Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

“A nurse would have taken a big chunk, but I knew that would annoy you, so I did it myself. How’s the headache?”

“Gone. I mean, I can feel the wound, and it hurts a little, but not the whole head, like before.”

“Aspirin is a miracle drug,” he said. “By the way, just so I can have a medical excuse for this call, your rape kit was negative-no bruising or tearing, no semen or seminal fluid. I didn’t want to mention it in front of your father.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.”

“Are you a free woman?”

Holly laughed. “I am.”

“No doubt about that, is there? I wouldn’t want to ask a lady to dinner who was otherwise committed.”

“No doubt,” she laughed. “When?”

“Tomorrow night?”

“You talked me into it. I’ll make you dinner. Say seven o’clock?”

“That works for me.”

She gave him the address. “There’s a rather formidable gate, but press the buzzer on your left, and I’ll let you in.”

“I’ll bring the wine-red or white?”

“Both. See you tomorrow evening.”

“See ya.”

He hung up, and so did she. She put her dish in the dishwasher and looked around. The place was pretty neat, but she tidied it up a bit anyway.

She opened the sliding glass door to the beach with some effort and went for a little walk with Daisy, thinking about her dream. When she got back into the house, the doorbell was ringing. She opened it to find Jimmy Weathers there.

“Hey, Holly. Your gate was open.”

“Hi, Jimmy. Come on in.” He did. “Thanks for being there last night.”

“My pleasure, Chief,” he said. “That’s my neck of the woods when I’m working. I just wanted to see if you’re okay.”

She showed him to a seat. “Jimmy, I think I was stopped by a police car last night.”

“On Indian River Trail?”

“I guess. I don’t remember anything else, just a flashing blue light and a bright flashlight.”

“Well, that’s really interesting, Holly.”

“How so?”

“That would make the third incident like this in about six weeks.”

“Women stopped by a police car?”

“And raped by a police officer,” he said. “The doctor said you weren’t raped.”

“I know.”

“I think you got lucky.”