Orchid Beach (Holly Barker 1)

“You got the job?”

“I did.”

“What about Hurd Wallace?”

“I’ll tell you everything tonight.”

“See you then.”

She hung up and called her father. She was looking forward to giving him the news.

Holly was working at her desk when one of her female officers knocked on her door. “Come in, Sara,” she said, “and sit down.”

Sara Rodriguez, who was small and dark, perched on the edge of the chair across from Holly. “Congratulations on getting the job as chief,” she said.

“Thank you, Sara. What can I do for you?”

“Chief, you know the picture you posted on the bulletin board?”

“Yes.”

“I saw the guy this afternoon.”

“Where?”

Sara got up and went to the large map of Orchid Beach on Holly’s wall. She pointed at a street. “I was driving down this road on patrol, and I turned in right here so that I could turn around. It’s the trade entrance to Palmetto Gardens, where deliveries get made and the construction vehicles go in.”

“I see. And where was this man?”

“He was in the guardhouse there, wearing a uniform. He tried to chat me up.”

“You’re sure it was the same man as in the photograph?”

“Yes, ma’am. There could only be one face like that.”

“Thank you, Sara. Good job. And keep this to yourself, will you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The young woman got up and left.

Holly went to the bulletin board and took down Cracker Mosely’s photograph, then she had an idea. She went into Jane Grey’s office. “Jane, there’s something I’d like you to do.”

“Just name it, Chief.”

“I’d like you to find out—if you don’t already know—what state agency licenses private security services. Then I’d like you to call them and request a list of all the licensed security guards with Orchid Beach addresses.”

“No problem.”

“One other thing. Ask them if they license these people to carry firearms, and if they don’t, who does? I want a list of everybody who lives at Palmetto Gardens who’s licensed to carry a weapon, and who’s licensed to carry a concealed weapon, if that requires a special license.”

“I’ll get r

ight on it,” Jane said.

Holly was getting ready to leave for the day when Jane came into her office and handed her three sheets of paper. “Here’s everything you asked for,” she said, then left.

Holly spread out the papers and looked at them. “Good God,” she said aloud.

CHAPTER