I’ve learned to work around the ball of fluff. Uncle Kaiko takes pity on me and refills my coffee, when he’s around. I like Kaiko. He’s that bachelor uncle who gets into mischief and humiliates the family on public occasions, but he’s also the fellow you telephone at two in the morning for a spot of rescue, no judgments. Now, I grant you, he’s a terrible pilot. He’s been grounded by Olle for the foreseeable future, so he just hangs around, three stools down, sharing an ashtray while he reads the help wanted column in the Honolulu classifieds. His ribs are still bandaged, and he’s got casts on an arm and a leg, but at least the stitches are off his face. Anyway, my point is we get along just fine, Kaiko and me, even if he likes to complain about how I make him fetch coffee in his crippled condition.

“How about this one?” he says. “‘Start your career in real estate! Help wanted for top class Honolulu agency, local preferred, must be go-getter, no experience required, excellent pay, we will train you’?”

“Sounds ideal, if you’re looking for a career in rent collection.”

“Rent collection? How do you figure?”

“Call it intuition. Say, do you mind? I’m trying to work, here.”

“Gee, sorry.” A moment later: “So how’s it going? That book you’re writing.”

“Just swell, when I’m not getting interrupted all the time.”

“You know, we weren’t so sure about you, when you first turned up. Everyone figured you were trouble. Keep your trap shut, that’s what Olle told me, and don’t trust that dame an inch.”

“Olle said that? The little dear.”

“That’s our Olle. He’s a good fella, I’m not saying he’s not, but—well, you know. Kind of the wet blanket type.”

“I’ll say. He keeps me at such an arm’s length, he can’t even hand me a drink. I’m glad you feel differently, Kaiko. I do like you, you know.”

“What’s not to like? And you like my pal Leo, don’t you?”

“Well.”

“I got eyes in my head. You got more sizzle between the pair of you than a whole pig roast.” He makes a motion with his hand. “You’re not . . . you know . . . ?”

“I’m afraid not. It wouldn’t be professional, you know.”

“Now, don’t take offense, because I mean this as a compliment, but you don’t seem like the kind of gal who lets a little business get in the way of a good time with a guy she admires.”

“Why, Kaiko. I’m truly flattered. But in this instance, I figure discretion is the better part of amour. You know how these things go. It wouldn’t do to ruffle any of my subject’s feathers.”

He scratches his brow. “I thought you were writing this thing about Mallory.”