Page 145 of King’s Ransom

‘You better believe it,’ King said. ‘If I ever find the guy who did it, if I didn’t kill him first, I’d hire him.’

And at that moment, Aristo King’s face changed.

He smiled, turning on the charm, his irritation gone.

‘Speaking of hiring people, this brings me to why I wanted to meet with you today. Sam. Dr Speedman. Mr Garrett here says you’re a talented and gifted detective, a brilliant problem-

solver.’

‘That’s nice of him to say,’ I said.

‘I understand you’re working for my wife, Yasmina.’

‘I am.’

‘I suppose I should call her my soon-to-be ex-wife, given all that she did at the tower, paying for those murders.’

‘She says she was set up,’ I said.

‘What is she paying you?’

‘I can’t say.’ He didn’t have to know it was nothing.

‘I’d like you to work for me instead,’ Aristo King said. ‘I have many businesses and I employ thousands of people. Money and inventory go missing all the time and I feel that I need an in-house investigator. I think you’d be perfect for the job. Garrett does, too. I’ll pay you a retainer of nine million dollars a year and you’ll work as required. You can continue living in Houston and I’ll just send a plane for you whenever an issue arises.’

I digested this in silence.

Nine million dollars per year to essentially do nothing except be on call to solve his internal mysteries.

It would be the easiest job in the world.

‘As long as I stop working for Yasmina?’ I said.

‘Yes.’

‘That could be a problem.’

‘Yasmina is probably going to prison for a very long time,’ King said. ‘This job will set you up for life.’

‘Yes, but she hired me first.’

King blanched.

‘She what? She hired you first?’ he blurted.

He collected himself, exhaling loudly.

‘Sam, not many people reject my offers.’

‘I’m sure.’

‘How much is Yasmina paying you? She can’t be paying you anything close to this,’ King said.

‘She isn’t.’

‘You’re saying no to nine million dollars, per year, to keep working for her?’

‘I am.’