〃What's your opinion？〃
Hully sighed； and stared out at the vast blue of the sky meeting the ocean。 He was a handsome young man…Burroughs could see so much of his own late mother in the boy's sensitive； oval face。
〃Well； like you said last night； O。 B。…Kamana was a hell of a lot more credible than that Kuhn character 。。。 but why would Kuhn have lied？〃
〃Maybe he did the killing。〃 Burroughs nodded to the left； toward the foliage lining the beach； behind which the German's bungalow nestled。 〃He had easy access… as you put it； opportunity。〃
Hully was making a face。 〃What's his motive？〃
〃Pearl was a nice girl； but let's face it…she got around。 And Otto； married or not； has a reputation as a playboy。〃
Hully snapped his fingers。 〃That makes his wife a suspect； too！ Suppose Otto and Pearl were down on the beach； and Mrs。 Kuhn caught 'em！〃
Nodding； with a wry； rueful smile； Burroughs said； 〃Doesn't take long to e up with other suspects； does it？ And there could be other reasons why Kuhn lied。〃
〃If he did lie。〃
〃If he did lie；〃 Burroughs allowed。 He wanted to share Kuhn's supposed status as 〃sleeper〃 agent for the Japanese； but didn't feel he should betray FBI agent Sterling's confidence。
〃Anyway； I can see the problem with Jardine；〃 Hully said。 〃As a prosecutor's investigator； he's already focused on one suspect…when there are plenty of others。〃
Burroughs glanced around； to make sure he and his son were still alone on the beach。 〃I hate to say so； but 。。。 Colonel Fielder and his son have to be included on that list。〃
Hully was shaking his head。 〃I can't believe Bill would do anything to harm Pearl…he was crazy about her！〃
〃 'Crazy' might be the operative word…suppose Bill found Pearl with another man； on the beach？〃
〃Well。。。 I can see your point； but…〃
〃Were you with Bill last night？ Can you alibi him？〃
Hully lowered his gaze。 〃No。 Last I saw him； he was on Hotel Street。。。 plenty of time to get back here。〃
〃And I know for a fact Pearl was looking to talk to Fielder。。。。〃
Quickly； Burroughs filled his son in on Pearl's visit
to the bungalow； and her request for Burroughs to set up a meeting with Bill's father。
〃She asked me the same thing；〃 Hully said。 〃Wanted me； or you； to arrange a meet。 Are you thinking the colonel may have e back。。。 or was still hanging around here 。。。 and she approached him； and。。。 tried to present her case； for marrying Bill； and 。。。〃
〃Can you deny it's a possibility？〃
Hully gestured with an open hand。 〃What if you run all of this by Jardine？〃
〃I intend to 。。。 but I know how that Portuguese po…lice dog's mind works； and I know his single…minded technique。〃
〃What do you suggest； Dad？〃
Burroughs leaned toward his son； placed a hand on Hully's shoulder； gently squeezing。 〃Why don't we do a little。。。 informal investigating？ We can chat with people…many of the suspects are our friends； after all。。。。〃
〃Unfortunately。〃
〃No…fortunately。〃 Now Burroughs looked out at the ocean and the sky； his eyes； his whole face； tight as a clenched fist。 〃The worst that could be said of that young woman is she may have been a little fast。 She didn't deserve anything but a long； happy life。 She was pretty and smart and talented。 Any 'friend' of mine who murdered that girl is no friend at all。〃
〃Dad。。。 Jesus； Dad。 You really were a cop。〃
He turned to Hully again。 〃What do you say； son？ Why don't we split up； and do some 。。。 socializing？〃
Hully's eyes narrowed； then he nodded； vigorously。 〃Pearl deserves our help。〃
〃She sure as hell does…I only wish I'd been a little earlier last night； and could have really helped her； when she needed it most。〃
They briefly discussed who among the Niumalu residents and staff each would attempt to interrogate… without seeming to； of course…and soon Hully was heading off toward the lodge； and Burroughs was angling over toward the bungalow where the Kuhns resided。
As he approached； he encountered Mrs。 Fujimoto； ing from the direction of the Kuhn bungalow。 The slender； fortyish kimono…clad woman； her graying hair tucked back in a bun； worked as a maid at the Niumalu； she was not on the hotel staff； rather worked for a handful of guests who shared her services； Burroughs and the Kuhns among them。
