“That makes sense,” Cindy listened closely.
“Those guys have to know something about the hotels killings,” Mattheus went on quickly. Trage’s given me the name of the head honcho there. The police spoke to him before and ruled him out. But I’m leaving in a minute to see him. I have a way with those guys.”
“What’s his name?” Cindy wanted backup information.
“Leon Tobitt,” Mattheus muttered.
“You want me to join you?” Cindy asked quickly.
“Just the opposite,” Mattheus answered promptly. “I want to connect with this guy alone - just wanted to let you know where I am.”
“Thank you,” whispered Cindy.
“How’s it going on your end?” Mattheus seemed concerned.
“It’s going,” Cindy replied. “Nothing great so far.”
“Boring?” asked Mattheus.
“You could say that,” answered Cindy surprised, upset to imply her sister’s life was boring.
“Keep at it,” Mattheus responded. “Remember, the real treasures are hidden in the most boring places. You’ve got to earn them, dig them out, scrap by scrap.”
Despite herself, Cindy smiled. Mattheus hit the spot again. He inspired her to keep sloughing through endless details which didn’t seem to add up to anything, until, suddenly they did.
“Thanks for that, Mattheus,” Cindy commented.
“Look, it can’t be easy investigating your own sister,” he answered.
“I can’t find anything new about her,” Cindy said, frustrated.
“You will,” Mattheus assured her. “Be patient and brave.”
*
Mattheus took a cab down to Hedge Row Corner, where Leon Torbitt was known to operate. The neighborhood was situated near a dilapidated cove with a strange mixture of fine homes and small, wooden houses built on the rim. Trage told Mattheus that Leon could easily be found at this time of day at Manilla’s pub, on the eastern coast. Mattheus couldn’t wait to see him and then get back to being with Cindy again. It was incredible being with her and Mattheus wouldn’t part from her again, ever. This case had to be solved and solved fast. He couldn’t bear stretching out her suffering. After it was over they would start again, completely new.
Mattheus had the driver let him out a few blocks away, so he could walk into the pub naturally. He wore jeans, rolled his shirt sleeves up over his elbows, and put on a pair of sunglasses as he sauntered over.
Manilla’s pub was oddly spacious, overlooking both water and a string of grimy boats. Most tables were now filled with locals, drinking beer, eating lunch, talking noisily.
Mattheus went directly to the bartender. “Leon Torbitt here yet?” he asked, as though he were an expected guest.
The bartender barely looked up. He had small, shifty eyes, a large square face and kept moving a few glasses around on the bar. “Who’s asking?” he responded.
“Mattheus. Tell Leon that Wilma suggested I talk to him.” Wilma was the name of Leon’s sister. It was also the name of one of the women killed in the murders, though Leon didn’t realize that.
The bartender looked up at him then, suddenly interested. “Leon’s expecting you?”
Mattheus shook his head.
The bartender went to the back room and in a few minutes a smallish, thin guy in tight pants and a black shirt came skirting out. It had to be Leon, thought Mattheus.
The bartender pointed towards Mattheus and the small guy looked at him puzzled.
Mattheus stood up quickly, went over to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“Leon Torbitt?” he said.
“How do you know my sister?” Leon answered, pushing Mattheus by the elbow over to a side table. “What the hell does she want of me now?”
Mattheus and Leon sat down at the table and looked into each other’s eyes. Mattheus felt as if he’d known him forever, as if they’d been friends their whole life long. Leon seemed incredibly comfortable with him as well
“Wilma needs your help,” Mattheus said then in a confidential tone.
Leon’s eyes opened for a second alarmed, then looked down. “If this is some kind of joke, you’ll pay for it.”
“It’s not a joke,” Mattheus, reassured him. “It’s not your sister either, it’s another Wilma I’m talking about, a lady killed during the hotel murders.”
Leon’s eyes opened even wider. “This some kind of scam?”
“I’m trying to track down the hotel killer,” Mattheus replied, fully expecting Leon to help him. “And I need your help.”