by Jaden Skye
“You’re not in danger,” Cindy tried to comfort her.
“How do you know?” Bala shot back. “Don’t give me false security! That’s worse than anything.”
“You’re right, you’re right,” Cindy realized. “I won’t, I promise.”
“Please check on these witnesses, please help my brother!” Bala voice grew thin and tinny.
“I’ll do my very best,” said Cindy, “I promise you. Please stay in touch.”
Bala hung up quickly then and Cindy felt a sharp stab in her heart. “My God, my God, Mattheus,” she uttered, “we never should have dug up the dirt and opened up this trail of pain.”
Mattheus put his fork down and stared at her. “Why? Who was that on the phone?”
“It was Bala. She said Dawl’s been set up, the witnesses work for Raina. They were also witnesses in another case connected to the company where someone went missing.”
“Hard to believe,” said Mattheus. “The police would know that. It could disqualify them.”
“But the police don’t want to disqualify them,” said Cindy. “And who else would remember a detail like that? I told you it was too convenient.”
“Where’s Bala now?” asked Mattheus.
“In hiding, afraid for her son,” Cindy said.
Mattheus saw the obvious distress on Cindy’s face. ““Okay, okay,” he said, “I’ll finish breakfast and we’ll go right away to talk to people at the casinos who can tell us more about Dawl.”
“After that I’m going to talk to Raina,” said Cindy.
Mattheus looked disconcerted. “Not the best idea,” he said, “let sleeping lions rest.”
“Who said she’s resting?” said Cindy. “Mattheus, these witnesses work for her company! For all we know Raina’s bought everyone off so she can protect her precious son.”
“Wait a minute,” Mattheus reigned Cindy in. “You’re jumping way ahead. It’s possible, but farfetched. First let’s see what else we can find out about Dawl.”
CHAPTER 17
Even at this early hour in the morning the Casino Royale was busy and hopping. Some people there looked as if they’d been up at the tables all night long. Others were at the slot machines, bleary eyed, still trying their luck.
Rodney had told Mattheus to go to the edge of the first long table on the main floor and ask for the dealer, Kent. It would be easy to find him, he was there night and day. He’d know all the folks to talk to about Dawl.
“Kent?” Mattheus asked a thin, wiry guy looked like he was in charge.
“You got to be Mattheus?” Kent replied. “Rodney told me to be on the lookout for you.”
Once again Cindy was struck with the how on top of things Rodney was. He never missed a beat, didn’t let a moment escape him.
“I need to find out about Dawl Lemmings,” Mattheus went on, “talk to folks who know him.”
A thin smile played at the edge of Kent’s mouth. “Talk to me,” he said. “I’ll give you the low down. Nothing happens here that I don’t hear about, sooner or later.”
Cindy smiled. She liked Kent’s strange, slick way.
“It’s common knowledge that they’re putting the finger on Dawl,” Kent went on confidentially.
“Doesn’t surprise anybody. That guy refuses to keep his mouth shut. Drunk or not, whatever he thinks he blurts right out. The idiot prides himself on talking big. Nothing stays inside.”
“What should have stayed hidden?” asked Cindy.
Kent turned and looked Cindy over slowly. “Such a pretty woman, a detective?” he grimaced, as confused. “There’s better jobs for someone as classy as you.”
“Cindy and I are partners,” Mattheus interjected, irritated.
Kent laughed. “Yeah, Rodney told me. But why in the world would such a beautiful woman want to poke around in garbage?”
“You’re saying that Dawl is garbage?” asked Cindy, enjoying the banter despite herself.
“You got me wrong,” Kent shrugged his shoulders. “Dawl’s a great guy, we all love him. He just can’t keep anything to himself. I mean one thing everyone knows is -don’t mess with Dawl. So, I heard that this dame who got killed went straight to his house to talk to his boy. Please! That kid is Dawl’s life. What did she think she was doing, trying to take him away?”
“Dawl killed her for it?” Mattheus asked matter of factly, as if it would have been natural.
