“She must have gotten away,” Lett said. He added a shrug and told Frankie what he told the cabbie. He lied through his teeth, just as he had told Miss Mae he would. That camp light shadowed Frankie’s eyes the whole time as he listened, and Lett wasn’t sure if that had helped him tell the lie or not. “Maybe someone tipped her off,” he added.

“Maybe,” Frankie grunted.

“Anything else?” Lett said.

“Rest up. We’re going to train you for your next mission, so stay sharp.”

“All right.” Lett climbed out.

“Leave the gun.”

“Oh, right.” Lett placed the Colt, holster, and suppressor on the front seat. Frankie watched him. Lett added the wallet with civilian ID of one Wendell Lett.

“Keep dem clothes,” Frankie added with a grin.

Lett smiled back, but Frankie’s grin had already dropped.

“You saved your ass back in da Philippines,” Frankie said. “Don’t think I don’t notice.”

Lett winced inside. He didn’t know if Frankie’s response was good or bad, but he guessed the latter so he wasn’t about to say thanks. “Well, good night,” he said.

Frankie only nodded. He watched Lett go.

Congrats, Lett thought as he trudged up his steps. You’re officially a traitor here, too. But, maybe it’s just as well. Because maybe their savagery and subterfuge and soul-selling changed what it meant to be a traitor. So, in the words of any GI or Marine worth his salt: fuck ’em all.

***

He passed Kanani in camp the next morning. They didn’t stop long to talk. Her eyes were puffy again and she kept her head down. Their mannerisms reminded Lett of two inmates in a stockade yard passing a secret, and the shapeless twill fatigues he was wearing for training certainly fit the notion.

“I should warn you,” he began.

Kanani formed fists and her face screwed up.

“You already know,” he added. “Frankie.”

She nodded.

“He gave me a ride up in a jeep. Seems to have some pull. Have you seen him?”

“Once, briefly. Two days ago. He was coming up from underground. I haven’t seen him since.” Kanani was peering around as if just mentioning the big man’s name would make him pop up from some hatch in the earth. “Please, stay clear of him.”

“I’m trying.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell her about Miss Mae, not yet, not here.

“What does Selfer know about him?” he added.

“Not much more than us, I’m afraid.”

“Oh.” Lett took a look around, if only to make her feel safer. “You doing okay?”

“I am. I don’t know why, but I am.”

“Maybe it’s the calm after the storm,” he said, thinking of his own ordeal.

“That or the calm before.” She took another look around. “Let’s keep it moving. I’ll be in touch,” she whispered, and she headed off down a trail, marching along with her head still down.

***