Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

“Good morning,” Irma replied. She seemed less unpleasant than usual. “Detective, we each have a copy of your application and a package containing your performance reviews since you joined the force. We want to congratulate you on amassing a very good record over the past twelve years.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Jimmy replied.

“You’re…” she consulted his application, “thirty-six years old, is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“We’ve never had a chief that young,” she said.

“I know,” Jimmy said, “but I do have twelve years on the job, and I would like to point out that all my experience has been in Orchid Beach, which I think gives me an advantage over applicants from other jurisdictions.”

“Good point,” Taggert said. “And we do have favorable recommendations from two past chiefs, Holly Barker and Hurd Wallace.”

“I appreciate those,” Jimmy said, “and I’m confident that the late Chief Marley, who originally hired me, would have recommended me if he could have.”

“Does anyone have any questions to ask the detective?” Taggert asked.

“Jimmy,” one of the men said, “how do you feel about the current staffing of the force?”

“Well, we’re short a deputy chief, and we should have one.”

“Do you know why Chief Bruno didn’t offer you the job?”

“He told me he was considering me and he thought I was qualified, but I had the impression he might have preferred to bring in someone he had known in the army.”

“If you’re promoted, is there anyone currently on the force that you’d promote to deputy chief?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’d hire from outside. However, I would promote someone from within to fill my detective’s slot.”

“I see. So all you’d need to hire would be a deputy chief?”

“For the moment,” Jimmy said. “I’d also continue to work cases as a detective. I don’t think there’s enough administrative work to take up all my time.”

“So we could decrease the departmental budget?”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” Jimmy replied. “I’d like to have the budget to hire another officer, should we need one.”

Jimmy was asked a few more questions, then thanked and dismissed.

“We’ll be in touch,” Irma Taggert said.

Jimmy left the room feeling that his interview had gone well.

45

On Saturday evening, Teddy was up to his ears in preparing dinner and, simultaneously, preparing himself for hi

s third face-to-face meeting with Holly Barker. On the first occasion, he’d had a fine production of La Bohème to distract her from paying attention to him, and, moreover, he was heavily disguised. On the second occasion, on the island of St. Marks, he had gained twenty-five pounds and sported red hair and a thick moustache; now he had lost the twenty-five pounds and perhaps a bit more, which had the pleasing effect of making him look younger. His hair and wig were graying, but he was still passing for sixtyish. He was also more tanned, since he had been living on the beach for a while.

He seared a whole, well-seasoned tenderloin of beef in a large skillet while he spread a chicken liver and mushroom pâté over rolled-out puff pastry. When the tenderloin was thoroughly browned, he placed the pastry in a roasting pan, set the tenderloin on it and wrapped the pastry around it, pinching it decoratively at the top to hold it together and for an attractive presentation. He then set the pan in the oven.

He heard the driveway alarm go off and a minute later the screen door slam.

“Honey, I’m home!” Lauren shouted over the jazz playing on the living room stereo. “I brought my best china.”

She came into the kitchen and kissed him. “How’s it going?”

“I’m halfway through,” he said. “The roast is in the oven. That was the time-consuming part. Why don’t you set the table?”