“How the hell do I know if he killed her?” said Kent. “Sure the cops would like to say that, tie the case up and get out. I have my doubts about it. But one thing I do know is that Dawl told lots of people over and over that he wanted her dead.”
“Jesus, that guy’s a goner!” said Mattheus, “that’s all the police need to hear.”
“I’m sure they heard it,” said Kent. They got motive on him, for sure, but, who in hell dug up those witnesses? Give me a break.”
“I heard they work for Raina’s company,” Cindy murmured.
Kent tapped his mouth with his fingers. “Mums the word. You hear all kinds of things down here on the islands. Who told you that?”
Cindy paused, not wanting to mention Bala or that she was in hiding. “Just heard it,” said Cindy.
“Well, you got good ears,” Kent answered.
“Those witnesses really work at the docks, packing and loading?” Mattheus asked.
“They do,” said Kent.
“It normal behavior for them to take a walk to the Cove after work?” Mattheus continued.
“Sure, it’s normal,” said Kent. “They do it all the time. So do others. The Cove’s a tourist trap.”
“Did anybody else see Dawl at the Cove around five o’clock?” Cindy joined in.
“You got to ask the police that, honey,” said Kent. “I have no idea.”
“What’s the upshot of all this?” Mattheus asked firmly.
“The upshot is that it makes perfect sense they’d finger Dawl. He’s been blabbing for days. The guy’s got a record, but he’s also got an alibi, isn’t that right?” said Kent.
“Dawl’s alibi is for later that night, when he was at the clubs. That’s when they found the body. But the autopsy put the time of her death earlier, around five,” said Mattheus.
“Hell, Dawl’s always home around five with the kid,” said Kent. “I never saw him anywhere else then. Why the hell would he go to the Cove?”
“Unless he killed her,” said Mattheus.
“Talking’s one thing, doing’s another,” Kent mused. “The guy’s done stuff, he’s messed up, but killing’s something else. No question Dawl’s a loud brute, but if you asked me, he doesn’t have a killer’s heart.”
“Could they have mistaken someone else for him?” Cindy asked sharply.
“Both guys identified him,” said Kent.
“And both could be lying,” said Cindy. “But there are still the fingerprints to check.”
“Oh yeah?” Kent looked surprised. “Hadn’t heard about them.”
Cindy remembered then that the police had said they were keeping the fingerprints quiet. “I mean I think there must be some kind of evidence like that,” said Cindy.
Kent looked at her closely. “It’s okay, the news is secret with me.”
Cindy liked him and he liked her. She felt he was savvy and only wanted the best outcome.
“Listen, who else should we talk to?” asked Mattheus.
“Talk to any of the regulars at the tables,” Kent said. “But there’s nothing else you’re going to find out. Dawl told lots of folks that Tara would take his kid over his dead body, and it would be better if she were dead first.”
“He dug his own grave,” said Mattheus.
“Let’s hope he didn’t dig hers too,” replied Kent.
*
Kent was right. Word had spread like wildfire over the casino that Dawl had been taken in by the cops. Lots of people shook their heads, said he was a goner and should have kept his big mouth shut.
Cindy and Mattheus left
the casino and decided to wander down to the dock, to sit on a bench near the water, take in the sun and talk. It was wonderful being near the water with the fresh salty air, listening to the boats rocking in the waves.
“Looks like the case is practically tied up,” said Mattheus, as they sat down close to each other and lifted their faces to the sun. “Not much left to do.”
“They haven’t matched the fingerprints with Dawl’s yet,” Cindy said, not wanting to let go.
“They will,” said Mattheus, “or they’ll blame the condition of the body. They’ll say that the fingerprints are not in good enough shape to match.”
“So, Lynch just walks?” said Cindy.
“Seems like you’ve decided he shouldn’t, that you’ve convicted Lynch in your mind,” Mattheus responded.
“I haven’t convicted him, but I’m not positive either that he’s had nothing to do with it,” said Cindy.
Mattheus turned to Cindy and stroked her shoulders with his warm hands. “Doesn’t it feel good to unwind like this?” he murmured. “Maybe it’s time to just let things be.”
