Blood Orchid (Holly Barker 3)

“Jesus, I hope so,” Shine replied. “I guess

we’d better call the police.”

“I am the police,” Holly said.

3

Two patrol cars arrived in under two minutes, and Holly was proud. She sent the two cops outside to look for tracks while she sat in the living room and talked to Ed Shine.

“I’m going to take some notes,” she said, digging a notebook out of her handbag.

“Sure,” Shine said.

“Spell your name for me again?”

“S-h-i-n-e. It’s German-Jewish, was originally spelled S-c-h-e-i-n, but the folks at Ellis Island screwed it up. My grandfather thought it was more American, so he kept it that way.”

“Born?”

“New York City, seventy years ago.”

She was surprised; he looked a lot younger.

“And you’ve been in Orchid four months, you said?”

“That’s right. I sold my development company to my partner earlier this year, and I wanted to get out of New York, for tax reasons.”

“Ed, can you think of anyone who would want to harm you?”

“Not a soul,” Shine said. “That’s why this is so baffling. Why would anybody want to shoot a retired developer?”

“Are you married?”

“I’m a widower for eight years.”

“Have you been seeing anyone in Orchid since your arrival?”

“A woman? Now and then, when I get lucky. Why do you ask?”

“No jealous husbands in the picture?”

Shine laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment, but no.”

“You have any kids?”

“None; my wife and I tried, but it didn’t work, and we didn’t want to adopt.”

“Any nephews or nieces?”

“None; I was an only child.”

“May I ask, who are your heirs?”

“A number of charities, mostly. I’ve mentioned a few friends in my will, but they don’t know about it.”

“What about your business dealings? Have you made any enemies over the years? Somebody who might have felt hard dealt with?”

“Not a soul; I always wanted both sides to like any deal. I’m considered something of a soft touch in the business.”