Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

He certainly did, Holly thought. “Ham’s not the guy.”

“You didn’t answer my question, Holly.”

“Even with the skills, he wouldn’t have the codes.”

“If you say so. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t care less who terminated Colonel Bruno, even if it’s only himself.”

“I couldn’t care less, either. Well, maybe a little, just out of curiosity.”

“You and I both know that’s not so, Holly. I m

ean, you may not care who killed Bruno, but you always care and care deeply about getting it right.”

“Put Bruno out of your mind, Lance,” Holly said. “And Ham, too.”

“If you wish.”

“I wish.”

“There is just one small thing I think you would want to know.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Oh, yes,” Lance said.

“And what would that be?”

“Our geek was finally able to establish the exact locale from which the intruder was operating.”

“And where would that be?”

“Though not a street address.”

“From where is the intruder operating, Lance?”

“From Vero Beach, Florida. Or its environs.”

Silence.

“Orchid Beach would qualify as environs of Vero Beach, wouldn’t it?”

“Goodbye, Lance.” Holly hung up the phone and sat, staring, at the blank television screen.

Josh grunted and turned over. “Everything okay?”

“I don’t know,” Holly replied, getting out of bed and into her jeans.

“You going someplace?” he asked.

“To my father’s house.”

“I was sort of looking forward to a Sunday morning in bed.”

She leaned over and kissed him. “You stay right there,” she said, “and I’ll be back. There’s something I have to ask Ham.”

“How about you ask him by phone.”

“I want to look him in the eye,” she said.