by Jaden Skye
“Where were you at the time of the murder?” Rodney insisted again.
“Hell, probably in bed with my wife,” said Flan, “if it was the night. Katrina will tell you, that’s where I was.”
Cindy walked in, closer to them. Flan’s head shot up and he glared at her. If they were alone, it looked like he could have killed her on the spot.
“I was sleeping in bed with my wife,” he repeated louder, “when Shelly was killed.”
“Katrina was in the Shelter when Shelly was killed,” Cindy informed them.
“Go to hell,” Flan hissed at her. “And if you don’t go on your own, I’ll make sure you do.”
Cindy turned away from him. “Call Katrina,” she said to the cops. “Get her in here immediately.”
“Alex has already called her,” said Rodney.
Cindy full well knew it could be dangerous for Katrina to come in, but she belonged here. There was plenty she could fill them in on. She had to be here, safe or not.
Alex came over to Mattheus and Cindy then.
“You two have done incredible work,” he said. “We’re booking Flan. He’s got no alibi at the moment and we need him here for further questioning.”
“You got your man,” Mattheus growled. “Lots of people saw him and Shelly together, including his wife.”
Alex shook his head. Cindy saw that he felt embarrassed that this went on under their nose and they had no idea.
Just then Katrina came flying into the station, yelling at the top of her lungs.
“Flan, Flan, where are you?”
“Calm down,” Alex said to her.
“Don’t you tell me to calm down, you punk,” she said. “I want to see my husband, immediately!” Then she saw Cindy. “You did this, you bastard,” Katrina flailed out. “I talked to you in private.”
“I had to speak to Flan,” said Cindy. “I told you I was going to.”
“You didn’t!” Katrina shrieked.
“Yes, of course, I did. A murder was committed.”
Katrina spun around. “Where is he? I want to see him.”
Alex led her to the room Flan was in and Cindy walked slowly behind them. She leaned against the door and listened in, while they talked fervently.
“It’s not going to happen, I’ll get you out,” Cindy heard Katrina saying.
“Nothing’s keeping me here long,” Flan reassured her.
“I love you, Flan.” Katrina blustered.
“Go to hell,” he shouted.
“I love you more than Shelly did. Believe me, I do,” she howled.
“No one loved me more than Shelly,” Flan spat back at her, his voice suddenly cracking. “And you go to hell. Say what you want, the truth is the truth.”
CHAPTER 21
Cindy couldn’t get the conversation between Katrina and Flan out of her mind or the way his voice cracked when he said that Shelly loved him better. What could that mean? Cindy wanted to know more.
After Flan was booked at the Station, there was nothing further for Cindy and Mattheus to do there.
“This is going to take some time to pin down,” Rodney said to Mattheus, “we’ve got a lot to go over here. You guys can take off now. We’ll keep you informed about everything.”
It was getting late and Cindy was relieved to get out of there. Mattheus seemed to feel the same way.
“Let’s go to the beach,” he said to Cindy as they were leaving. “We can walk along the water, like we used to.”
It sounded like a good idea. Cindy didn’t want to be alone now and walking at the water with Mattheus would calm both of them. It was also her favorite time of day as the light was fading and the first stars coming out in the sky. A particularly beautiful time to be at the ocean.
They got down to the water in no time, took off their shoes, and holding hands, walked together along the sand. Cindy held Mattheus’s hand tight and looked up at the sky. It had been a huge day, twisting and turning in all kinds of directions. But, even with Mattheus’s hand in hers, Cindy felt alone.
Mattheus murmured something to her, but she couldn’t make out what he silently for a while, their steps matching, down to the reef at the edge of the sand.
“Pretty soon Anthony will be let free,” Mattheus said as they walked. ”I gave the cops all the new information I found about him; that plus booking Flan, will get him out.”
“That’s wonderful,” said Cindy.
“Finally, they’ve got the killer!” Mattheus’s voice tightened. “Finally. You know how long I waited for this day?”
