“Great,” said Mattheus. “In the meantime, I’ll run over to the police station and look up some information I need. Then we can meet up and take a look at Paul’s office, in about an hour. Okay?”
“Okay,” said Cindy. Everything was okay and not okay. Not only was she finding out more about the case, but also about Mattheus. There were definitely moments when he scared her. Who had she really ended up here with?
CHAPTER 10
Before Mattheus went to the police station, he called some of his buddies back on the force in Grenada, to check in and let them know what was going on. They were thrilled to hear from him, as usual, and suggested he check out Roomey’s alibi before taking another step. Guys who hung around casinos needed to be vetted right away. Mattheus agreed. And, when was he coming back to Grenada, they wanted to know? It wasn’t the same place without him.
The calls to the guys back home gave Mattheus energy, boosted his spirits and resolve. They’d become like a little family, and Mattheus missed having them around. But he also enjoyed the adventure of starting his own enterprise. And he enjoyed doing it with Cindy, who surprised him over and over with her keen intelligence and strength.
After he hung up he headed to the police station, to use the computers there to check on Roomey further. There was no one at the back desk yet, and he had his pick of places to work at. He quickly opened a computer and brought up what he could find on Roomey. The more he read, the more impressed he was. Not only did everything about him seem legit, but he was a well-respected architect, with big clients to his name. Easy to see why the guy could afford to lose at a high stakes poker.
Then Mattheus dug up the name of the organizer of the design show Roomey said he was at to give him a call and find out exactly when Roomey arrived, and how long he stayed.
Roomey’s alibi checked out completely. Not only was he at the show, he got there early and stayed until it closed. Something he did every year, apparently. After it was over, he went out with a few people for a light dinner. He went with a group of old timers, who came to the show year after year. Some of the people at the dinner included Andrea from Salon B, a couple of guys who sponsored the program, and Heather May. Mattheus found it interesting to see her name pop up again. But, of course, this was a relatively small island and the people who lived here had to know each other. He wondered briefly what kind of relationship Roomey had with Heather, and made a note to ask Cindy to explore it. Mattheus also wanted to see Roomey again, catch a drink with him, find out more about Kendra and about Paul.
Okay, thought Mattheus, one down and another to go. He now wanted to check out the guy in the high stakes poker game. Just as he was about to go back into the computer, the door to the station opened and Brayton came in and immediately spotted Mattheus in the rear.
“Hey, what you doing back there?” Brayton hollered, as he came over to join Mattheus.
“Checking out Roomey and some other guys.”
“You don’t let up, do you?” Brayton said, approvingly. “Too bad we don’t have you on our force, down here.”
Mattheus grinned. It felt good having the team around him, surrounded by guys who valued him. Mattheus was one of a twin, and his brother had been the star in everything, got all the attention, growing up.
“No reason to bother checking out Roomey,” Brayton said as he sat down. “Could have told you about him before you started to look. He’s an old timer on the island. There’s no reason to suspect him of anything. Roomey and Paul had been friends for years.”
“Was there was ever anything floating around about Roomey’s relationship with Kendra? Mattheus asked.
Brayton laughed. . “Roomey’s not exactly a lady’s man. The furthest thing from it. The guy keeps to himself around the ladies. They don’t like him much, and he doesn’t really take to them.”
“Did he take to Kendra?” Mattheus pushed on.
“What are you dreaming up?” Brayton looked at Mattheus as though he were a little crazy. “We’ve got enough on Kendra, we don’t need this. When you get desperate for clues you can fish in places where nothing bites,” he said. “Doesn’t do any good to make up crazy stories. In fact, it’s downright dangerous.”
“You’re right,” Mattheus agreed. “Then he told him about the high stakes poker game Paul had been involved in.
Brayton was taken aback. “Now, that’s something to chew on. Don’t know how we didn’t hear about that. Find the guy who was indebted to Paul and bring him in to talk.”
Mattheus had his name; it would be an easy matter to check him out right away.
“What else you got?” asked Brayton.