Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"I can imagine. Did Morris owe you a lot of rent?"

"No, he didn't. I got a check in the mail this morning for a month's rent, mailed on Friday, and I still have a month's rent as a security deposit. There was a note attached that said I could keep the deposit."

"I see. Then you have no complaint against Mr. Morris."

"Well, he had a lease that he ran out on, but I guess I'm not out any money."

"Mr. Huff, I'd like to send somebody over to have a look at the check and the envelope it came in. Would you put it aside without touching it again?"

"Sure, if you say so." He gave her the address of his office.

"Thanks, Mr. Huff." She hung up and called Tommy Ross and asked him to go and dust the check and envelope for prints.

The phone rang again. "Holly Barker."

"Hey, it's Ham."

"Hey, Ham. What's up?"

"You know that Peck Rawlings guy?"

"Yep."

"I had a phone call from him just now."

21

Lunch at Ham's was always fish, freshly caught. He rolled a couple of plump sea trout in flour and dropped them in hot oil.

Holly didn't rush him. It was best not to rush Ham, he'd get around to it.

Halfway through lunch, Ham got around to it. "So, ol' Peck called me this morning."

"What'd he have to say?"

"I think Peck thinks I'm his kind of folks."

"Good."

"Good? I found it kind of insulting."

"Did you tell him that?"

"Nope."

"Good."

"Said he wants to bring me something to read."

"Bring? He's coming over here?"

"Around six, he said."

"You think he wants to recruit you?"

"Maybe."

"How do you feel about that?"