Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"It didn't have any markings, like those U-Haul things. Looked like a horse trailer to me. Wooden sides."

She thanked the man, then returned and reported to Hurd.

"You got more than I did," he said.

"When you get back, put out a report on the two cars and the trailer. I guess the van would have been pulling the trailer."

"If they left Saturday night, they could be well out of the state by now."

"Yes, they could. Alert the state patrol in Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas."

"You know," Hurd said, "I don't think I've ever run into one like this."

"That's what Harry Crisp said," Holly replied.

20

Holly went back to the station and found another message from Joy Williams at Southern Trust. She returned the call.

"It's Holly Barker, Joy."

"Oh, thank you for calling me back. Something else came up that I thought you ought to know about."

"What's that?"

"Late Friday afternoon, just before closing, Franklin Morris cashed a check for $3,000 at a teller's cage. His whole balance was $4,248.22. Management here has started an investigation of all of Franklin's transactions at the bank, too, but we don't really expect to find anything much. Franklin's approval limit for a loan was only $25,000, without an approval from a senior bank officer."

Holly thought for a moment. "Did he have to have somebody's signature to cash a $3,000 check?"

"Not really, since he was a bank employee. The teller would have checked the computer for his balance, of course, but if he had the money in the account, she would have given it to him without question."

"I see. Which teller did he go to?"

"He went to Mrs. Harston's window."

"I see."

"But hers was the only window open at that hour. All the others would have been checking out for the day, and her window was kept open for last-minute customers. The tellers take turns being the last to close, because it means the last teller will have to stay another fifteen minutes or so."

"Thank you, Joy. Is there anything else?"

"Did you go out to the house?"

"Yes, and you were right. They've left the place."

"Are you going to arrest Franklin?"

"We've put out a bulletin to various state police organizations, because we'd like to question Franklin. Even if he didn't have anything to do with the robbery, we'd want him for fraudulently obtaining employment with your bank."

"You're going to arrest him, then?"

"I haven't requested a warrant yet, but I will."

"Thank you, Chief."

Holly hung up and called Harry Crisp.

"Hey, there, I was just about to call you."