Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"Have you spoken to the Miami bank president about this?"

"Not yet. I thought maybe you should speak to him."

"I'll be over there shortly," Holly said, "and we'll get to the bottom of this."

"Thank you, Chief."

Holly went to Hurd Wallace's office. "Remember the young loan officer who was the other recent hire at Southern Trust?"

"Yep."

"Sounds like he's taken a very big powder. I'm going over there now to find out what I can."

"Need any help?"

"Not yet. I'll call you if I do."

Holly collected Daisy and drove over to the bank. When she entered Joy Williams's office, the woman looked flustered.

"What's wrong, Joy?"

"I called South Bea

ch Bank, and the number had been disconnected. So had the fax number."

"You said the president of the bank faxed you a recommendation?"

Williams handed over a letter. Holly took it, sat down and read the letter.

"It looks genuine enough," Holly said.

"Yes, it has all the right elements for a bank letterhead," Joy agreed.

"Did you try information, to see if the bank had moved?"

"I did. There was no listing for a South Beach Bank anywhere in Dade County. Also, I looked them up in a directory of banks, and they simply don't exist."

"May I use your phone, Joy?"

"Of course."

"And I wonder if you'd do me a favor while I'm calling."

"Anything."

"Would you please go down to the platform and ask Mr. Morris's coworkers not to touch his desk or anything on it?"

"Of course." Joy got up and left the office.

Holly dialed the station and got Hurd. "Will you send our tech over here? I want to go over Morris's desk and see if we can pick up some prints we can run. I want anyone who might have touched his desk printed, too."

"Sure thing. They're on their way."

Holly walked down to the platform, where Joy Williams had gathered the bank's officers together.

"Oh, here's Chief Barker, now," she said.

"Good morning, folks. I guess Joy has asked you not to touch Mr. Morris's desk?"