Death of a Doll Maker Read Online Free PDF Page B

here,” snapped the constable at the door. “What do you want?”
    The man sat at a writing desk, where he had been making notes.
    Tora looked down at him. “You heard me. Captain Okata.”
    The man flushed, got to his feet, and came to face Tora. Putting his face next to Tora’s, he snarled, “Don’t mess with me, bastard.”
    Tora grabbed him by the collar and gave him a sharp push. The man stumbled back and sat down. “Who are you calling a bastard, you dog?” Tora asked. “You are to treat people with courtesy, you hear? Even those who aren’t your superiors. Now get up and tell me what I want to know.”
    The constable shook with fury but he decided to play it safe and called for support. An older policeman, a sergeant to judge by his hat, joined them and stared at Tora.
    “He attacked me, Sarge,” the constable whined.
    “Don’t lie,” the sergeant told the constable mildly. “Aren’t you with the new governor?” he asked Tora.
    Tora nodded. “Finally an observant public servant. Greetings, Sergeant. I’m Sashima Kamatari, but you can call me Tora. Senior retainer and inspector to your governor.”
    The sergeant nodded. “An important man. Did you hear that, Goto? Well met, Tora. I’m Maeda. What can I do for you, or for his Excellency, as the case may be?”
    “Well, since we have no staff, there’s nothing for me to do, and the governor sent me to help when he heard you’re hard pressed working a murder.”
    The sergeant laughed. “Hard pressed? That’s a good one. Though it’s true the captain doesn’t care much for blood. Or maggots, as the case may be.”
    “Really?” Tora grinned. “I take your point, Sergeant. Well, I don’t mind them. What I can’t abide is killers running loose, thumbing their noses at us.”
    “Or robbers, as the case may be.” The sergeant chuckled and studied Tora. “You’ve been a policeman, then?”
    “No, but the master and I have investigated some tricky murders in our day. Anyway, here I am. Where’s the body?”
    Sergeant Maeda laughed. “Well, let’s go see how the captain is managing.”
    When they stepped outside, the sergeant looked at Tora’s horse. “One of ours?”
    “I’ll need it for a while longer. They took the tribunal’s horses, too.”
    The sergeant stopped. “Not one horse left? Can you be serious?”
    “No horse, no ox, no food, no bed, and no staff. The place is empty except for a half-witted boy and an old geezer.”
    Sergeant Maeda shook his head in amazement. “That would be old Mori. Trust him to stay when the rest took off.”
    Tora growled, “My master will catch the stealing bastards. They took what belongs to the emperor. Actually, he’d hoped Captain Okata would lend a hand.”
    The sergeant chuckled and started walking again. “Not a chance.”
    Tora decided not to pursue the subject. “Tell me about the murder.”
    “An old woman was stabbed in the merchants’ quarter. They say her husband did it.”
    “He confessed?”
    “Not right away. The captain’s still questioning him.”
    They turned down a narrow street of cramped wooden houses. Two red-coated constables lounged around in front of one of the houses, but straightened up and stood stiffly to attention when they saw them coming.
    “Lazy lot,” muttered the sergeant.
    One shouted, “The captain’s inside. He’s been waiting for you.”
    The sergeant did not bother to reply. “What do the neighbors say?”
    The constable looked at his partner and said, “Not much.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “They heard nothing and they saw nobody.”
    “You’re telling me they were all home and awake during the night?”
    The second constable giggled. His partner flushed. “Well no. They were home, but while they were awake they saw and heard nothing.” He added lamely, “A bunch of old people.”
    “So she didn’t scream or call for help?”
    Both shook their heads.
    Have you found the weapon?”
    They shook their heads again.
    “You did