by Jaden Skye
“I’ll drive you to a good spot to Talk,” said Tad. “There’s a rocky cliff near a beach close by. We’ll get breezes from the ocean below.”
“Sounds perfect,” said Cindy.
For the first time since Mattheus had seen him, Tad smiled. Cindy seemed to soothe him. Mattheus wondered in passing if she might remind him of Tiffany, with the same friendliness and warmth?
They drove slowly to the cliff, parked, walked carefully up a narrow path to the top, and sat down. It was beautiful here, with a view stretching out over the ocean, and refreshing breezes all around.
A huge bird suddenly flew by and a moment of grim silence overcame all of them.
“Tiffany loved birds,” Tad said, watching it fly. “She loved many things, she loved being alive.”
The three of them all looked up in the sky, watching the bird disappear across the edge of the horizon, and then down into the deep ocean, where the waves splashed wildly against the rocks.
Cindy loved it up here over the ocean. The three of them sat together on top of the cliff for what seemed like forever before they began to speak. She was also glad to be off the boat for a while, able to get a larger perspective on all that was going on. Although everyone on the boat was doing their best to act normally, an underlying sense of chaos and doom pervaded the atmosphere. The interview with Tiffany’s mother had been troubling and sad. The Senator was right, his wife flipped in and out of reality. At moments she was tremendously clear, then out of nowhere, had lapsed into fantasies, insisting that Tiffany was still alive. Cindy was glad to be back with Mattheus. She enjoyed watching the wind blow on his handsome, sun tanned face as he leaned towards Tad and finally began to speak.
“I’m sorry we have to go over this again,” Mattheus said to Tad, “it must be a terrible time for you.”
“Terrible,” said Tad quietly. “Unbelievable. I’m still in shock.”
“That’s natural,” said Mattheus.
Tad looked over at him, sensing that Mattheus truly understood, perhaps had even been through something similar.
“Tell us a little about yourself,” Mattheus went on softly.
“Graduated from Princeton last June,” Tad started. “English major, art minor.”
“Interesting,” said Mattheus.
“My family has a house on the island. We’ve been coming down to St. Bart's for as long as I can remember. It’s home to me.”
“This is where you met Tiffany?” asked Cindy.
“Yes,” said Tad, “we actually knew each other for a long while. Her family also came down to the island regularly. I saw her around at parties and always thought she was beautiful. Not just beautiful, charming, heartwarming. Tiffany had a way about her that made everybody smile.” He lifted both hands over his face.
“I’m sorry,” said Cindy.
Tad took his hands down and looked up at her, his face wet with tears. He was an odd mixture of strength and fragility, thought Cindy.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” he said, “and can’t wake up.”
“You must have loved her very much,” said Cindy.
Tad smiled at her oddly. “Yes, I did, so did she. It took us time to realize it, but when we did, it was full steam ahead.”
“How long did it take?” asked Mattheus.
“In the beginning, I noticed her at parties. We had a few words, here and there. She was the popular girl and I was more of a loner. The party scene was never for me. Tiffany adored it. She made me smile, though. She always made me smile.” Tad stopped speaking and stared into the distance.
Speaking about it made it real, and that was hard for him, Cindy noticed.
“Then what happened?” Mattheus urged him on.
“We started to date about two years ago,” Tad continued, “just a little. It was nice, but at first we decided to just stay friends. Our interests were so different then. I knew the time wasn’t yet right.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cindy.
“Tiffany was a free spirit. She loved to bike, dance, hike, do acrobatics. I like to read, paint, to collect things. I actually have an amazing collection of antique clocks. When we first met, she wasn’t ready yet and neither was I. It was too much to handle.”
“What made you decide to get together?” Cindy asked interested.
“There was something between us that wouldn’t go away,” said Tad. “I saw it in her eyes when she looked at me. Nobody ever looked at me like that. And, she never, ever looked that way at anyone else. I liked that.”
“How did she look at you?” asked Cindy.
