Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

“Do you have any leads at all?”

Jimmy shook his head. “Not a one. I don’t think it was a police officer, though; I was able to account for all our guys at the time of the rapes. Maybe somebody from another jurisdiction, but more like somebody posing as a cop to get women to stop their cars. Both of the women reported a single blue flashing light behind them. Have you been able to remember anything else?”

Holly shook her head. “Just the blue light and the flashlight.”

“Maybe some more will come back to you. Will you let me know?”

“Sure, I will.”

Jimmy stood up. “I’d better go,” he said. “We’ve got a staff meeting to meet the new chief.”

“You don’t want to miss that,” Holly said, walking him to the door.

Jimmy stopped at the door. “I hear you’ve had some dealings with him in the past.”

“You heard right,” Holly said. “Keep an eye on the female officers; he’s a predator.”

“I’ll do that,” he said, and walked out to his car.

Holly watched him drive away, then got out the security system instructions and used the keypad to close the gate. She spent the rest of the afternoon reading the instructions for operating everything new in the house.

7

Holly slept a lot

for the rest of the day, and the following morning she went to her favorite grocery and got the makings for dinner. She went home and prepared osso bucco, which she had first had at Elaine’s with Stone Barrington. She left it to cook for four hours, then set the table and laid out the pans and ingredients for the rest of dinner. By noon, she was done. Holly liked to be prepared.

She had a sandwich for lunch, and shortly afterward Hurd Wallace called. “Jimmy Weathers took me aside at the station yesterday and told me what happened to you,” he said. “Are you all right?”

“Sure, Hurd. I’m feeling very well. I’ve got a cut on my head that has to heal but nothing else. Thanks for asking.”

“I knew about the two earlier cases, of course, but we’ve been unable to come up with anything, not even a description from the victims. I had to leave that in the hands of Jimmy and Jim Bruno.”

“Has he started work?”

“Yes. I introduced him to the department yesterday, and he gave them the sort of pep talk you said he would.”

“I’ve heard some version of it many times,” she said.

“I briefed him on our open cases, including the two rapes, but he didn’t seem much interested.”

“He’s interested in other people doing his job for him-God knows, I did his work for two years. He likes golf and tennis more than work. The good news is, he won’t get in the way much.”

“I’m going to keep in touch with half a dozen officers and get their readings as time passes.”

“Good. Have you started your new job yet?”

“I’m sitting at my desk now,” Hurd said. “I’ve got some unpacking and settling in to do, and then my people are going to start looking into these rapes. Problem is, we need a request from Bruno to get involved.”

“Call him and ask him; he’d love to have you involved. But if you clear the case, he’ll manage to take the credit.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Hurd said. He gave her his new office and cell numbers. “Call me if you remember anything about the other night. Or if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Hurd, I’ll do that.” She said goodbye and hung up.

Shortly after seven, the phone rang, and Holly picked it up. “Hello?”

“It’s Josh Harmon; I’m at your very formidable gate.”