“There’s no direct evidence yet,” said Cindy.
“For years I never thought the day would never come.”
Cindy knew Mattheus was eager for this to be over, and that a lot pointed to Flan. “Looks good, but we still can’t be sure,” she said.
“Nah,” said Mattheus waving a hand, “Flan’s a live wire. He almost killed you on the spot. I saw it with my own eyes, I heard him threatening. If he did it once, he’s done it before.”
“Yes, he’s done it before,” Cindy agreed.
“And this creep’s been hanging out with Shelly! She must have done something that night to trigger him, take him over the edge. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out.”
“Things point that way,” Cindy agreed.
Mattheus stopped walking as they got to the edge of the water, and pulled her to him.
“The case is over, Cindy. We both have to realize it.”
Cindy was stunned being so close again in his arms. It took her breath away and her heart started reeling.
“Let’s leave Key West and go back to Grenada,” Mattheus spoke fast.
The invitation was unexpected and came too abruptly. Cindy said nothing.
“I don’t want to go back there without you,” Mattheus insisted.
Tears filled Cindy’s eyes. She couldn’t speak. Too much had gone on, she was uneasy. She took a deep breath and pulled away slightly.
“I’m not sure the case is over,” she murmured, grasping for time.
Mattheus looked upset. “Come here,” he pulled her over to a reef at the edge of the water. “Let’s sit down and talk.”
It was a wonderful spot to sit at. Their feet dangled in the water which came lapping up against them.
“The case is over,” Mattheus said again then, with more conviction. “Not only the case - my relationship with Shelly is completely in the past.”
That was good to hear, Cindy was happy for him.
“I’m not blaming her either,” he went on, “I see plenty of signs now that she gave me. Hindsight -didn’t pay attention then. Now they float up in my mind. There were all kinds of strange little lies she told, like she’d say she was going out with friends in town, and I’d find out later on that she’d been somewhere else. It registered, but I didn’t push it. Never wanted to be that kind of guy, closing in on someone.”
Cindy nodded. She’d always experienced Mattheus giving her lots of space. “You aren’t that kind of guy,” she said.
“Thanks,” he answered. “It’s good to hear that. Sometimes I have no idea who I am anymore.”
Cindy wanted to tell him he was wonderful, but held back. He needed time to discover who he was himself, and she needed time as well.
“I was shocked when I heard that Shelly felt trapped in our marriage,” Mattheus went on, “I fought it, cursed, even threw up one night after I left Rancher’s Bar. But hell, I should have felt her drifting away.”
“Did you ever ask her about it?” said Cindy.
“Once or twice, and she gave me some stupid answer, like she needed her space. I thought it was just a passing phase, that things would go back to the way they’d been.”
“Everybody always thinks things are going to go back to the way they’ve been,” Cindy remarked.
“And they don’t always, do they?” asked Mattheus solemnly.
“They don’t ever,” said Cindy, “they can’t.”
�
��Now I know,” said Mattheus sadly.
“Change happens, and things have to be different. They can be better or worse, but time always goes forwards. I learned that the hard way,” said Cindy.
“I know you did,” said Mattheus. “Hell, after Shelly disappeared I spent years blaming myself, stayed away from women, was terrified of love. I was sure something terrible would happen again with the next woman I got close to.”
Listening to him, Cindy felt her old respect for him returning. He was manning up, looking at things squarely.
“But when I met you it was different,” Mattheus voice grew softer.
Cindy wanted to cry again, but wouldn’t let herself. Her feelings were all mixed together, love, desire, fear and sorrow. And, the words of her sister also rang in the back of her mind. You don’t really know him, only think you do.
“What are you thinking?” Mattheus turned to her then.
“That it takes time to know a person,” said Cindy.
“What else?” Mattheus wanted more.
“Cindy said nothing.
“I love you, Cindy,” Mattheus cried out suddenly, “and I want to give it another try.”
