Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"If we had a name, if we knew who we were targeting, then that might help. I might be able to find an undercover guy who had some up-front credentials with right-wing groups who could go in there fully recommended. I mean, if they're associated with other groups. But if we don't know who they are, then we don't know which buttons to push."

"Well, so far we know they're weapons nuts, that they're anti-Semitic and antisocial, and of course, that they rob banks and kill people."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We don't know that last part."

"You're right, I'm jumping ahead."

"We've got to do this one step at a time."

"Have you heard anything on Franklin Morris and his wife?"

"Not a peep. It's like they drove off the edge of the earth."

"I'll bet you anything they're out at Lake Winachobee right this minute."

"If we had probable cause to think so, we could go in there with an arrest warrant."

"Yeah, but it wouldn't be worth it. We might pick up Morris, but the current charges against him are minor, and the group would know we were onto them."

"I suppose we could take a look at them from the gun show angle, but once again, we'd tip our hand that we were interested in them."

"This is depressing."

"The only thing we can do right now is to just wait for something to happen."

"What, for them to rob another bank? Kill somebody else? They're flush with ill-gotten cash right now, and they've got no reason to do another bank."

Hurd Wallace stuck his head through her doorway. "Holly, Joy Williams from Southern Trust is on the line. She says it's important."

"Harry, can you hold on for just a minute?" Holly asked.

"Sure."

She punched the hold button, then answered the call. "Hi, Joy."

"Chief, I've got some news, and it's bad."

"What's the problem?"

"The bank has completed its audit of Franklin Morris's loan portfolio, and it looks like he's taken us for about $175,000."

"How?"

"By making loans to fictitious small businesses with bogus documentation, all of them under his $25,000 limit for loan approvals."

"Joy, I've got the FBI on the other line; I'll have them get in touch with you."

"All right, thanks, Chief."

Holly pressed another button. "Harry, you there?"

"I'm here."

"Southern Trust just called. They've audited Franklin Morris's records and he's embezzled $175,000 from the bank by making bogus loans. I told them I'd get you on it."

"That's weird," Harry said.

"What's weird about it? Isn't that sort of what we suspected?"