Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

The van came to a stop, and the maroon van stopped beside it, only inches away.

"Let's go," John said. "Open the door and get into the other van, Ham."

Ham slid the door open, just as the left-hand door of the maroon van opened. He tossed the rifle across, then stepped into the other van and sat down. Peck and John followed him, and the doors to both vans slid closed, clearly by remote control. "Go," John said, as the light changed. "You know the drill."

The driver made a right turn and sped away.

"Have you made the change?" Harry said into the radio. "Who's behind the van now?"

"Car two," a voice responded.

They drove along in silence for a few minutes.

"Not moving very fast, are they?" Doug said.

"I guess they don't want to risk a traffic stop," Harry replied.

"Car one, this is car two."

"I'm here," Harry said into the radio.

"Something strange. The van just pulled into a McDonald's."

"Pass it by," Harry said. "Next car, pull into the McDonald's. Everybody else pull over and wait for instructions. Who knew they would get hungry?"

The driver stopped the car. Everyone waited. Five minutes passed. Harry picked up the radio. "What's happening?"

"Car four is in the McDonald's parking lot. The driver got out and went in alone."

"Is there a big line for food?"

"No, sir. He ordered a Big Mac, and he's sitting there alone, eating it."

"Oh, shit," Harry said. "We've been had."

57

The driver of the van seemed to be working his way west, making frequent turns.

"Anybody behind us?" John asked, after twenty minutes.

"We're clean," the driver replied.

"Then go on as planned."

Peck spoke up. "Aren't we going to the hotel?" he asked.

John didn't speak, just held a finger to his lips for silence. They drove on.

Ham didn't understand any of it.

"This will do," John said, finally.

The van stopped. They were on a narrow paved road, and from what Ham could see in the headlights through the wet windshield, they seemed to be in a swampy area. He could see no house lights.

"Peck," John said, "I want to speak to you privately for a moment." He got out of the van, and Peck followed him, giving Ham a shrug and a mystified look.

The two men walked behind the van. Almost immediately, there was a pistol shot, and a moment later, another.