The waves seemed to grow stronger against the reef.
“Will you come back to Grenada with me?” asked Mattheus.
“Not now, not yet. We’re not finished here,” Cindy managed.
“We’re finished, we’re finished,” Mattheus intoned loudly. “The case is over. Shelly’s dead. We found the killer.”
“I’m unsettled about it,” said Cindy. “I want to speak to Katrina again.”
“Why in the world?” Mattheus seemed agitated.
“I have a gut feeling there’s more. It will help in the long run.”
“Listen,” Mattheus pulled her closer, “we can leave the rest in the police’s hands. They’ve got the right guy. They’ll dig up whatever supporting evidence they need.”
“I just want to speak to Katrina one more time. It was something about the way she kept telling Flan she loved him, and the way he said he loved Shelly more. It bothered me.”
“It was the ravings of two crazy people,” Mattheus declared. “They’re both totally out of their minds.”
“They are,” said Cindy, “and that’s why I’m going to visit her one more time.”
Mattheus began stroking Cindy’s face. “If you have to visit Katrina once more, you have to, but first you need a good, long sleep.”
Cindy smiled. He was right about that. Waves of exhaustion had started coming upon her.
“I’d love to hold you in my arms all night long,” Mattheus whispered. “Will you stay in my room with me tonight?”
Cindy quivered deeply. There was nothing more she’d love than to be nestled in Mattheus’s arms. But it was too soon, too much had gone on. She couldn’t go yet.
“Not tonight,” she said softly. “I need to keep my head clear.”
Mattheus started kicking the water with his feet. “There were plenty of nights we slept together and your head was clear the next day. You got up and worked on cases.”
“That was then, Mattheus,” said Cindy.
“I get it,” said Mattheus, “now things have changed.”
*
Cindy slept later the next morning than she’d planned to and ordered in an early lunch in her room. Not only did she need the rest, she needed time alone. It would take a while to sort everything out and she didn’t want to be rushed. Her feelings for Mattheus were a jumble, love, fear, longing, aversion. Her time at the Shelter also jarred her, gave her a larger perspective on everything.
After lunch, Cindy called a cab and took it back to Katrina’s home. She didn’t want to call or let her know she’d be coming. It would be better to surprise her; she’d be less able to prepare.
As the cab wound its way back to Katrina’s home, Cindy decided to check with the Police Station a call to see if Katrina might be there with Flan.
Alex picked up the phone right away.
“I’m on my way to Katrina’s house,” Cindy told him, “just checking to see if she’s at the Station?”
“There’s no reason for you to go there,” said Alex, “we got things covered.”
“I want to,” said Cindy.
“Leave Katrina alone,” Alex advised. “She’s a loose wire and tremendously upset that Flan’s in custody. I told you, we’re on the case. We’ll handle everything.”
“Is she still at the Station?” Cindy repeated, suddenly wondering if it were foolish to go.
“Man, you’re relentless,” said Alex. “Katrina was here all morning and left a little over an hour ago. She’s devastated. She really loves the guy and really cared about Shelly. Shelly was her counselor.”
“I know that,” said Cindy.
“They were like sisters,” Alex continued, “What more do you want to ask her?”
Sisters? That jolted Cindy. Katrina was lying through her teeth. That wasn’t the story she told Cindy. Looks like she fooled the cops big time. They’d bought right into her little show. Cindy was more convinced than ever now that she had to go.
“We talked to her for a long time and Katrina gave us just what we needed,” Alex continued. “She didn’t pull any punches either. Flan tried using her for an alibi, said they were together when Shelly was killed. Katrina denied it flat out. Told us she had no idea where he was when the killing took place. She also said that Flan made up stories, was rotten to women, had a short fuse. He’s busted. We got him. This lady deserves a prize. If you do see her, give her some comfort, okay?”
“Okay,” said Cindy shuddering, thinking that comfort was the last thing Katrina needed.
