Kanani growled. “It’s a friend’s place.”

“He? She?”

Kanani blew air out one side of her mouth. “Her name’s Mae. Miss Mae. Frankie must want something from her. Information probably.”

“Where’s she from? Look at me. Come on. We’re almost done.”

“Chinatown . . . Okay, China, originally. She fled because of the war.”

“And she’s the one who gave you that lighter.”

Kanani shot up on her haunches, pointing at Lett. “She was a friend. She confided in me. She’s the one who gave me a job. She was a mama-san, on Hotel Street . . .” She lowered back down and stared at the rocky earth between her feet. “She was also the one who set me up doing work on the side, for you Americans. But later she made it easier for me, got them to lay off. She knew some of your big kahunas, see. During the war we had your military intelligence here like I said, but also the CID and CIC you mentioned and especially something called the OSS. Those boys, they liked my style.”

“Style?”

“In Honolulu, Chinatown side, there’s always plenty talk story going around in a boogie house. Never hurt that I passed them a tip now and then. You know, for the ‘war effort.’ And, these intelligence contacts of mine? They know how to flatter. Along the way, they led me to believe I was in training to become a secret agent. They kept telling me I was good at spying. They kept saying they were going to send me to the Philippines or even Japan because my looks let me fit in anywhere.”

“It never happened.”

Kanani snorted. “They just used me as their ears. They probably had a good laugh about it. Then they all headed home, and now there’s a new gang in town. What? Don’t look at me like that.”

“What way’s that?”

“You think I’m a wahine ho’okamakama.”

“Says you. Suppose you tell me in English.”

“Whore. Prostitute. Brothel girl.”

“Well, were you?”

“When was I younger, briefly, but I moved up real fast. I told you. Assisting da management kine. Mama-san.”

“Where is this Miss Mae now?”

“I don’t know. She knew lots more about China and Japan and the wartime this and that than she told me. Talk about a past.” An old ashen-colored donkey sidled close. Kanani looked away from it and whispered, “Between you and me? I think she was a double agent—Japanese, Chinese, the Americans.”

“That’s a triple agent.”

“See. You smart. Word is, she cut a deal with the Americans, and they’re giving her a new life. Last time I talked to her, she told me she could get me this posting to The Preserve. Gave me a phone number, and that was that. Bless her heart.”

“What about your family?”