Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

He was quiet for a moment. “I understand you’ve had some communication with some of my female officers. I don’t appreciate that.”

“You think I care what you don’t appreciate? What did you expect me to do? Get you dates?” She looked at him and saw him go red.

“Good morning,” he said finally, then he started across the dunes toward his car.

Holly thought of siccing Daisy on him, just for the fun of it, but she didn’t. She got up, dusted off the sand and went back to the house. She found Hurd Wallace’s number and phoned him.

“Captain Wallace.”

“Morning, Hurd. It’s Holly.”

“Good morning, Holly.”

“I thought you ought to know, about an hour and a half ago Daisy and I discovered the body of a woman washed up on the beach, not far from my house.”

“Who’s investigating?”

“Orchid Beach. Jim Bruno turned up an hour late and asked for my impressions.”

“Which were?”

She repeated the assessment she had given Bruno. “I also think that if you search the garbage cans at the nearest marinas you might find her clothing and handbag.”

“Did you tell Bruno that?”

“No, I thought it would be more fun for someone else to discover what he had overlooked.”

“Is this the first time you’ve seen him since…”

“Yes. He’s lucky I wasn’t armed.”

“I understand. By the way, I had a talk with Lauren Cade late yesterday afternoon. I’m going to offer her a job. It’s good that she’s already on the state patrol; it will just take a transfer, not all the rigamarole that would be involved if I were hiring her off the street. I’m grateful for your recommendation.”

“You’re welcome, Hurd.”

“Thanks for the tip about the murder. I’ll get somebody on it.” He said goodbye and hung up.

Holly tried to remember if she had told Hurd that James Bruno had raped Lauren Cade. Probably not; it wasn’t relevant.

11

Holly had just hung up after talking with Hurd Wallace when her phone rang. “Hello?”

“Good morning, it’s Josh,” he said.

“Good morning.”

“I’m coming back for more; would you like to go out to dinner tonight?”

“Yes, I would,” she r

eplied without hesitation.

“Where would you like to go?”

“You choose; I’m easy.”

“I hope so,” he said, laughing. “I’ll come and get you at seven.”