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Teddy knew about the improvements made for higher-ups in the Agency, but he pretended not to. “Improvements? What kind?”

“I don’t think we need go into that,” Holly said.

“It’s top secret, huh?” Teddy asked.

“No, just not talked about outside the Agency. You’ll have to remember that, Josh.”

Josh threw up his hands. “I’m sorry. I’m unaccustomed to keeping state secrets.”

“Don’t make too big a thing of it,” she said.

“I can see why they would be protective of their people,” Teddy said. “After all, there are terrorists out there who would love to lob a few sticks of dynamite into an American intelligence officer’s bedroom.”

“Now, that’s a disturbing thought,” Josh said.

Holly elbowed him in the ribs. “Unless you change the subject, you’re not going to have to worry about the safety of my bedroom.”

“How ’bout them Gators!” Josh said.

“That’s too big a change of subject for me,” Teddy said. “The only sport I follow is Tiger Woods, and he’s out for the season.”

Jimmy Weathers was getting ready for bed when his phone rang. “Hello?”

“Jimmy, it’s Irma Taggert,” said the chairwoman of the city council.

Jimmy’s heart sank. She was going to tell him he didn’t get the job. “Good evening, Irma.”

“I’m sorry to call so late, but we just got out of a very long council meeting about a lot of subjects.”

“That’s all right, Irma.”

“I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you; you’re the new Orchid Beach chief of police.”

Jimmy was stunned. “They voted?”

“We did, and we voted for you. It was… well, nearly unanimous.”

“I don’t want to know who voted against me,” he said.

“Then I won’t tell you,” she said.

“Irma, I really appreciate your confidence, and I hope you’ll pass that along to the others, first chance you get.”

“I’ll do that, and you’ll get a confirmation in writing tomorrow morning. We’ll have to negotiate a contract, of course, but I can tell you it will be very close to what Bruno got. You’d better hire a lawyer to represent you.”

“I’ll do that, Irma, and thank you again for letting me know so quickly. I’m not sure I’ll get much sleep tonight, but I’m very, very happy about this.”

“So am I, Jimmy. Good night.”

Jimmy hung up the phone and got into bed. He stared at the ceiling, thinking about himself wearing the chief’s badge and sitting in his office with his own secretary. And best of all, he had now made himself completely safe, since he could control any further investigation into the series of rapes and murders.

All he had to do now was learn to control his impulses.

Josh and Holly were driving home from Jack Smithson’s house. “I’m sorry I mentioned the fortifications at your house,” he said. “Too much to drink, I guess.”

“Oh, it’s all right. Part of our training is never to discuss our work, so when somebody does, it sets off alarm bells.”

“I won’t do it again.”

“Thanks.”

“Say, what made you call Jack Smithson ‘Teddy’?”

“That was kind of strange, wasn’t it? I think that, almost unconsciously, he reminded me of someone else.”

“Who’s Teddy?”

“You remember a few years back when an ex-Agency employee went on a killing spree, knocking off various right-wing political figures?”

“Teddy Fay!”

“That’s right.”

“You thought Jack Smithson was Teddy Fay?”

“Not really. He just sort of fits the general description-that is, he looks like Larry David, on Curb Your Enthusiasm-but so do thousands of other men.”

“So I don’t have to worry about another serial killer living in the area?”

“No, you don’t,” Holly said. “If Jack were Teddy, he would never invite me to dinner.”

Teddy and Lauren were getting into bed. “Why do you think Holly called you ‘Teddy’ at dinner?”

“Beats me,” Teddy said. “I guess I remind her of some other fatally attractive man-maybe an old boyfriend.”

“And why did you stop me from talking about our move?”

“I just don’t want a lot of people talking about that. Why, have you decided to come with me?”

She sighed. “Maybe.”

“Keep thinking about it,” Teddy said, “but not talking about it.”

47

Holly’s phone rang. She looked at the clock: seven thirty. She found the TV remote control and switched it off, then picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“It’s Lance. Getting sensitive about being seen in bed with a man?”

“None of your business,” she said.

“Well, I miss your sunny face.”

“It’s Sunday morning. What’s up, Lance?”

“He’s back.”

“Who’s back?”

“Whoever is using the Agency mainframe without authority.”

“What’s he looking for this time?”

“More on Colonel James Bruno.”

“Well, there’s good news on that front: Colonel James Bruno ate his gun the night before last and is no longer a problem to anybody.”

“Did he, now?”

“He did.”

“Anyone know why?”

“He left a note expressing remorse for raping and killing half a dozen women.”

“You’re sure it’s suicide?”

“I’m not even sure he’s dead, but I have the word of the Orchid Beach Police Department, which I used to lead, and a special investigative unit of the Florida State Police. Both agencies have investigated thoroughly and confirmed the details.”

“Lots of tests?”

“Autopsy, DNA, ballistics-the works. Plus, they found panties in Bruno’s house containing the DNA of each of the victims, along with the vaccination gun he used to subdue them.”

“Sounds like there’s no doubt.”

“Not much.”

“You have doubts?”

“Not exactly. It was all just a little too pat, but I can’t find any holes in it.”

“How do you feel about the passing of Colonel Bruno?”

“I regret only that it didn’t occur much sooner.”

“So he had a bad conscience?”

“He had enough in his life to have dropped dead of guilt, without benefit of the Glock. Only problem I can see is, he didn’t have a conscience, so why off himself?”

“I have the impression you think he might have been a victim of homicide?”

“I think it’s a possibility, but I don’t have a suspect, and neither does anybody else.”

“How about whoever’s using our mainframe for research on Bruno?”

“Tell you what, Lance, you name a suspect, and I’ll look into it.”

“How about your father?” Lance offered.

Holly sat up in bed.

“You still there, Holly?”

“Yeah.”

“You asked me to name a suspect, and I did, and I haven’t heard a demurral from you.”

Holly still didn’t speak; she was thinking too hard.

“I mean, one wouldn’t think Ham would possess the necessary codes to enter our mainframe, but he is close to someone who does. In fact, does he even possess the computer skills to get in, even with the codes?”

He certainly did, Holly thought. “Ham’s not the guy.”

“You didn’t answer my question, Holly.”

“Even with the skills, he wouldn’t have the codes.”

“If you say so. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t care less who terminated Colonel Bruno, even if it’s only himself.”

“I couldn’t care less, either. Well, maybe a little, just out of curiosity.”

“You and I both know that’s not so, Holly. I mean, you may not care who killed Bruno, but you always care and care deeply about getting it right.”

“Put Bruno out of your mind, Lance,” Holly said. “And Ham, too.”