Alarm constricted Reiko’s heart as she realized that Sano had good reason to disregard the minister’s information. “I don’t believe Minister Fugatami would deliberately miss the meeting,” she said. “It was so important to him to report his findings about the Black Lotus to you and the Council of Elders. Something must have prevented him from attending.”

“Almost nothing short of death would excuse him,” Sano said.

His words filled Reiko with sudden, overwhelming fear. She ran into the house, calling for the maids to summon her palanquin. Sano followed, carrying Masahiro.

“Where are you going?” Sano asked.

“To Minister Fugatami’s house. “ In her chamber, Reiko threw on a cloak. “I have to know what went wrong.”

Sano set down Masahiro, who ran off down the corridor. “Whatever did, I’ve already made it clear that I want nothing to do with the man, and your visiting him again will only further the connection.”

“I won’t see him. I’ll ask his wife what happened.”

“Just leave the matter alone. “ Sano blocked the door.

In desperation, Reiko said, “The Black Lotus retaliates against people who make trouble for them. Do you remember how the nurse Chie’s husband was attacked after he tried to get her back from the temple? I’m afraid it’s Minister Fugatami’s turn now.”

Sano’s expression sharpened. “I’ll go with you.”

Whether her conviction had struck a chord of response in him, or he merely realized he couldn’t stop her and wanted to control her behavior at the Fugatami house, all that mattered to Reiko was getting there.

“The Honorable Minister isn’t receiving guests today,” said the sentry stationed in the guardhouse at the Fugatami estate.

“Is he home?” Sano stood with Hirata and two detectives at the guardhouse window, while Reiko waited in her palanquin nearby. Now that he’d had time to think, Sano was sorry he’d let Reiko’s panic influence him. Probably nothing had happened to Minister Fugatami, except that he’d reconsidered his crusade against the Black Lotus. Still angry at Fugatami, Sano hoped to ascertain his condition without personal contact.

“Yes, but he gave strict orders that he’s not to be disturbed,” said the sentry.

“Is all well with the Honorable Minister?” Hirata asked.

“He was fine yesterday evening, when I last saw him.”

Reiko whispered to Sano, “We have to see for ourselves!”

Her insistence annoyed Sano; reluctantly, he addressed the sentry: “I’m here on official business for the shogun, and I order you to let us see Minister Fugatami.”

“Very well.”

The sentry summoned a guard who ushered Sano’s party into the courtyard, where Reiko climbed out of the palanquin. Samurai retainers loitered outside the barracks, but when the party entered the mansion, it seemed strangely quiet.

“Where is everyone?” Sano asked the guard as they all walked down the dim corridor.

“The Honorable Minister’s top retainers went off somewhere.” The guard peered uneasily into vacant offices and reception rooms. “His servants should be here. I don’t know why they’re not.”

Sano heard a murmur of distress from Reiko, walking behind him with the detectives. Beside him, Hirata frowned. A bad feeling tingled Sano’s nerves. “You’ve seen your master today?”

“No,” said the guard.

“Are you sure the family is here?”

“No one has seen them leave.”

They turned a corner into the private quarters of the mansion. On a sliding paper wall ahead to the left, maroon streaks like spattered paint appeared. Sano looked down and saw dark footprints in the hall. Alarm seized him. He hurried to the open door. The fetid, metallic odor of blood assailed him. He saw a man lying on the futon, and a woman sprawled on the floor, limbs askew. Their throats had been cut, and blood had drenched their faces, hair, robes, the bedclothes, tatami, and walls. Horrified, Sano turned abruptly.

“Reiko-san! Don’t look!” he ordered.

Too late. She was right behind Sano; she’d already seen the room. Her open mouth drew a deep, wheezing gasp, and she swayed. Sano dragged her away from the door. He held her, pressing her face against his chest. Hirata, the detectives, and the Fugatami guard looked inside the chamber; exclamations rose from them.

“Master!” the guard cried.

Sano experienced nausea and revulsion at the spectacle of violent death, but his detective instincts focused his mind on the work he must do. Still holding Reiko, he turned for a more thorough look into the chamber. Now he noticed that a quilt covered Minister Fugatami up to his shoulders. The woman had cuts on her arms and hands, as if from defending herself against a blade.

Reiko struggled in Sano’s arms, crying, “Hiroko-san! Hiroko-san!”

“She’s dead.” Sano held Reiko tighter. “There’s nothing you can do for her.” He said to his men, “Secure the estate. Nobody leaves.” He must find out who had done this terrible thing, and why.

“The Black Lotus killed them!” Pulling out of Sano’s grasp, Reiko pointed into the room. “Look!”

On the wall above the futon, drawn in the spattered blood, was a crude representation of the Black Lotus symbol. Reiko stumbled down the corridor.

“The children,” she moaned. “Merciful gods, where are the children?”

24

Minister Fugatami’s two small sons are missing. We searched the estate and the entire official quarter, but found no sign of them,” Sano told the shogun.

They were walking along a path through the shogun’s private garden. After Sano had finished examining the crime scene and questioning the Fugatami household, he had taken Reiko home, then come to the palace for an emergency audience with the shogun. He’d already reported the murders; now, he needed the shogun to approve the course of action he deemed necessary.

“That is most, ahh, unfortunate. “ The shogun wore white martial arts practice clothes for his afternoon exercise routine. As he puffed, marched, and swung his arms, attendants trailed him, carrying towels and a water jug.

“I’ve determined what happened,” Sano said. “Last night, Minister Fugatami’s three top retainers ordered the staff out of the house and dismissed the servants. Later, they sneaked into the mansion, which was deserted except for the family. They cut Minister Fugatami’s throat while he lay asleep. His wife tried to run away, but the retainers killed her. All Minister Fugatami’s papers are gone, and there was a large amount of ash in the kitchen stove, which suggests that the retainers burned the papers there, before they took the children and left.”

“What a deplorable breach of loyalty,” lamented the shogun. “And how, ahh, shocking that murder should be committed right here in Edo Castle! Are you sure the minister’s retainers are to blame?”

“They arranged for the family to be alone. According to the patrol guards, those retainers were the only people to enter the house, and now they’re missing.”

The shogun frowned in puzzlement as he did a series of jumps. “How did they get the, ahh, children out of the castle?”

“The Fugatami gate sentry says they left the estate around midnight, carrying a large chest,” Sano said. “The children must have been inside it. The retainers are trusted officials, and the castle guards let them through the checkpoints without inspecting the chest.”

“Security must be improved,” said the shogun, bending to touch his toes. “See to it at once.”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Sano said,”but the major problem is the Black Lotus.” The murder of the Fugatami had convinced him that Reiko’s suspicions about the sect were justified and he must act before anyone else could be hurt. “I believe the retainers painted a Black Lotus symbol on the walls because they’re members of the sect. I believe they assassinated Minister Fugatami to stop his crusade against them, then destroyed his papers so there would be no incriminating evidence left. I also believe they and the children are now hidden in the temple, where the sect is preparing to create much worse trouble.”