The Referral Game

was only spelling out one of several possible outcomes, but if you want to investigate your husband’s disappearance I am for hire. How long has your husband been missing?”
    She looked shrewdly at me and seemed to make a decision.
    “Perhaps I should give you some background. I was a widow, and a wealthy one, when I met Tony at the racetrack some eighteen months ago. He was dashing and handsome and ten years younger than me. We began an affair almost immediately and we were married several months later”
    “What did he do for a living Mrs. Peterson?”
    “Of course you have to ask that, but I honestly do not know. I rather fancied he had inherited some money. He was closely guarded about his business life, but I always assumed he was involved in stocks. Money was never a problem and he didn’t marry me for mine”
    That last part was said in a rush and she sat slightly flushed and was breathing hard.
    “I apologize Mr. Randall,” She said as she regained her composure. “Tony and I had separate bank accounts and if he was after my money he disappeared before he got any of it. We were happily married until about six weeks ago.”
“What happened then” I asked as I grabbed a pen and began to take notes.
    “Tony would not admit to it, but he was nervous. He became argumentative if asked so I stopped. About a month ago he left in the morning and said he had business to take care of and would be back in the evening. I have not seen him since.”
    “I take it you have notified the police.”
    “Of course, but they ran into a problem and that is why I have decide to hire my own investigator.”
    I waited. She seemed on the verge of changing her mind and then plunged ahead.
    “Mr. Randall when I reported my husband missing the police had a surprising bit of information for me.”
    She paused again and then continued.
    “They told me that Tony Peterson died twenty years ago.”