“The way someone looks at you when they know that the two of you are destined to be together, that nothing could ever tear you apart.”
“You weren’t jealous when she was out at parties, dating other guys?” asked Mattheus.
“No, I wasn’t,” said Tad. “I dated other people too, quieter girls, calmer, who seemed more suitable for me. But actually, they weren’t. And I was still away at college. I had to graduate first before I could live near her. I knew she and I needed to see others before we could commit. Our dates didn’t mean anything for either of us. We were just marking time. And I never doubted for a second that after I graduated, we would be together.”
“Sounds like you loved her for a long time,” said Cindy.
“That’s putting it mildly,” said Tad, his eyes suddenly tearing again. “The first thing I did after I graduated was to move up close by. Then we really started dating. We’d waited so long, our feelings were so strong by then, nothing was in the way. It only took a few months before we decided to get engaged.” Tad’s hands, clenched in fists, kept opening and closing. “It was beautiful between us then, perfect. We couldn’t stand to be apart for more than a few hours. I got a job on a newspaper right where she lived. Things fell into place quickly.”
Cindy remembered her days as a reporter and smiled.
“You guys didn’t fight?” she had to go deeper. “Sounds as if you were very different. Nothing in particular you wrangled about?”
Tad smiled oddly. “Sure we disagreed now and then. She wanted me to come with her to her parties and I preferred being alone, at times. I liked walking on rocky beaches, she liked hanging out with friends. I loved books and classical music. She couldn’t get enough of jazz. Stuff like that. But what did it matter? Something much deeper held us together.”
“Didn’t you fight about those things?” Cindy had to pursue it, push him a little.
“We didn’t fight. We never fought. We disagreed,” Tad’s voice grew slightly strident. “Tiffany had no problem telling me what she wanted and how she felt about what was going on. I accepted it. I had to. I knew how much she loved me,” Tad’s body started shaking, as his voice caught in his throat. “She was so thrilled we were getting married, said it was the happiest time of her life. She was all I ever wanted, too!”
Tad began rubbing his hands up and down his arms. Cindy could see how exhausting all of this had to be for him.
“How about your families?” asked Mattheus.
“Our families were happy about it. Especially her father. He’s an amazing guy who’s surrounded by women in the family - always wanted a son just like me. And I always wanted a father just like him.”
“And your family?” asked Cindy.
“They loved Tiffany. Everyone did. I never heard one person ever say a bad word about her. My father said he couldn’t understand how someone like her would want someone like me.” Tad’s face grew stony a moment.”
“He was kidding, of course,” said Mattheus.
“Of course,” said Tad.
“How about your mom?” asked Cindy.
“My mom loved Tiffany from the start. The two of them were as tight as could be. My sister Cissy felt a little jealous. Before Tiffany came into the family she was the only girl on the block. But Tiffany won everyone’s heart, even Cissy’s.”
He stopped talking mid-sentence, and stared out into space again, as if trying to digest what he
was saying.
“Where are you parents now, Tad?” asked Mattheus.
“They’re at their home Pebble Beach, a few miles away. The police have interviewed them a few times. What can they say? They’re horrified.”
“I can only imagine,” said Cindy.
“I’d like to meet them,” said Mattheus.
“There’s no reason for it,” said Tad. “There’s nothing they can tell you. They don’t have the slightest idea what happened to Tiffany. And it hurts them to go over this time and again.”
“We’ll have to speak to them anyway,” Mattheus said softly.
“Where were you when it happened?” Cindy asked quietly then.
“I already told everyone,” said Tad, growing slightly edgy. “I was scuba diving at Jimmy Bolton’s place. He confirmed it. He saw me there.”
“I just have to ask anyway. It’s routine.”
I don’t know how I’m going to live without her,” Tad suddenly burst out. “You’ve got to find the killer, please. Please,” his voice got wilder and strident. “If only I hadn’t gone surfing that day, none of this would have happened. If only I’d kept in touch with her every hour on the phone. I’ve got to know why this happened, who would want to hurt me this way.”
