Hothouse Orchid

55

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.”

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.