Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)

As soon as Holly got home, she taped up the resolver in its box, then let herself into her office, fired up her computer and called Lance.

“Yes?” he said, as his face appeared on the screen.

“It’s Holly. I did the job on the safe, and it was empty, except for a stack of money-several thousand dollars-and a single.223 cartridge.”

“Why would anyone own a large safe and have only that in it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s clearing out.”

“Has he given you any indication of that?”

“No.”

“You say he owns an airplane?”

“Yes.”

“Look him up in the federal aircraft registry, then check the airplane to see if it has the correct tail number. If he has changed it in the computer, it might not match the numbers on the airplane.”

“Oh, all right, Lance. By the way, I’m supposed to report any large purchase to you, am I not?”

“Yes. What are you buying?”

“I’ve bought an airplane, and I’ll be flying it back to Manassas.”

“What sort of airplane?”

“A Piper Malibu Mirage.”

“How much did you pay for it?”

She told him.

“Would an investigation of your financial condition reveal enough substantiated funds to cover that?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll note it in your personnel file. You may be sure that such a large purchase will raise a flag, and someone will get on the mainframe and check out your assets, perhaps want to question you.”

“I expected that.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“Anything else you want done on the subject of our friend?”

“I can’t think of anything else, can you?”

“No.”

“Then let’s let it rest for the time being.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Holly said.

“You’ll be back next week?”

“Yes. Thanks for the time off; I’ve enjoyed it.”

“Oh,” Lance said, “you probably know that your name was given as a reference by an employment applicant.”