Mattheus got up and went over to him. “We’re going to find him.”
“Promise me,” Tad started wailing.
Mattheus put his arms on his shoulders. “I promise,” he said. “Can you help us? Do you have any ideas?”
“I think about it all day myself,” Tad spoke quickly. “Rori always had a bunch of wild friends I didn’t like. They scared me, were the kind of people I stayed away from.”
“Why?” Cindy asked alarmed.
“Not my type - all they care about is drinking and drugging, looking for the next high.”
Cindy hadn’t gotten that sense about Rori.
“They don’t have a brain in their head either,” Tad went on bitterly. “Naturally, Tiffany was friends with some of them too – until she and I got closer. Little by little I was getting her to give them up. It wasn’t easy.”
“You’ve have to give us their names,” said Mattheus.
“They’re all over the boat,” Tad waved his hand in the yacht’s direction, suddenly disdainful. People like that are all over the island, all over the country, too. I can’t point to one specifically. How do I know? Maybe one of them got angry about Tiffany’s happiness? Maybe Rori knows something I don’t about her rotten, spoiled friends.”
“You don’t get along with Rori? Cindy asked, taken aback.
“We get along,” Tad was having a hard time talking, “As much as possible… after all, I was taking her twin sister away. She had to feel something about that.”
“Were they close?” asked Cindy.
“Much too close,” said Tad.
Cindy was jarred. Rori’s mother had just said that she and Tiffany weren’t close enough. Then Cindy remembered the Senator’s warning her not to believe the mother. Cindy wanted to talk to Rori directly and find out more for herself.
“You actually think it’s possible that one of Rori’s friends would kill Tiffany?” Mattheus tried to pin Tad down.
“I don’t think any of this is possible,” said Tad. “I have no idea who did it. For all we know there’s a psychopathic, serial killer loose on the island, about to let loose and slash all the beautiful, privileged women down here.”
Cindy shuddered. “That’s a horrible image.”
“Why would you think something like that?” Mattheus focused in.
Tad started sobbing again.
“How do I know? All kinds of crazy thoughts go through your mind when someone you love is murdered. You don’t know what to think.”
And, at that very moment, the waves below splashed against the rocks with such ferocity, it sounded as if they were echoing Tad’s immense confusion and pain.
CHAPTER 5
The Senator had reserved two adjoining rooms for Cindy and Mattheus at the Ile De Joie, the most exclusive hotel on St. Bart’s, perched on a hill, overlooking the ocean. Cindy had taken extra care packing her suitcase, realizing she had to bring the most fashionable, trendy clothes she had, to fit in with this crowd. At the last minute, Cindy had thrown in a slinky, silver, satin gown her sister had bought it for her. The only time Cindy had ever worn it was for her engagement party to Clint. It would come in handy down here.
The taxi to the hotel wound uphill along a paved, winding road, lined with perfectly coiffed shrubbery and flowers. The windows were rolled down and an intensely sweet scent pervaded the air,
as if they were driving to paradise. As they got closer, Cindy saw the hotel, low and sprawling, nestled over the hills and rocks as if it grew out of the landscape, was an organic part of the environment, enhancing the natural beauty around.
A young, tanned, French bellboy, with a shock of dark hair, greeted them as the taxi rolled up to the front door. He welcomed them, took their luggage and led them inside.
As she entered Cindy was enthralled by the wide open space and exquisite furnishings. Despite the fact that the place was full of guests, there seemed plenty of empty space. Cindy looked at the many stunningly beautiful people milling around, and felt she’d landed on a Hollywood set. Wherever you looked, you saw gorgeous, thin women dressed in brightly colored Calypso cover ups, flip flops and small hand bags. It almost seemed like a uniform. The men were dressed in suede loafers with no socks, bright colored shirts that fit their bodies perfectly. They were tanned with their hair perfectly groomed or in buzz cuts. All of the people seemed to come from great privilege and to have spent enormous amounts of time on their bodies and clothes. Parading back and forth proudly, they could have stepped off the pages of the top fashion magazines. Cindy had to struggle not to feel like an outsider among them, less of a woman in some ways. When Cindy noticed Mattheus looking at the women admiringly, to her surprise it made her feel insecure.
