The Way of the Traitor: A Samurai Mystery by Laura Joh Rowland Page A

I don't see why it concerns you. Japan has no law against Dutch private trade. Your merchants don't care whether they deal with the company or with individuals. And your shogun doesn't care either, as long as he collects his share of the revenue.

oWho inherits Jan Spaen's share of the profits? Already guessing the answer, Sano moved closer to deGraeff.

A flicker of emotion momentarily broke the barbarian's gaze. oI do. I was his partner; he had no family.

Sano stopped as near deGraeff as the man's foul odor would allow. oIs that why you killed him? For the money?

DeGraeff shot out of his chair. oI didn't kill Spaen! Gone was his spurious courtesy; anger flushed his cheeks.

oSit! Sano ordered. Alarmed and frightened, he held his ground against the towering barbarian. oYou admit you broke your country's law for the sake of profit. Why would you stop short of murder?

With a sigh of exasperation, deGraeff sat, crossed his legs, and folded his arms. He looked at the ceiling instead of at Sano or Iishino when he spoke. oJan Spaen had only ten thousand koban to his name. He liked women and gambling. He speculated on ventures that didn't always work out. He was better at spending than saving. I had more to gain by continuing our partnership than by killing Spaen for such a paltry sum. Now, may I please return to my work? The guards tell me the ship has arrived. There's much to be done, and Spaen's death has left it all to me.

Sano didn't consider ten thousand koban paltry; in Japan, it could keep a man in comfort for a lifetime. oHow exactly would you benefit from continuing your partnership? he asked, hiding his fear of another unnerving face-off with a barbarian. oWhy couldn't you use Spaen's money to buy more goods, then carry on alone?

oNeither of us could have accomplished alone what we did as a team. We worked well together.

oBut you recently quarreled about the private trade, didn't you? Sano said.

The barbarian picked up the picture that lay on his desk, turning it over to reveal an oil painting of a cobbled street lined with stone houses. DeGraeff contemplated the image while he listened to Iishino's translation. Then he laid the painting aside "face up. oSpaen and I often argued. He had a quick temper, as do I. But we always settled our differences to our mutual benefit.

So you claim, Sano thought. The barbarians odor had grown stronger from nervous perspiration. oDid Dr. Huygens also have disputes with Spaen?

oMy job is to ensure that trade proceeds smoothly. As long as it does, my colleagues' personal relationships are none of my business.

Was this evasive answer an expression of genuine ignorance, loyalty to comrades, or something else? Sano couldn't believe that after two years' virtual imprisonment together, quarrels hadn't arisen between the men, or that deGraeff would not know of them. Once again, he felt handicapped by his lack of knowledge about Dutch culture.

oWhat were you doing the night Director Spaen disappeared? Sano asked.

oI worked, here. Then went to bed. The guards can verify that. They were outside my room the whole time.

Sano predicted that the guards would corroborate his story even if it wasn't true, for two possible reasons. To do otherwise would be tantamount to admitting negligence. And Sano couldn't imagine deGraeff disposing of Director Spaen's corpse alone. One or more Japanese must have played a role in the murder "at the very least, facilitating a coverup. With difficulty, Sano relegated this unwelcome thought to the back of his mind. DeGraeff had sufficient motive for murder. Sano just needed evidence to prove his guilt.

oI apologize for invading your privacy, but I must search your quarters now, Sano said.

oHe says go ahead; he has nothing to hide, Iishino said after the barbarian spoke.

Sano went through deGraeff's office without finding anything except more ledgers, writing supplies, pipe, and tobacco pouch. There were no travel souvenirs; no hunting