Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"I guess you've got some support around here for that opinion," Rawlings said.

"I believe somebody took a shot at him during the campaign," Ham said. "Pity he wasn't a better shot."

"You think his opponent was the better man, then?"

"Yes, but not much better."

"Who would you have preferred?"

"George Wallace, maybe, but he wasn't running, and anyway, he was a little too far to the left for my taste."

Rawlings seemed pleased with that assessment.

"And what do you think of our present form of government?"

"I think it was a great idea that got royally screwed up along the way, especially in the twentieth century."

"I can't say I disagree with you," Rawlings replied.

Ham sipped his brandy.

Mack Harston leaned forward in his chair. "Would you change things, if you could?"

"Sure, but what could I do?"

"Maybe more than you think."

"I'd be interested in hearing about that," Ham said.

"It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness," Jim said.

"So I've heard, but I'd prefer a flashlight."

"Your proficiency with various weapons might represent a flashlight," Rawlings said, getting up and taking a manila folder from his desk. He sat down again and opened it. "Your service record says you fired Expert with everything the army gave you."

"My service record?" Ham said, genuinely surprised. "You've got my service record?"

"I have," Rawlings said.

"How in the hell did you do that?"

"Let's just say that we've got friends in useful places. I get the impression from reading it that you don't have much compunction about killing."

"I've never had any compunction about killing somebody who needed it, but I don't intend to spend the rest of my life on death row. They say the death penalty isn't a deterrent, but it sure is for me."

"That's a smart way to think," Rawlings said.

The phone on the desk rang, but it was picked up somewhere else in the house. A moment later, Emily Harston came to the door. "It's okay," she said to her husband, then she closed the door.

Ham sipped his brandy. "You planning on killing somebody, Peck?"

Rawlings smiled. "Oh, I'm just speaking hypothetically."

"Okay."

Suddenly Rawlings stood up, placed the file on his desk and turned to Ham. "Well, Ham, it's been a real pleasure having you out here." The others stood up, too.

Ham figured he'd been dismissed, so he stood up, too. "I've enjoyed it. Please tell Betty for me that it was a real fine dinner, and I appreciate the trouble she went to."