Blood Orchid (Holly Barker 3)

“Now, our main course,” Ed announced. “Boeuf Wellington.”

A waiter appeared carrying a large platter and presented the mound of pastry to the diners. Everyone clapped lightly.

The waiter sliced the beef into thick slabs and served it.

Holly felt as though this were a last supper of sorts, but at least it was a good supper. She began trying to think of a way to get out of here. Grant was annoying her now, blithely chatting up Barbara Pellegrino, who looked as though she would like Grant for her main course, instead of the beef. He knew who these people were; he could at least have the grace to look worried, she thought.

Holly directed her attention to Ed, pointedly ignoring Pio. “So, Ed, is this a business dinner, or just pleasure?”

“A bit of both, sweetheart,” Ed said in his affable way. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”

“The food is wonderful,” Holly replied. “What sort of business are you in together?”

“Real estate, of course. This is really sort of a celebration of a new property we’ve just bought in South Beach, Miami. In less than a year, we’re going to have the hottest hotel on the beach.”

“Another deal like Blood Orchid?” Holly asked.

“Very much the same,” Ed replied. “Smitty, over there, is the new head of the Miami office of the General Services Administration, and this is the second property we’ve bought from them. There will be more, you may be sure.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Holly said.

“Oh, it is, believe me. Within five years we’re going to be the second largest holder of resort property in Florida, right after Disney. And by that time, gambling will be legal in Florida, and we’ll be the largest operators of casinos.”

“Gambling legal in Florida?” Holly asked. “I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“You will,” Ed replied.

Holly glanced at Grant to see if he was hearing any of this.

“We’re out shopping for state legislators right now,” Ed said.

“Ed,” Holly said, “I thought Blood Orchid was your swan song in real estate; I thought you were going to retire here.”

“I hope you’ll forgive that little fib, Holly. I didn’t want anyone to know what my plans were. Did I mention that we bought a bank in the next county?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“You can’t imagine what a convenience it is to own a bank,” Ed said, grinning.

Dessert was served—baked Alaska—and Holly declined, instead continuing to toy with her beef. Her head was spinning with the scale of what Ed Shine and the Pellegrinos were planning. Certainly, funding it all was no problem, not with all the cash piling up in the vaults across the golf course from where they sat.

“Well, Holly,” Ed said, “have you digested all that?” He wasn’t referring to dinner.

“Not quite, Ed, I’m still working on it.” It worried her that he was telling her all this, as if he didn’t expect her to be able to pass it on.

“Well, while you do, let me tell you a little story about myself.” He put down his napkin and turned toward Holly. “I’ve been coming to Florida for more than forty years, you know.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“No reason why you should. You may recall that I told you I didn’t have any children?”

“Yes.”

“Well, none to speak of, as they say. A little over thirty years ago, I spent a few weeks in Miami, and I had a rather passionate liaison with a young lady of Latino extraction. That union produced a child, and while I wasn’t on hand for all the usual occasions—birthdays, Christmas, and so on, I certainly kept a fatherly eye on his rearing, and the boy has turned out to be very useful to me in my business.”

A figure had appeared in the shadows of the bar, and Ed waved him over. “Enrico, come over here; there’s someone I want you to meet.” Ed turned to Holly. “He’s been dying to meet you.”

Holly turned and watched the man approach.