Iron Orchid (Holly Barker 5)

ACROSS THE RESTAURANT, Teddy sat with Irene. He was against the wall, while her back was to the room, so he could see Holly clearly. He was wearing his nose and mustache disguise, and Irene was good cover, too. They wouldn’t expect him to be with a woman.

“I’m nervous about being in a restaurant with you, Teddy,” Irene whispered.

“Just don’t use my name; call me Carl,” he whispered back.

“Who is it you’re looking at across the room?” she asked.

“One of yours,” he said “Holly Barker.”

“She’s right here in the restaurant?”

“Yep. We followed her here.”

Irene sat up straight, so she could see the reflection of the room in the mirror behind their banquette. “Where?”

“She’s sitting next to a redhead, and there’s a man with them with his back to us. He looks ex-military to me; could be her father.”

“You’ve got more guts than is good for you,” Irene said.

“You’re probably right. Have you thought of retiring from the Agency?”

“I would, if I had something to do with myself,” she said.

“How much have you got in savings?”

“About three hundred thousand in stock accounts, and I’d have my pension, of course.”

“How’d you like to live in the islands?”

“Which islands?”

“Caribbean.”

“Now that would make an attractive alternative to working.”

“It’s about time for me to get out of here,” Teddy said. “I just want this one more good score, then I want to disappear for good. You want to disappear with me?”

She smiled. “I think I’d like that.”

“We’d have to do this carefully,” Teddy said.

“Tell me how, and I’ll do it.”

“I think St. Barts would be nice; I was there for a weekend about fifteen years ago, and I was impressed.”

“I’ve heard good things about it.”

“You retire, go down there and look for a house. Use your savings for a down payment; I’ll give you a bank name in the Caymans, and you’ll apply for a mortgage there. The payments will be made from my funds, and in time, when we’re sure they’re not interested in you anymore, I’ll replenish your savings. It’s important that the Agency can see that you’re doing this on your own hook, with no help.”

“That’s true. You’re sure this is what you want to do, uh, Carl?”

“I’m sure; how about you?”

“I’m in.”

“When you get back, go see Hugh English and tell him you want to retire in, say, a month. Tell him you’re thinking about a place in the sun somewhere and ask him for recommendations, then put your place on the market. Is it paid for?”

“Yes, and it’s probably worth three-fifty, three-seventy-five.”