Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

“It’s the Orchid Beach department’s part of it,” she said. “Our little unit doesn’t have the resources to do that sort of thing. I take it they saw your innocent face and let you go.”

“Something like that,” Teddy said, chuckling. “You making any progress with your investigation?”

“Not really. Jim Bruno showed up at our office this morning to attend our staff meeting. Hurd had to tell him he couldn’t but not why, which is because Bruno is a suspect. He got mad and left.”

“That’s awkward, isn’t it, when a cop is a suspect?”

“Yes, it is. First time I’ve ever had a case where an investigating

officer was a suspect, and I don’t like it. I wouldn’t like it, even if Bruno wasn’t the guy.”

“I’ve got a whole lot of new groceries here,” Teddy said. “You want to come over and help me eat them?”

“I’d love to, but I’m just so tired. Tomorrow night?”

“That would be lovely. Seven o’clock?”

“I may have to come straight from work; mind if I have a shower there?”

“I’ll be happy to assist you in that endeavor,” Teddy said.

“Oooh, now you’re making me wet.”

“Hold that thought until tomorrow night,” Teddy said.

“You’d better believe it,” she replied. “Night-night now.” She hung up.

The call made Teddy’s evening.

30

Lance Cabot’s secretary buzzed him. “There’s a man from computer services named Ross Hilton who’d like to see you for a moment,” she said.

“Why?” Lance asked. He was busy, and he didn’t want to discuss his computer needs with some nerd.

“He says it’s an Operations matter.”

“Oh, all right, send him in,” Lance said impatiently.

A kid who appeared to be about seventeen walked into his office. “Hey,” he said.

“You’re from computer services?” Lance asked.

“I’m twenty-five, and everybody in my department looks like me,” the kid said.

“All right, ah…”

“Ross.”

“Ross. Have a seat.”

Ross had a seat. “I’ve come across some unusual activity on the mainframe,” he said.

“What sort of activity?” Lance asked. He hoped he was going to understand this the first time.

“It looks like someone is logging on to our mainframe from a remote computer and using it.”

“From where?” Lance asked.