A NEW LEASE

Interviews were in-person only. I met him at Manoa Starbucks, an elderly Japanese gentleman wearing a Sakamoto for Lt. Governor T-shirt. When I mentioned I’d recently lost my wife, he stood and led me outside. We drove to a mansion on the west slope of Manoa Valley.

The room was enormous. I asked about all the empty clothing racks.

"My wife," he said. "This would have been her closet. She loved dresses. Do you like jazz?"

I nodded.

"Good." He smiled for the first time. "At night, I play jazz. I hope this will not be a problem."