Orchid Beach (Holly Barker 1)

“My house,” Jackson said, “but bring somebody who can sweep it for bugs.” He drew Crisp a map.

Crisp looked at his watch. “I’m going to drive back to Miami tonight and try to set up a meeting with my agent in charge tomorrow morning. Is there an airport here?”

“Yeah,” Jackson said, “but I don’t think you want a lot of suits getting off a big airplane out there. Be inconspicuous.”

“Thanks, Jackson,” Crisp said sarcastically. “I’ll try to keep that in mind. Holly, can I have these photographs and records?”

“Sure, but I’ll want them back.”

“I’ll have copies made and return the originals,” he said. He stood up. “I’ve got a long drive, and I’ve got to pick up my stuff from a motel in Fort Pierce. I’d better get going.”

“Thanks for coming,” Holly said. “I feel like I’m in over my head, here, and I could sure use some help figuring this thing out.”

“I think I can get you what you need, Holly,” Crisp said.

“And try not to get her killed while you’re doing it,” Jackson said.

“Jackson, your overwhelming confidence in your government never ceases to amaze me,” Crisp replied, gathering up the photographs and records.

Jackson laughed aloud.

“Be seeing you,” Harry Crisp said, then left.

CHAPTER

41

H olly had begun going through the departmental personnel files, something she had been putting off. She wanted to read up on the backgrounds of all her people to get a mental picture of who everybody was. She started with Hurd Wallace’s file.

Hurd had been born in Orlando, had attended

Florida State, majoring in business, had served a hitch in the Marine Corps and had joined the Orlando force after his discharge. Three years before, Chet Marley had hired him as a sergeant, then promoted him to lieutenant two years after that. She was wondering why Chet had hired him, promoted him, then came to distrust him. He had expressed annoyance about Hurd’s having political connections, and she assumed that meant John Westover. Her intercom line rang.

“Yes?”

“Chief, there’s a Mr. Barney Noble to see you.”

Holly looked through her glass wall and across the squad room to the front desk. Noble was standing there, in civilian clothes, gazing at her. “Send him in,” Holly said, wondering what the hell this was about.

Barney ambled in, shook her hand and took a seat. “So, Holly, how’s the new job going?”

“It’s going okay, Barney,” she said, smiling. “Right now, I’m pretty much just plowing through paperwork. I expect you know about that.”

“Part of the job, I guess.”

“How are things out at Palmetto Gardens?” she asked.

“Humming along,” he replied. “I had kind of a surprise this morning, though.”

“What was that?”

“Friend of mine up in Tallahassee called and said that the Orchid Beach PD had requested a criminal records check on over a hundred of our employees. What was that all about?” He was looking serious now.

“Just a routine thing,” Holly replied. She was glad he didn’t know she had run his people through the national computer as well.

“C’mon, Holly, don’t hand me that. What the hell are you looking for?” His face had turned pink.

“Take it easy, Barney, and I’ll explain.” She was thinking fast now—this had to be good.