy out Ohiro.”

Akitada chewed his lip. They were all set on proving him in the wrong. Even Tamako had not been supportive. “What am I to tell Kobe?” he demanded.

“It seems to me,” said Tora, “that you ought to find the bastard who attacked Saburo. I bet it’s the same man Genba ran into in that alley outside Tokuzo’s place. There’s your killer. That’s the man Kobe wants.”

Akitada stared at him. “Someone tangled with Genba before the murder? Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”

“Because you make snide remarks when we mention the Willow Quarter.”

“Tell me now.”

Tora recounted the tale of the polite stranger who had dropped an assassin’s needle Saburo was very eager to own, and that was taken from him the very next night along with the contracts.

Akitada followed the tale with frowning concentration. “Great heavens! Spies and assassins seem to roam the streets of the capital these days. What have we come to?” After a moment, he got up. “I’ll speak to Kobe again and look in on Genba. You go back to the quarter and start asking questions about that mysterious stranger. But be careful.”

Tora grinned with relief. “I’m on my way, sir.”

Genba Takes the Blame

Akitada was turned away at Kobe’s headquarters. The word was that the superintendent was not there. Since it was the middle of the day, and Akitada knew Kobe to be assiduous in his duties, he had the uncomfortable feeling it was a lie. Kobe probably had decided he wanted no further dealings with Akitada.

Only once before had Akitada been forced to humiliate himself in order to conciliate the superintendent. He had been much younger then. Now such a step was utterly unpalatable.

In a gloomy mood, he went on to the jail and asked to see Genba. Here at least the news of his offense had not arrived yet. Kiyonobu, the supervisor, knew him as Kobe’s friend and a frequent visitor in the past. Besides, he had been expecting him.

The man bowed deeply. “My Lord, I regret very much this unpleasantness. Genba and the young woman have been given every consideration. Surely you’ll have them released in no time. Perhaps even now?”

“Thank you, Kiyonobu. No, I don’t have any good news yet, and I’m very concerned about the charges. Genba is innocent, and so is the young woman, but until we find the real killer and thief, I’m afraid I must leave them in your care.”

“They’ll be looked after like my own kin, sir.”

Knowing that nothing in this world is free, and especially not in a jail, Akitada passed the man two pieces of silver. “This is for any costs you may have. Thank you. Your care is much appreciated.”

He found Genba housed in a relatively clean cell, provided with water, and only chained by one leg so he could move around a little.

The big man greeted him with abject shame. “I have troubled you, sir,” he said, getting up from the straw he was sitting on and making a very deep bow. “Oh, please forgive me for involving you in this business. I don’t deserve this visit.”

“Never mind, Genba. I gather it wasn’t your fault. The real problem is Saburo’s meddling.”

Genba looked even more worried. “Saburo’s only been trying to help us, sir. It was kind and generous of him, but it really was me who brought us here and caused you such embarrassment.”

Akitada frowned. “No, Genba. It was Saburo who engaged in this theft. You would not have done so.”

Genba’s eyes grew round. “Is he in trouble?”

“I’ve not told Superintendent Kobe what he has done, but I’ve had to dismiss him.”

Genba closed his eyes. For a moment he looked as if he would faint. “Oh,” he muttered, clenching and unclenching his big fists. “Oh, no! Oh, what have I done?” He covered his face with his big hands.

“Calm down. He’ll be fine. He managed very well before coming to us and will do so again.” Privately, Akitada had some doubts on that score, but thinking about it made him feel guilty. He said more briskly, “Tora and I will try to find the mysterious man you ran into near the brothel. We think he may be the same man as Saburo’s attacker. If he is, he stole the contracts, and that also makes him a suspect for the murder.”

Genba nodded dully. “I feel bad,” he muttered. “About Saburo. It isn’t right he should suffer for me.”