*
The taxi pulled up to Katrina’s house. A thunderstorm was expected and it was even more airless here. Cindy paid the driver and got out. A storm would be good, Cindy thought, clear the air, brush low hanging cobwebs away.
Cindy walked to the front door, once again expecting it to be ajar. To her surprise it was locked tight.
Cindy rang the bell loudly a few times. No response. She knocked hard with the knocker. No response either.
“Katrina,” Cindy called out loudly into the darkening afternoon.
No reply.
Cindy kept calling, her voice echoing through the palms and coconut trees.
In a little while a woman, dressed in casual slacks, came walking up the entrance way.
“Katrina’s gone for the week-end,” she said to Cindy. “I’m her next door neighbor.” The woman pointed through a thicket of trees, “I live back there with my dying father.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” said Cindy.
“I saw Katrina a little while ago today,” the woman went on, “we had a few minutes to chat and she said she was leaving for a few days. No need for you to be standing here yelping like a banshee. Storm’s coming. You’d better get home.”
Cindy thanked the woman, who turned and disappeared behind the house.
There was no reason to stay, it probably made sense to leave, but Cindy couldn’t. Why would Katrina leave town just when her husband had been taken in custody, especially if she was so upset about his being locked up? It didn’t make sense. There was one more piece waiting for her and Cindy wanted to rummage around and see what she could find.
She decided to walk to the back entrance, to see if it might be open. The back of the house was covered in shrubbery that looked as if it hadn’t been cut or tended for years. Vines grew in all directions and two huge garbage cans stood, half opened, off balance. A few cats wandered around aimlessly, in and out of the bushes.
Cindy waded through the mess to the back door, which was unhinged and cracked. It took nothing to push it with her shoulder and get it to open.
Delighted, Cindy went in. There were boxes piled up near the back entrance and piles of unfolded laundry in baskets. She walked up a few steps, deciding to see what she could find. A closed sliding door lead to a room off the living room. Cindy slid it open and w
ent into a small, dark, cloistered room with the blinds pulled down.
Two old, wooden cabinets with very narrow drawers, were standing next to each other along the far wall, and a tattered rug was tossed in the center. Cindy went over to the cabinets, and opened one drawer after another, not knowing what she was looking for. The first two drawers were filled with loose change, rocks, scraps of paper, nothing of interest. The third draw had an antique, carved, box in it. It caught Cindy’s attention.
She opened the box carefully and inside was a, beautiful, unusual handmade shell necklace. The necklace was compelling. Cindy took it out of the box and stared at it. It looked oddly familiar, too, though she couldn’t place it. As Cindy turned it over in her hands, the sliding door to the room suddenly yanked open.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Katrina jammed her way in.
Shocked, Cindy gasped. “I thought you were gone for the week-end.”
“Who cares what you thought? What in the hell are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you,” Cindy spoke vehemently.
“So you break into my house?” Katrina’s eyes were cloudy and unfocused, as if she were on some kind of drug. “What the hell are you looking for?”
Cindy took a deep breath and planted herself squarely opposite this oncoming whirlwind.
“I thought I’d find evidence for the case,” Cindy managed.
Katrina became more unhinged. “The case is over. They got the man.”
“Your husband?”
“Go drop dead. You’ve done enough harm already haven’t you?”
“Harm? We’ve gotten Flan locked up. We’re protecting you.”
Katrina’s eyes glared like a wildcat caught in the dark.
“Who needs you to protect me from him? I told you I love him! You didn’t believe me.”
“You told me lots of things,” Cindy countered.
Katrina began thumping her fists against one another. “You’ve a hell of a nerve breaking in here! I’ll call the police on you for breaking and entering.”
“Katrina, I’m here to help you.” Cindy took a step closer.
“Screw you,” Katrina shouted like a banshee. “Don’t think I don’t know you went down to the boat to get a whiff of him, too. Wanted to steal him away, too, didn’t you?”
