His footsteps were so deep and resounding she heard them over the rain and practically felt them in the sofa cushion. They bounded up the steps. He leapt through the wet doorway as if through a ring of fire, pressed the door firmly shut, both screen and front door, then peered around with his shoulders jacked up as if someone were waiting to jump him from a corner. He wore the coveralls the guards used down below. They were smudged with something dark around the cuffs, and she didn’t want to know what. At least he’d washed it off his hands. He also had his holster and a combat knife hanging off his belt and, slung on his shoulder, one of those little M3 machine guns Marines called “the greaser.” He scrunched up his chin at the mess his pals had made. But then he saw it was only her here now, and he loosened up.

“Aloha,” she said.

“Aloha. Make yourself at home.” He held out his tattooed hands as if to ask: What was she doing here?

“Dat Charlie Selfer, he going make plenty big play,” she told him. “He try for save himself before too late. Before busted up already.”

Frankie grunted. “How he going save himself?”

“He going try bust you up before you get him. Maybe he kill you, Frankie.”

“Yeah? How you know?”

Kanani smiled. She crossed her legs the other way. “I went sleep with him.”

Frankie didn’t smile. He dropped the Pidgin. “Well. Look who’s the sly gal. Can’t say I’m surprised—”

“Shut up. So? What are you gonna do about it?”

“I’m gonna take care of it, that’s what.”

“Looks like you’re ready for it already.”

Frankie patted his combat knife. “Just part of the job, sistah. Orders are orders.”

“Orders from who?” Kanani said.

“I told you. Men plenty higher than Selfer. Than Lansdale even.”

“Wendell Lett in those orders?” she said. She couldn’t help it. She made a face as soon as she said it.

“What do you care about him? I thought you didn’t.”

“I don’t. I just like to know all the angles, how the loose ends get tied.”

“Ah.” Frankie showed her a grin. “Soon Lett, he’s gonna get sent. . . let’s call it ‘reassigned.’” He whispered, “Lansdale, he’s gonna set that up plenty good.”

“Oh. Fine. That serves him right, I suppose.”

“Why?”

“For not playing along.”

“I thought maybe you liked him.”

Kanani shrugged. “Nah. He’s just another dumb army guy.”

“That’s the truth. Anyway. Mahalo.”

“For?”

“For sticking with me. Gold or no gold.” Frankie straightened his belt and turned on his heels.

“Wait. Where you going?”

“I’m gonna go pay that Selfer a visit—”

“No. You have to wait.”

“How come?”