Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"I can't complain, except they're working my ass off. I'm traveling just about all the time. Good thing I'm already divorced,"

Harry laughed.

"I heard you got the Miami job. That right?" Chip asked.

"It's right, and I'm away from home right now, too."

"Where?"

"Little town called Orchid Beach, in a rented beach house."

"Sounds like tough duty. What's up?"

"I got a question for you. Is the president going to be in Florida next Monday?"

"Why? You want to take a shot at him?"

"Doesn't everybody?"

"Well, Harry, I can tell you that the president has no official visits outside Washington planned for Monday."

"What about unofficial visits. Anything that's not on the published schedule?"

"What's this about, Harry?"

"I just need to know. It's something I'm working on."

"It sounds like something the Secret Service should be working on," Chip replied.

"Come on, Chip, you know I'd call you if I thought there was a credible threat."

"Do I?"

"Sure you do. I'm not about to get my tit caught in that wringer."

"Let me put it this way, Harry: if the president had an unofficial visit to Florida planned for Monday, I couldn't tell you about it."

"I understand, Chip, but you could tell me if he didn't have an unofficial visit planned, couldn't you?"

"That depends."

"All right, Chip, what's this going to cost me?"

"The best dinner at the best restaurant in Miami in the company of the best-looking single female FBI agent in your office, the next time I'm down there."

"Oh, so now I'm pimping for you, huh?"

"You think of it any way you like, Harry. That's my price."

"All right, done. Now answer my question."

"I will. If you'd bothered to check the White House website or read the published schedule, or even watch the evening news, then you'd know that the president is receiving the prime minister of Israel and the head of the PLO at the White House on Monday morning, and talks are scheduled for all day."

"You miserable son of a bitch!"

"I'll let you know when I'm going to be in Miami, Harry, probably on short notice. Bye, now." Chip hung up.

Ham arrived back at Peck's house for lunch, just as the meeting in Peck's study was breaking up. Ham went to the john and washed his hands, and when he came out, John was waiting for him.