Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"We've got a bunkhouse down in the woods there." Peck pointed off to the south of the range. "Right along the lakeshore. It's real comfortable."

"Well, Peck, I'm pretty comfortable where I am," Ham replied. "I don't mind a little commute."

"Sure, I understand," Peck said. "You just stay where you are for the time being. Of course, when we start an operation, you'll have to move out here a few days ahead of time. We don't want anybody loose in the world who knows what we're going to do and when."

"Oh, sure, I understand."

"Tell you what, you pack a duffel bag with a week's clothes and leave it out here tomorrow. That way, if something comes up, you'll be ready instantly."

"I'll do that, Peck." He glanced at his watch. "Well, I'd better get going. I've got my once-in-a-blue-moon dinner with my daughter."

Peck took his arm. "Ham, you've got to be careful about seeing her. John is aware that she's… well, aware of who she is, and-"

Ham held up a hand. "Don't worry, Peck. I've never said a thing to her about the group, and I never will. In fact, it occurs to me that when we do get into a project, it might be an advantage having her as a kind of personal reference. She'd say, 'What, my daddy involved in that? That's completely crazy,' and they'd believe her."

"I see your point," Peck said. "Just be careful around her."

"You bet I will." Ham turned to go.

"Oh, by the way," Peck said, stopping him with a hand on his arm. "You've taught your last shooting class for a while."

"Oh? You got something else for me?"

"You better believe it," Peck said.

"What is it?"

"Now, don't get too curious. You'll find that, in The Elect, you get information slowly, when your superiors think it's necessary. I will tell you this, though. John wants you to start working on the Barrett's rifle first thing tomorrow morning. He wants you up to speed on that weapon in a hurry, able to hit anything from any distance,"

"I think I'll enjoy that," Ham said.

"See you tomorrow, then. Enjoy your dinner with your daughter."

Ham sighed. "I'll try," he said.

* * *

Ham parked at Holly's and ran all the way to the beach house next door. As he walked into the living room, Harry jumped up and hugged him.

"You did it!" he yelled gleefully. "Those sons of bitches are on the fucking air!"

Doug and Eddie were pounding on his back, congratulating him.

Holly came and put an arm around him. "My old man!" she exclaimed. "How did you ever do it?"

"You're not going to believe it," Ham said. "Our lessons ended this morning, and after we took the damnedest oath you ever heard, John ripped up his class notes and burned them in the trash can, and the smoke detector in the room went off. John remembered I said I'd been installing them, and he asked me to fix it."

"And you switched detectors?"

"You bet your sweet ass I did. Have they been talking?"

"Yes," Harry said, "and they were talking about moving you out to the lake."

"Yeah, Peck brought that up, but he didn't push it. He wants me to keep a week's clothes out there, just in case."

"In case of what?"

"Something's in the wind, some sort of operation."