“My job is to find out about who killed his daughter,” Mattheus answered, non-committal.
“And to get a beautiful woman to desire you instantly,” Petrovich lifted his eyebrows approvingly. “You’re good at it, too. Obviously, you have a taste for women.”
Mattheus smiled. “Not really,” he said.
“You lie to yourself,” said Petrovich.
Petrovich was playing with him like a child’s toy, but Mattheus was fully aware of what was happening.
“Tell me, how long has it been since you’ve had a woman as beautiful as Alana?” Petrovich continued.
Mattheus couldn’t remember. It had been a long time now though since his wife had died. He was strangely silent.
“You can’t remember?” Petrovich said. “You never married?”
“I was married,” Mattheus replied, despite himself.
“It’s the old story, you grew to hate her and she grew to hate you?” Petrovich cocked his head to the side. Clearly, Mattheus had caught his interest.
“She was murdered,” Mattheus said somberly.
Petrovich was taken aback. “That’s bad news. And this is why you became a detective?”
“Maybe,” said Mattheus.
“You could have a bigger, better life,” Petrovich said, then. “You don’t have to work for the little Senator. If you like, you can work for me. I need intelligence about many things.”
Mattheus wasn’t sure what he was hearing. “You’re offering me a job?” he said.
“I’m offering you a job with me, and I’m also offering you Alana, for starters.”
Mattheus was shocked. “Is she yours to offer?”
“She does what I want,” said Petrovich. “So do the other women here. Look around, see which one suits your fancy.”
“I have a partner,” Mattheus blurted out suddenly.
Petrovich was surprised. “What kind of partner?”
“A partner I work with, Cindy Blaine.”
“A woman?” asked Petrovich.
“Yes.”
“And is she beautiful?” his eyes dug deep into Mattheus.
“Yes, she is,” Mattheus said, trembling. He had no idea how the conversation had gotten off to this tack. “Very beautiful, actually.”
“Then why isn’t she here at your side, if you love her?” asked Petrovich.
“I didn’t say I love her. I work with her.”
“She’s also a detective?”
“Yes,” Mattheus nodded.
“A woman detective?” Petrovich laughed. “Listen, forget about all this nonsense. I like you. Come on board with us and help us get the casino built. You’ll find out about who is stopping it and let us know what they’re planning before they do it.”
“I’m working for the Senator now,” Mattheus replied. “Cindy and I have been hired to find out about who killed his daughter and why. Can you help with that?”
“I can help with everything,” Petrovich said, “but first you have to be on my side. We have to make a deal.”
“You know who may have killed her?” Mattheus asked.
“I don’t,” Petrovich said plainly, “but I can find out. I have tentacles all over the island.”
This was one hell of a powerful guy, Mattheus thought, wondering if he could actually find out who killed Tiffany, and why he wouldn’t just do it if he wasn’t involved?
“Seems like it’s something you should do, no matter what,” Mattheus said. “An innocent girl has been killed.”
Petrovich was getting bored with the conversation. “As I see it,” he said, “no one is truly innocent. In one way or another, everyone deserves their fate. And, I don’t do anything unless it’s clear what’s in it for me.”
Mattheus got that.
“You come to work for me and I’ll pay you triple what the Senator pays.”
“Why do you want me working for you so badly?”
“You’ll be a valuable asset to my organization. I have a nose for this kind of thing. I’m never wrong and I always get what I want.”
“And you don’t want me working for the Senator,” Mattheus said. “You want to take away his support?”
“That’s part of it,” said Petrovich, “but just part. “This Senator isn’t as great as he sounds. There’s lots of people around who can’t stand him.”
“Tell me more about that,” Mattheus said to Petrovich.
“If you ask me, he’s a self-righteous little skunk,” said Petrovich. “The guy thinks he’s God gift to the people, but you should see the way he treats others, especially his wife.”
Mattheus noticed it. He didn’t like that, either.
“And look how I treat my women, shower them with gifts, champagne, roses, all kinds of parties and handsome men. You know how you can tell the worth of a man? See how happy he makes the women around him.”
Mattheus smiled. This guy was larger than life and yet down to earth at the same time, generous to a fault.
“I’ll think it over,” said Mattheus, playing for time. He didn’t want to cut the cord with Petrovich, wanted to keep all doors open.