Free Orchid Beach by Stuart Woods

have a complete grasp of every facet of this department, I will make every important decision that’s made in every case. When I’ve had time to learn who’s an excellent officer and who’s not, then maybe I’ll delegate some authority, but not until then. Do you read me?”
    Hurst looked down at her desktop; he was very red in the face now. “Yeah.”
    “ What ?”
    “Yes, Chief,” he said reluctantly.
    “You bypass me again, and you’ll be doing bicycle patrol up and down the beach. You read me loud and clear ?”
    “Yes, Chief.”
    “Good. Now get out of here.” She watched his back ashe left. She hadn’t intended to get as angry as she had done, but his attitude had infuriated her. She went out into the hall, saw Hurd Wallace passing and called him in.
    “Why didn’t you call me when these arrests were made?” Holly asked.
    “I did call you. I didn’t learn about the arrests myself until I arrived here, half an hour before you did. I called you then, but I guess you had already left for work.”
    “Okay. Who did the search of the suspects’ van?”
    “I did.”
    “Did you get a warrant?”
    “No, Bob got the suspects’ written permission for the search.”
    “Thank God for that,” Holly said. “I’d hate to have that weapon thrown out because of a bad search.”
    “So would I, but it won’t happen. It was a good search, believe me.”
    “I believe you. Was the thirty-two dusted for prints?”
    “Yes. There were none.”
    That brought Holly up short. “This guy shoots the chief, then wipes the gun clean and puts it back into his glove compartment for us to find?”
    “I expect he planned to ditch the weapon,” Hurd said.
    “Then why didn’t he? He had a good twenty-four hours to do it. Why would he leave incriminating evidence in the van for us to find?”
    “Because he was stupid. Remember, we found the cocaine and the chief’s gun, too. He didn’t even bother to ditch that.”
    “That was certainly stupid,” Holly admitted. “Okay, that’s all. You did your job, Hurd. It’s not your fault Hurst didn’t call me when the arrest was made.”

    “Chief, I can’t vouch for the arrest or anything that went on in that interrogation room that I didn’t see, but I promise you, it was a good search. You don’t need to worry about that.”
    “Thanks, Hurd.” She walked out of her office with him to find the prosecutor still waiting in the hall. “Is Oxenhandler still with them?”
    “Yes. I’m hoping we can close the books on this one immediately. I want the community to know that we’re on it.”
    “Me, too.” She saw Oxenhandler leave the interrogation room and come toward them.
    “All right, Jackson,” Skene said. “Let’s make this short and sweet: they plead to assault with intent to kill and take twenty-five to life. If Chief Marley dies before the judge approves the plea bargain, and I hear he might, it’ll be murder, and I’ll go for the death penalty. I may yet charge them in the matter of the Doherty murder.”
    “Sam Sweeney says his thirty-two revolver is a Colt. The gun found in his van was a Smith and Wesson.”
    “Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?” Skene said.
    “I’ll talk to them,” Oxenhandler said. He walked back down the hallway and into the interrogation room.
    “You think they’ll plead?” Holly asked Skene.
    “If they’re smart. We’ve got them cold, and I’d like to save the county the cost of a trial.”
    “That would be good,” Holly said. She’d be happy to see the two in jail forever.
    A few minutes later Oxenhandler came out of the interrogation room. “No deal, Marty. They maintain their innocence.”
    “You’re a fool, Jackson.”

    “It’s not the first time I’ve been told that.”
    “I’ll ask for a preliminary hearing tomorrow morning,” Skene said.
    “I’d like another day, Marty.”
    “What for?”
    “Don’t you think it’s important for the county to show at least the appearance of fairness in