〃Good morning； Mr。 Burroughs；〃 she said； stopping； lowering her head respectfully。
〃How are you this morning； Mrs。 Fujimoto？〃
〃Very sad； since I hear of Miss Pearl Harada's misfortune。 Very sad。〃
Nodding； Burroughs said； 〃She was a lovely girl； a nice person…she'll be missed。〃
Mrs。 Fujimoto looked up and her eyes were filigreed red； she wore no makeup； which made her seem rather plain when actually her features were pleasant。 〃I am on way to your cottage； Mr。 Burroughs； to begin my work。〃
He checked his watch。 〃You're not due till around eleven； are you？〃
〃I ran early…the Kuhns did not want me。。。 what they say？ 'Underfoot。' Is it inconvenience； my early e？〃
〃No； no…go ahead。〃
At the Kuhns' bungalow； Burroughs stood on the stoop at the screen door； about to knock； when the German opened the door； slapping the writer with it。
〃Sorry； Edgar！〃 Kuhn looked aghast。 〃Forgive me！〃
Burroughs； knocked back a bit； touched his forehead and said； 〃Jeez； Otto； where's the fire？〃
〃Fire？〃 Shutting the screen； Kuhn joined the writer； at the bottom of the short stoop。 The German was again in white linen； his tie a light blue； damn near matching the light blue of his eyes…the whiteness of his suit was stark against the rose…colored bougainvillea blanketing his bungalow。
Burroughs explained； 〃 'Where's the fire'…what's your hurry？〃
Kuhn blinked； raised his chin。 〃Oh； I have a business appointment。〃 Then he put a hand on the writer's shoulder。 〃I feel the fool…are you all right？〃
〃I'll survive。〃 Actually； the wooden frame had clipped Burroughs on the forehead and it did hurt； a little。 〃I just wanted to see how you were doing； this morning…after that unpleasantness last night。〃
Kuhn withdrew his hand from Burroughs's shoulder； and summoned an unconvincing smile； it was like a gash in his pasty pale face。 〃How thoughtful； Edgar。 Well； of course； it was a terrible thing to witness。〃 He said this as offhandedly as a man describing an overcooked steak he'd had to send back。
Burroughs shook his head。 〃I should say…her scream woke me from a deep sleep； and scared the bejesus out of me。〃 That wasn't exactly true； but the writer liked the effect of it。 〃Did Pearl scream when Kamana raised the rock？〃
Kuhn cocked his head。 〃Pardon me？〃
〃Well； you saw the murder…did she scream when Kamana raised his hand； to strike her？ Or did he hit her more than once； and she screamed after one glancing blow 。。。 and then another blow； or blows； silenced her？〃
The blue eyes were wide； white showing all around。 〃I； uh。。。 my God； Edgar； this is an unpleasant subject。 I've already 。had to go over this with the police； again and again。。。 I was up until all hours。〃
Burroughs raised his palms； as if in surrender。 〃My mistake…I thought； since we'd both been witnesses to this thing； that we had something in mon。 That we'd shared something； however horrible。〃
Kuhn nodded； once。 〃I do understand…I meant no offense。 But I would prefer not to discuss the matter any further。〃
Not the murder…the 〃matter。〃
〃Sure； Otto。 I guess I don't blame you。〃
The ambiguity of what Burroughs had just said froze the German for a moment； then he gave the writer another curt nod。 〃If you'll excuse me； Edgar…I have business downtown。〃
Kuhn strode off across the grass； toward the lodge and its parking lot； and Burroughs began back toward his own quarters； then； when Kuhn was out of sight； the writer cut back toward the bougainvillea…covered bungalow。
He didn't have to knock on the screen door； this time…Kuhn's wife； the person he had hoped to casually interview； was already outside。 He didn't see her； at first…she was down at the far end of the bungalow； tucked back in the cool blue shade of sheltering palms； seated in a wood…and…canvas beach…type chair。
Elfriede Kuhn's slender shape was well served by a white halter top and matching shorts。 Honey…blonde hair brushing her shoulders； eyes a mystery behind the dark blue circles