Stuart Woods - Hothouse Orchid

“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.”

Holly was puzzled. “And who might that be?”

Lance picked up a sheet of paper and looked at it. “One Joshua Harmon, M.D. He’s applied to the medical division as a surgeon and emergency physician.”

“Yes, I know him.”

“Do you recommend him?”

“Yes, unreservedly.”

“I’ll note that on his application.”

“Will he be hired?”

“With your recommendation, I should think so, unless his background check turns up something that contradicts your opinion. He’s already passed the basic computer check; the interviews of his friends and past employers are being conducted now.”

“When did he apply?” Holly asked.

“Ten days ago,” Lance replied. “What is your connection with him?”

“Purely social.”

“Is he the lump I saw in your bed once, when I phoned you?”

“Goodbye, Lance,” Holly said, then hung up. Lance’s face disappeared from the screen.

That night Holly and Josh went to dinner at the Yellow Dog Café, up near Melbourne. They got drinks and then ordered.

“How was your day?” Josh asked.

“Passable,” she replied. “And yours?”

“Fairly dreary. Setting a femur broken in a skateboarding accident was the highlight of my day.”

“That must mean that most of this part of the world is healthy, then.”

“I suppose.”

“Tell me, Josh, are you happy in your work?”

“I’m bored with it,” Josh replied.

“Were you thinking of changing your employment?”

“Well, I’ve been here over four years, and a change would be…” He stopped talking and looked at her. “You know,” he said.

“I’m CIA,” Holly replied. “I know everything.”

“I shouldn’t have given you as a reference,” he said.

“I’m glad you did.”

“I was going to surprise you.”

“You did.”

“Pleasantly, I hope.”

“I was surprised. You didn’t tell me what you were doing.”

“Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise.”

“I guess not.”

“Look, I can always withdraw my application, if you don’t want me around, but I have to say, I thought you’d be pleased.”

“I am,” she admitted. “My life at Langley has been all about work since I’ve been there. It’ll be nice to change that a little.”

“I’ll do what I can to help,” Josh said, squeezing her thigh.

“How did you even know there was a medical division at the Agency?” she asked.

“They tried to recruit me near the end of my surgical residency,” he said.

“Why didn’t you accept?”

“I wanted to make some money before I went into… public service.”

“And why did you reapply now?”

“You have to ask?” Josh asked.

Holly smiled. “You’re sweet.”

“Do you think I’ll be accepted?”

“If they don’t find out that you’ve been a North Korean sleeper since grade school.”

“Oh, God, I didn’t think they would check on that!”

She laughed. “My recommendation won’t hurt.”

“You recommended me?”

“I did, just this afternoon.”

“I guess that must mean you want me around.”

She took his hand. “It does.”

He smiled.

“Something you should know, though,” Holly said.

“What’s that?”

“You’re going to have to work hard at the Agency; you may not have much time to see me.”

“I’ll figure something out,” he said.

“And, if you don’t, I will,” she replied.

Hurd Wallace telephoned his nominal superior, Colonel Timothy Wyatt, who was head of the state police. Hurd effectively reported only to the governor, but he made a point of making equipment and personnel requests through Wyatt, as a courtesy and to maintain good relations for situations like the one he now faced.

“Good morning, Hurd,” Wyatt said without warmth.

“Good morning, Colonel,” Hurd replied.

“What can I do for you?”

“I want to request some equipment for a special operation,” Hurd said.

“What is the nature of your operation?”

“To obtain evidence against and arrest a suspect in the rapes and murders of several women in the Vero Beach area.”

“Was the most recent of them named Patricia Terwilliger?”

“Yes, Colonel.”

“I was under the impression that the suicide and confession of one James Bruno cleared her case and the others.”

“Did you have a particular interest in Ms. Terwilliger?”

“She was my wife’s sister.”

“Colonel, I apologize for not speaking to you directly about the case; I was unaware of the relationship.”

“I would have thought that a crack investigator such as yourself would have known that, Captain.”

“We made the family notification to her mother. One of my people visited her personally to break the news.”

“My wife was grateful for that. You have not responded to my question: I thought Patricia’s murder had been committed by James Bruno.”

“There is some question as to whether he acted alone,” Hurd half-lied.

“You think he may have had an accomplice?”

“It’s a distinct possibility. It’s also possible that the accomplice may have murdered Bruno and staged the suicide.”

“Well, this case just gets more and more interesting,” Wyatt said.

“I’ve made a practice of copying you on every report I’ve submitted, Colonel, and I will continue to do so.”

“What equipment do you need to continue this investigation?”

“I need GPS, audio and video equipment to be concealed in the suspect’s car by state technicians and a van equipped to conduct electronic surveillance on the car. I also need a helicopter, as a backup, to provide visual surveillance.”

“Anything else?”

“I can provide the two chase cars I’ll need, but should something arise on the technical front, I’d need in-depth advice and assistance from appropriate personnel.”

“I see,” Wyatt replied. “When and for how long?”

“From this Friday through the weekend plus a couple of more days. I’ll need the helicopter only on the day of the operation.”

“I assume you will have the proper warrant.”

“I will deal with that locally,” Hurd replied.

“Please hold,” the colonel said.

Hurd sat, the receiver to his ear, for eight minutes by his watch. It seemed like half an hour. Then there was a click.

“I have my chief of technical services, Mike Green, on the line,” Wyatt said. “I have authorized him to supply your needs, so I’ll hang up and let you two work out the details. Goodbye and good luck, and I’d appreciate it if you would transmit to me any further details that emerge in the case we discussed.” Wyatt hung up.

“Mike?”

“I’m here, Captain. What can I do for you.”