A Christmas tree filled with colorful decorations stood in the main lobby, and Christmas wreaths hung on the walls. There was a sense of excitement and anticipation and yet, it was hard for Cindy to feel as though Christmas was coming in this tropical paradise. All her memories of the holiday revolved around cold weather, snow, the family cooking, and opening presents under the tree.
Mattheus stopped a moment to take it all in.
“Merry Christmas,” he leaned over and whispered to Cindy.
“It’s still a few days away,” she said.
“My favorite holiday,” said Mattheus.
“Me, too,” said Cindy. But she also felt squeamish about celebrating when the horror of a hidden murder hung in the air. How could she act as though nothing happened when a young woman had been mangled and tossed away like garbage on a beach a few minute away? The memory of Tiffany’s photo hanging on her mother’s wall flashed before Cindy. She looked young, beautiful, triumphant, preparing for a thrilling life ahead. Cindy was disturbed that the police insisted upon keeping the crime under covers. She wanted everyone on the island to know, to share the sorrow, join in the search. It was surreal to see so many guests dressed to the hilt, parading back and forth in the hotel, wanting to see and be seen when a murderer nearby was on the loose. Who knew if one of them might not be the next victim?
The bellboy led Cindy and Mattheus towards the elevators at the back of the lobby, to take them to their rooms, where their luggage was waiting.
Cindy’s mouth fell open as she walked into her room. It was large, and decorated in pale peach and lavender. A lavender silk bedspread with huge peach flowers was tossed over the bed and porcelain vases on the tables around were filled with fresh lilacs. The huge windows were open, overlooking the patio that stretched out over the sea. Evening was starting to fall, and the setting sun sent a warm glow of orange along the outside deck. Cindy felt it filter in over both of them.
“So beautiful,” Cindy declared.
Mattheus came over and stood beside her, ta
king it all in. This place had a magical energy that was different from any other she’d ever been to before. She saw that Mattheus felt it too.
“Incredible,” he murmured.
Cindy hoped they would go out on the patio and sit together for a while.
“It’s getting late,” Mattheus said slowly then. “Let’s go to our adjoining patios and do some work while we still have some energy. We can go online, check out the people we met. Then we’ll order dinner up.”
Cindy loved that Mattheus could remain practical and stay focused, even in the face of great beauty like this.
“Good idea,” she said slowly, having a hard time pulling herself away from the glow of the setting sun.
“The Senator wants me to check out a Billionaire Russian Mogul, Sasha Petrovich,” Mattheus reported. “He thinks the guy has it in for him, wants me to find out all I can and nail him. He’s convinced this guy had something to do with the murder.”
Cindy listened with interest. “Really? That’s huge,” she said.
“I’ll tell you all about it when I find out more,” said Mattheus. “It definitely warrants investigation. What did you get from talking to the mother?”
“A lot,” said Cindy. “The mother told me to check out an ex-boyfriend, Shane. Apparently, he and Tiffany were close for years. He was at the engagement party and didn’t take his eyes off her the whole time. The mother thinks he could have been jealous.”
“Jealous enough to kill?” Mattheus said.
“It’s possible,” said Cindy.
Mattheus wasn’t impressed. “Anything else?”
“The mother said Tiffany and her twin sister weren’t close enough.”
Mattheus made a sour face. “Odd comment for a mother to make. Tad said they were very close.”
“Different angles of perception,” Cindy noted.
“The Senator warned us not to take his wife’s remarks seriously,” Mattheus remarked.
Cindy bristled. “I guess he has his reasons for invalidating his wife,” she said. “But I don’t like it.”
Mattheus turned and looked at Cindy. “Why?”
