Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

“I’m right behind you,” Lauren said.

“Hi,” Holly said. “Let’s get a table.”

When they were settled in and iced tea had been served, Holly looked closely at Lauren. “What is going on?” she asked. “You look funny. Is something wrong?”

“No. Well, not yet. I want to run something by you.”

“Go ahead.”

Lauren told her about the plan she had considered.

“Did you propose this to Hurd?” Holly asked.

“Yes.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”

“Hurd turned down the idea. In fact, he ordered me not to do it.”

“Of course.”

“In fact, he said he would fire me on the spot, unless I agreed not to.”

“Good for Hurd. What you proposed is not good judgment.”

“Holly, what would you do in the circumstances?”

Holly thought about that.

“That’s what I thought,” Lauren said.

“I was thinking, not deciding to do something stupid.”

“So you’re against it?”

“In every possible way,” Holly said.

“I had another thought, which I proposed to Hurd.”

“Let’s hear that one.”

“We bug Jimmy’s cruiser with a microphone and GPS.”

“This is sounding better already.”

“We follow him at a distance of, say, a quarter of a mile, just out of sight.”

“Good,” Holly said. “And you rush in as soon as he makes a wrong move?”

“Right.”

“I like it, but I’ll tell you how I would like it even better.”

“Please do,” Lauren said.

“You install multiple audio and video cameras, along with the GPS. It’s too easy for something to go wrong wit

h the equipment; you’ve got to have backup. And you’re going to need the video for the trial.”