CHICAGO (MCT) — Knowing a co-worker needed money to settle gambling and tax debts in 2003, Drew Peterson casually offered him $25,000 to find a hit man to “take care of” his third wife, Kathleen Savio, that associate testified Wednesday.

The Bolingbrook, Ill., police sergeant did not dictate how or when he wanted Savio killed, said Jeff Pachter, who met Peterson at his side job as a cable installer. Peterson’s only condition was that he be warned before the murder took place so he could arrange an alibi, Pachter told a riveted Will County jury that had spent the past few days listening to dry forensic and medical evidence.