As the plane descends, Young Croc finally turns his attention to the window, tapping on the glass with his forefinger in apparent anticipation. And isn’t that an emotion he and Baker share?

When the plane’s wheels hit the runway, people sitting in coach clap and cheer. Baker checks on Floyd, who is fast asleep, then turns to Young Croc. “You going to St. Thomas?” he asks. “Or St. John?”

“St. John.”

“Us too,” Baker says. “We’re moving down for good.”

“Oh yeah?” Young Croc says. “You running a business down here? Doing the EDC deal?”

“EDC?” Baker says.

“Yeah, that’s the tax-incentive plan for businesses that relocate to the USVI.”

“Legal?” Baker asks, because this sounds like something his father might have been involved in. Anyway, it would explain why the hedge fund was run down here instead of in, say, New York or Chicago.

Young Croc laughs. “Yes, legal. Lots of people do it. I moved my company here from Houston in the fall. I’m saving tons of cash.”

“From Houston?” Baker says. “Are you American?”

“Naturalized,” Young Croc says. “Originally from Perth.”

Perth is in…Australia? New Zealand? Baker should know but he hasn’t got a clue and he’s embarrassed to ask. “What’s the name of your company?”

“Huntley International?” he says, like maybe Baker has heard of it. “Real estate development.”

Baker is rendered temporarily speechless. The dude looks twenty-five. But that would explain the watch. It’s probably his father’s company. Or—he hears his ex-wife’s voice in his head asking him to think and act in a way that promotes gender equality—his mother’s company. “Baker Steele,” Baker says, offering his hand.

“Dunk,” the kid says and they firmly—aggressively?—shake. “Duncan Huntley. Nice to meet you, Baker. What do you do?”

Baker isn’t eager to admit that he’s a stay-at-home dad supported by his superstar-surgeon almost-ex-wife. He could say that he day-trades and has accepted a coaching job at the Gifft Hill School, but does that sound any more impressive? “Investments,” Baker says.

“Oh yeah? For whom?”

“I have my own shop,” Baker says. “Coincidentally, I’ve been thinking about getting into real estate myself.” By this, Baker means he’s considered getting his real estate license because he isn’t sure what else he can do that will make a sustainable living on St. John.

“Take my card,” Dunk says. “I’m always looking for investment partners.”

Baker accepts the card even though he knows he has severely misrepresented himself. Baker has money in the bank—both a healthy brokerage account and a fund that he day-trades with—but he immediately realizes that he’s not in a position to be anyone’s “investment partner” unless Dunk Huntley is looking for an investment of five hundred dollars.

Still, it can’t hurt to know people. DUNCAN HUNTLEY, CEO AND FOUNDER, HUNTLEY INTERNATIONAL LLC.

Founder? Baker thinks.

He’s distracted by the business of getting off the plane. He pulls down his carry-on and Floyd’s Toy Story knapsack, then he bends at the knees—protect the back—to pick Floyd up without waking him.