Orchid Beach

CHAPTER

28

Holly woke up at nine forty-five and reached for Jackson, who wasn’t there. She struggled out of bed, threw on some clothes, brushed her teeth and her hair and went downstairs. Jackson and Ham were drinking coffee over the remains of a large breakfast. Daisy was leaning against Ham, looking up at him with adoring eyes.

“What time did you get here?” she asked Ham.

Ham shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Eight forty-five,” Jackson said. “I tried not to wake you.”

“I got hungry,” Ham said, “and I didn’t want any of that health food crap you eat, so I came on down here and made Jackson scramble me some eggs.”

“You want something?” Jackson asked.

“I’ll toast myself a bagel,” she replied.

“I’ve brought Ham up to date on what’s happened,” Jackson said while Holly made her breakfast.

“Jesus, what a mess!” Ham chimed in. “Now I see why you haven’t found the bastards.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Holly said. “Now, Ham, it’s important that you don’t go sticking your nose into this.”

“Why the hell not? Sounds like you could use the help.”

“Ham, I’m running a police department, here, and the city council is watching me like a hawk. I can’t have some gung-ho military type, bent on revenge, messing with my investigation.”

“What investigation? From what Jackson tells me, you’re about investigated out. You don’t have a damn thing to go on.”

“Ham, how would you like to spend your first few weeks in Orchid Beach in a cell?”

“What?”

“You ever hear of interfering with a police investigation? Obstruction of justice?”

“You wouldn’t do that to your old man.”

“Try me. I’m not having you under my feet, and I mean it.” She took a bite of her bagel.

“All right,” Ham said sullenly, “I’ll stay out of your way.”

“I’m talking about work, now, not personal.”

“Well, I certainly don’t seem to be standing in your way personally,” he said, glancing sharply at Jackson. “I didn’t slow you down last night, did I?”

“Ham, I am a woman in my prime, and you are a crusty, interfering old fart, and I don’t want to hear another word about sex.”

Ham turned crimson. “Jesus, who said anything about sex?”

“You did.”

“I did not.”

Jackson broke in. “Is it always like this?”

“Only when he starts bitching about my private life,” Holly said. “He’s never approved of a single man I’ve known.”

Ham pointed at Jackson. “I approve of him,” he said.

Holly blinked. “You do?”

“We’ve been talking for a while, and I reckon I know a lot about him by now.”

Jackson spoke up. “Where I was born, education, hobbies, past sexual experience, time as a cop, my legal practice, how much money I make. Considerably more than you know about me.”

“Ham, you can really be a pain in the ass sometimes,” she said.

Ham held up a finger. “It’s a father’s right to know something about the man who’s screwing his daughter.”

“HAM!” she screamed.

Jackson broke up and started clearing the table. “I’m out of this,” he said. “You two can fight it out.”

“All right, all right,” Ham said placatingly. “I guess I know enough for now. I’ll ask him the rest when he comes to me and asks for your hand.”

“Arrrrrrghhhhh!!!” she yelled, throwing up her hands in exasperation.

“Oh,” Ham said, “on a different subject, you had a phone call at the crack of dawn this morning.” He dug a slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Guy named Paul Green.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Holly said, looking at the number. “Oh, it’s the hospital. Dr. Green. Maybe he’s got some news about Chet.” She went to the sofa, dialed the number and asked for Dr. Green.

“I’ll put you through to his home,” the operator said.

He answered on the first ring. “Green.”

“Dr. Green, it’s Holly Barker. You left a message for me.”

“Oh, Chief Barker, I’m sorry to have called so early. I seem to have woken up the gentleman who answered.”

“That’s all right, he’s my father.”

“I called with bad news, I’m afraid.”

Holly’s stomach tensed. “What’s happened?”

“Chief Marley arrested at six-twenty this morning. The team worked on him for nearly half an hour, and I came in, too, but we weren’t able to revive him. Official time of death was six forty-five. I’m very sorry.”

“Oh, God,” Holly said. “Did he ever regain consciousness at all?”

“I’m afraid not. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, Doctor. Thank you for calling me immediately. I’ll make the announcement through the department, and someone will be in touch with the hospital about the arrangements.” She hung up. Jackson and Ham were standing there, looking at her.

“Is is Chet?” Ham asked.

Holly nodded. “He died at six forty-five this morning.”

“Shit and goddamnit!” Ham spat, stomping his foot. “He deserved better than that.”

“He sure did,” Holly said. The two men sat down, silent. Nobody spoke for a couple of minutes. “I’d better call the station,” Holly said. She called in, dictated a short press release and told the operator to post it on the bulletin board and fax it to the local media. “And post a notice that we’ll have a departmental meeting tomorrow morning, at the change of shift. I want everybody there.” She called Hurd Wallace and Jane Grey and gave them the news. Jane burst into tears; it took Holly several minutes to calm her down. Wallace said almost nothing.

Jackson took the phone. “I’ll make the arrangements,” he said. “I’m his executor.”

“What are we going to do about burial?” Holly asked. “He didn’t have anybody.”

“He had us,” Jackson said. “He left instructions that he wanted his body cremated as quickly and cheaply as possible, and that he didn’t want a service.” He got the phone book and called a funeral director.

“You want some more coffee, Ham?”

“I’m going to take a walk on the beach,” Ham replied. “Come on, Daisy.” The dog got up and followed him outside.

An hour later they were all back at the table.

“I’ve got some things to tell you,” Jackson said. “The funeral parlor is picking up Chet’s body today. He’ll be cremated tomorrow. Chet wanted his ashes scattered on the river behind his house, and we can do that whenever you like.”

“Is that it?” Ham asked.

“No, there’s more,” Jackson said. “Now that Chet is gone, I can tell you about the terms of his will. It’s pretty simple, really: he had a fifty-thousand-dollar insurance policy, which increased to a hundred thousand in the event of being killed in the line of duty, which he was. He instructed that his debts be paid and that the remaining cash in his accounts, along with the insurance, should be divided between Hank Doherty and Jane Grey. He left his house and his personal possessions to Hank. Hank, of course, predeceased him, and in that event, Ham, Hank’s share of the estate goes to you.”

“To me?” Ham asked incredulously.

“He didn’t have anybody else, just you and Hank. It’s what he wanted.”

“I think that’s wonderful,” Holly said. “That will make your retirement more comfortable.” She turned to Jackson. “What did he have in the way of debt?”

“He had mortgage insurance, which pays off that balance, so the house is free and clear, except for a home improvement loan of about ten thousand dollars. Apart from that, there’s a few thousand in credit card debt and his monthly bills to close out, and that’s it. On the asset side, he had some money in mutual funds—thirty or forty thousand, I think.”

“I don’t believe it,” Ham said.

“Well,” Holly replied, “your housing problem is solved.”

“I don’t see why you can’t move into the house today, Ham,” Jackson said. “It’s very nicely furnished. All you’ll need is some groceries. There’s a small boat, too, tied up at Chet’s dock. And if you decide you don’t want to live in the house, there’s a ready buyer waiting in the wings.”

“It’s a nice place, Ham,” Holly said. “You’ll like it.”

“I expect I will,” Ham said sadly.