# Joel Cairo — The Maltese Falcon character guide > Joel Cairo in The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Joel Cairo, Mr. Cairo, Cairo, Joe Cairo **First appearance:** 0005-iv-the-black-bird ## Snapshot A small, perfumed man with a lavender-barred handkerchief and a pistol, he wants the falcon for himself and trusts no one, least of all his partners. ## Who they are Cairo walks into Spade's office with a cane, a gardenia, and a story about a missing enameled bird, and his nerve frays the moment things go wrong. He schemes alongside Gutman while nursing his own claim, and his shrill accusations against Brigid expose how little loyalty holds the conspirators together. His panic and his vanity make him the falcon hunt's most volatile piece, forever threatening to blow the whole arrangement apart. ## Relationships ### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade) _rivalry_ A tense, adversarial relationship where Cairo tries to outwit Spade in the hunt for the falcon, marked by mutual distrust and occasional grudging respect. ### [Casper Gutman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/casper_gutman) _rivalry_ A tense alliance of convenience, with both men scheming for the falcon and distrusting each other despite occasional cooperation. ### [Wilmer Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/wilmer_cook) _rivalry_ A mutual contemptuous relationship, with Cairo viewing Wilmer as a brutish thug and Wilmer resenting Cairo's effete mannerisms. ### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade) _rivalry_ A tense, adversarial relationship where Cairo tries to outwit Spade in the hunt for the falcon, marked by mutual distrust and occasional grudging respect. ### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade) _rivalry_ A tense, adversarial relationship where Cairo tries to outwit Spade in the hunt for the falcon, marked by mutual distrust and occasional grudging respect. ### [Casper Gutman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/casper_gutman) _rivalry_ A tense alliance of convenience, with both men scheming for the falcon and distrusting each other despite occasional cooperation. ### [Wilmer Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/wilmer_cook) _rivalry_ A mutual contemptuous relationship, with Cairo viewing Wilmer as a brutish thug and Wilmer resenting Cairo's effete mannerisms. ### [Casper Gutman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/casper_gutman) _rivalry_ A tense alliance of convenience, with both men scheming for the falcon and distrusting each other despite occasional cooperation. ## In the story ### [The Maltese Falcon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/the-maltese-falcon) A suave and duplicitous criminal who hires Spade to retrieve the falcon, often using manipulation and threats. ### [The Black Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/iv-the-black-bird) A dandyish, perfumed man who visits Spade's office, offering condolences and hinting at his own interest in the falcon. ### [V: The Levantine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/v-the-levantine) Cairo offers $5,000 for the falcon, pulls a gun to search Spade's office, is knocked unconscious, and later provides a retainer. ### [VI: The Undersized Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/vi-the-undersized-shadow) Cairo meets Spade outside the Geary Theatre, denies knowing the youth tailing Spade, and confirms he has not hired anyone else. ### [VII: G in the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/vii-g-in-the-air) Arrives at Spade's apartment, discusses the falcon deal, and later screams for help, leading to the police entering. ### [Horse Feathers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/viii-horse-feathers) Bleeding from a head wound inflicted by Brigid. He accuses her and Spade of attacking him, but becomes evasive when Dundy presses for a formal complaint. ### [IX: Brigid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/ix-brigid) Mentioned as having been attacked by Brigid with a gun; his pistol is later held by Brigid. ### [X: The Belvedere Divan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/x-the-belvedere-divan) Returns to the Belvedere after police questioning, bandaged and weary; reluctant to continue their association. ### [XIV: La Paloma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xiv-la-paloma) Absent from his hotel room; Spade and Luke search his belongings and find a torn newspaper clipping about ship arrivals. ### [XVII: Saturday Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xvii-saturday-night) Cairo ambushes Spade and Brigid at Spade's apartment. ### [The Fall-Guy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xviii-the-fall-guy) Whispers to Gutman, helps restrain Wilmer, and attacks Spade after the boy is knocked out. ### [XIX: The Russian's Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xix-the-russian-s-hand) Reluctantly agrees to cooperate after being threatened, tends to Wilmer, and is struck by him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/joel_cairo - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters