“How handsome you are tonight, Sasha,” she said.
“My little kitten,” he said to her playfully, “it is delightful to see you, but you must go away right now. I have to talk to this man in private.”
Alana grimaced. “He and I have already been talking so beautifully,” she said.
Petrovich smiled. “And you like him very much?”
“Very much,” she cooed, smiling at Mattheus.
“So I will call you back in a little while then,” Petrovich said, “and you can continue your courtship.”
Mattheus raised his eyebrows. “We’ve been talking for about five minutes,” he said plainly, “not exactly a courtship.”
Petrovich laughed. “Move along little kitten,” he said to Alana, who backed away gently, throwing Mattheus a long glance over her beautifully, shaped, ivory shoulder.
“For a few minutes only,” Alana said petulantly, “but I will be back.”
“She’s impossible,” Petrovich said to Mattheus, after Alana had gone. “Once she takes a liking to someone, she never lets up.”
“One of your girl friends?” Mattheus asked.
Petrovich laughed again. “Hardly a girlfriend, just an amusement.”
Mattheus nodded. This guy seemed to have a harem he could call on anytime.
“So? How can I help you?” Petrovich asked. “I understand the Senator asked that you be a guest at my party. At first I thought this was an odd request.”
The banter vanished and he looked at Mattheus keenly.
“I’m glad you agreed to it,” said Mattheus.
“Of course I had to agree because the Senator is an important man. I had no idea though, that you would be so dashing.” Petrovich looked Mattheus over approvingly. “You are a welcome guest, anytime.”
Mattheus was caught between feeling flattered and put off. He knew there was trouble between Petrovich and the Senator. Was that why Petrovich agreed to have Mattheus come? Was Mattheus here to be inspected by him? This guy was sharp and crafty. Mattheus decided to jump right in.
“Of course you know what happened to the Senator’s daughter?” Mattheus said.
Petrovich did not even blink an eyelid. “Terrible thing,” he said.
“I’m trying to find out more about it,” said Mattheus.
“Maybe you will and maybe you won’t,” Petrovich said. “These kinds of things are difficult. I heard the murderer covered his tracks beautifully.”
“They always leave something behind,” Mattheus said.
“Not always,” said Petrovich. “For all you know it could be a random act by a malcontent done during the holiday season. Happens all the time in Russia.”
“We’re not in Russia,” Mattheus said plainly. “This island is safe. Or it was.”
Petrovich lifted his bushy eyebrows. “Nothing is safe,” he said.
“That’s why you have your own private security guard?” said Mattheus.
“When you’re tremendously careful, you’re tremendously safe,” said Petrovich. “Without it, who knows? There are snakes crawling in even the most manicured grasses.”
Mattheus took a deep breath. This guy was tough.
“I heard there was trouble between you and the Senator over building the casino,” Mattheus didn’t want to pull any punches.
“You’ve heard a lot,” said Petrovich, who turned to the bartender then. “Glass of Vodka,” he demanded.
The bartender immediately poured the drink and Petrovich took it and drank half of it quickly.
“Come with me, please,” he said to Mattheus then and led him into another, more private alcove, with two comfortable chairs. “Sit down,” he said, “and listen.”
Mattheus sat opposite him.
“First of all it is not a matter of trouble between me and the Senator. He’s insignificant to me in the long run. This casino will be built here, with or without him.”
Mattheus finished his own drink.
“It’s a matter of whether or not the Senator decides to be of help. If he does, wonderful, it makes life easier. If he doesn’t, someone else will. It’s his loss, and a stupid loss at that.”
“Is he trying to stop you from building the casino?” asked Mattheus.
Petrovich shrugged. “Maybe he is, but so what? He is not a truly powerful man. He simply has a few ideas he fights for like a bulldog. They build a reputation for him.”
“Like protecting the environment?” said Mattheus.
“Yes, the Senator fights for popular, foolish ideas like that,” Petrovich said. “I have tried to tell him that the environment is here to serve us, not the other way around. The casino will bring jobs, money, tourists to the island. It will put money in people’s pockets. What idiot wants to stop that? Why? To save a couple of lizards?” He laughed.
“Is the Senator making it harder for you?” asked Mattheus.
“A little, but I always find ways to get what I want. Ultimately, he’s no more than an irritation – a mosquito on a summer night.” Petrovich laughed and looked at Mattheus directly. “What about you? What do you think of his cause?”