Stuart Woods - Hothouse Orchid

“A nurse would have taken a big chunk, but I knew that would annoy you, so I did it myself. How’s the headache?”

“Gone. I mean, I can feel the wound, and it hurts a little, but not the whole head, like before.”

“Aspirin is a miracle drug,” he said. “By the way, just so I can have a medical excuse for this call, your rape kit was negative-no bruising or tearing, no semen or seminal fluid. I didn’t want to mention it in front of your father.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.”

“Are you a free woman?”

Holly laughed. “I am.”

“No doubt about that, is there? I wouldn’t want to ask a lady to dinner who was otherwise committed.”

“No doubt,” she laughed. “When?”

“Tomorrow night?”

“You talked me into it. I’ll make you dinner. Say seven o’clock?”

“That works for me.”

She gave him the address. “There’s a rather formidable gate, but press the buzzer on your left, and I’ll let you in.”

“I’ll bring the wine-red or white?”

“Both. See you tomorrow evening.”

“See ya.”

He hung up, and so did she. She put her dish in the dishwasher and looked around. The place was pretty neat, but she tidied it up a bit anyway.

She opened the sliding glass door to the beach with some effort and went for a little walk with Daisy, thinking about her dream. When she got back into the house, the doorbell was ringing. She opened it to find Jimmy Weathers there.

“Hey, Holly. Your gate was open.”

“Hi, Jimmy. Come on in.” He did. “Thanks for being there last night.”

“My pleasure, Chief,” he said. “That’s my neck of the woods when I’m working. I just wanted to see if you’re okay.”

She showed him to a seat. “Jimmy, I think I was stopped by a police car last night.”

“On Indian River Trail?”

“I guess. I don’t remember anything else, just a flashing blue light and a bright flashlight.”

“Well, that’s really interesting, Holly.”

“How so?”

“That would make the third incident like this in about six weeks.”

“Women stopped by a police car?”

“And raped by a police officer,” he said. “The doctor said you weren’t raped.”

“I know.”

“I think you got lucky.”

“Do you have any leads at all?”

Jimmy shook his head. “Not a one. I don’t think it was a police officer, though; I was able to account for all our guys at the time of the rapes. Maybe somebody from another jurisdiction, but more like somebody posing as a cop to get women to stop their cars. Both of the women reported a single blue flashing light behind them. Have you been able to remember anything else?”

Holly shook her head. “Just the blue light and the flashlight.”

“Maybe some more will come back to you. Will you let me know?”

“Sure, I will.”

Jimmy stood up. “I’d better go,” he said. “We’ve got a staff meeting to meet the new chief.”

“You don’t want to miss that,” Holly said, walking him to the door.

Jimmy stopped at the door. “I hear you’ve had some dealings with him in the past.”

“You heard right,” Holly said. “Keep an eye on the female officers; he’s a predator.”

“I’ll do that,” he said, and walked out to his car.

Holly watched him drive away, then got out the security system instructions and used the keypad to close the gate. She spent the rest of the afternoon reading the instructions for operating everything new in the house.

Holly slept a lot for the rest of the day, and the following morning she went to her favorite grocery and got the makings for dinner. She went home and prepared osso bucco, which she had first had at Elaine’s with Stone Barrington. She left it to cook for four hours, then set the table and laid out the pans and ingredients for the rest of dinner. By noon, she was done. Holly liked to be prepared.

She had a sandwich for lunch, and shortly afterward Hurd Wallace called. “Jimmy Weathers took me aside at the station yesterday and told me what happened to you,” he said. “Are you all right?”

“Sure, Hurd. I’m feeling very well. I’ve got a cut on my head that has to heal but nothing else. Thanks for asking.”

“I knew about the two earlier cases, of course, but we’ve been unable to come up with anything, not even a description from the victims. I had to leave that in the hands of Jimmy and Jim Bruno.”

“Has he started work?”

“Yes. I introduced him to the department yesterday, and he gave them the sort of pep talk you said he would.”

“I’ve heard some version of it many times,” she said.

“I briefed him on our open cases, including the two rapes, but he didn’t seem much interested.”

“He’s interested in other people doing his job for him-God knows, I did his work for two years. He likes golf and tennis more than work. The good news is, he won’t get in the way much.”

“I’m going to keep in touch with half a dozen officers and get their readings as time passes.”

“Good. Have you started your new job yet?”

“I’m sitting at my desk now,” Hurd said. “I’ve got some unpacking and settling in to do, and then my people are going to start looking into these rapes. Problem is, we need a request from Bruno to get involved.”

“Call him and ask him; he’d love to have you involved. But if you clear the case, he’ll manage to take the credit.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Hurd said. He gave her his new office and cell numbers. “Call me if you remember anything about the other night. Or if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Hurd, I’ll do that.” She said goodbye and hung up.

Shortly after seven, the phone rang, and Holly picked it up. “Hello?”

“It’s Josh Harmon; I’m at your very formidable gate.”

“Hang on,” she said. She tapped the code into the phone and hung up.

Shortly, Josh appeared at the front door, holding two bottles of wine. Daisy took an immediate but polite interest in him.

“You have a formidable dog as well as a gate,” he said, handing her the wines. He turned his attention to Daisy. After a little introductory affection, she brought him a tennis ball.

“That means you’re friends now,” Holly said.

“I can’t believe he’s a watchdog, too.”

“She. And she’s a very well-trained watchdog. But, if you behave yourself, I won’t have to give her the kill command.”

“That’s a relief,” Josh said.

“Drink?”

“Scotch?”

“You ever drink bourbon?”

“Only under duress.”

She poured him a Knob Creek. “You have to drink one of these; after that, you can have anything you like.”

“Oh, all right,” he said, taking a sip. “Not bad.”

“Faint praise,” she said.

“Give me time. What smells good?”

“Osso buco; it’s been in the oven all afternoon. I’ll make risotto before dinner.” She poured herself a drink. “Let’s sit outside for a while.”

Josh walked to the sliding door to the beach and opened it with difficulty. “Wow,” he said, “that’s one heavy door.” He looked closely at the glass. “Now, that is what I’d call major hurricane protection. It must be an inch thick.”

“An inch and a half,” Holly said.

“May I ask why?”

“Courtesy of my employer. They like for their people to be well protected.”

They sat down in deck chairs. “And who might your employer be? I’ve no idea what you do.”

“Hardly anybody does,” Holly said.

“Does that mean I’m not supposed to ask?”

“Probably.”

“All right. I’ll respect your privacy and keep my nose out of your employment.”