It did feel wonderful being close to Mattheus in the sun, with him stroking her. But it would feel better if this lingering doubt wasn’t in the back of Cindy’s mind.
“If the fingerprints they have don’t match Dawl then I’m going to see Raina” Cindy announced, leaning back against Mattheus.
“I actually never met a more tenacious woman,” said Mattheus. “You just don’t give up, do you?”
Cindy laughed. “This work has brought the tiger out in me. I was never like that before.”
“Hard to believe,” said Mattheus.
“No, really,” said Cindy. “If you’d known me when I was with Clint, you would never have recognized me at all.”
Mattheus stopped rubbing her shoulders then. “Really? What were you like?”
“I believed everything Clint told me,” Cindy spoke in a soft voice. “I adored him, was just happy to spend whatever time I could at his side.”
Mattheus sighed. “Sounds fantastic to me. Clint was one lucky guy, if you asked me.”
“There was no way in the world,” Cindy went on, “I had any inkling of his hidden life.”
“Hidden or private?” Mattheus interjected.
“Both hidden and private,” said Cindy. “He was involved in stuff with his company that had him killed – on our honeymoon!”
“I know,” said Mattheus, stroking her shoulders again. “I know how much you loved him and what a horrible loss it was.”
“I’ll never let that happen again,” said Cindy.
“Let what happen?” asked Mattheus, “adoring someone, believing them, just being happy to be at their side?”
Cindy took Mattheus’s hands off her shoulders. “That’s not what I’m saying and you know it.
I’ll never let myself be so naïve again, just go along with what people say.”
“Okay, that’s fine,” said Mattheus. “That’s what makes you a great detective now. But, stop a minute and listen to me. There’s more to life than being a detective. Loving someone again like that, believing them, trusting completely, that’s the icing on the cake.”
Cindy stopped and looked into Mattheus’s gorgeous eyes. She knew he was right and wished she could give him the kind of love and trust he was asking for. At times she felt that way towards him, other times fear and suspicion arose.
“It’s okay,” said Mattheus slowly then. “We’re doing great. We’ve been through a lot and we’re still here, aren’t we?”
Cindy smiled. Mattheus had a charm about him that was irresistible. It usually surfaced at the end of a case, when they were winding down like this.
“You know, Cindy,” Mattheus said then, looking out at the boats and sea, “I feel about you the same way you felt about Clint.”
Cindy stopped and listened, really taken aback.
“I adore you, I believe in you, and I’d trust you with my life,” Mattheus went on.
“My God, Mattheus,” Cindy responded, taken completely unaware. Then she put her hands on his face and turned it towards her. “That was so beautiful, thank you so much,” she whispered.
“But you’ve got to feel the same way about me, too,” Mattheus went on softly.
“I know I do,” said Cindy.
“Is it possible?” Mattheus asked.
“Everything is possible,” Cindy replied.
“You can let go of this stuff with my daughter?” Mattheus continued hopefully.
Cindy pulled back. “What has one thing got to do with another? Your daughter’s part of you, Mattheus, and I want to meet her so much.”
Thankfully, just at that moment, Mattheus’s phone rang. He picked up and it was Rodney.
“Fingerprints on the corpse don’t match Dawl’s,” was the first thing Rodney said.
“Oh boy,” said Mattheus. “I really hoped for definitive results. This just adds to the confusion.”
“Well, there’s evidence for Dawl and against him,” Rodney continued. “And, since the actual murder took place around five, his alibi for later in the evening doesn’t mean a thing.”
“So, where do we go from here?” asked Mattheus.
“You go home and call it a day,” said Rodney. “You’re done. Let the system takes over.”
“Thanks for your help,” said Mattheus, “it’s meant a great deal.” Then he hung up the phone.
“He feels it’s all over?” asked Cindy.
“He’s right. That’s about it,” replied Mattheus.
Cindy shook her head. “But I’m not going home without talking to Raina one more time.”
“What do you think you’re going to get from her?” Mattheus seemed irritated. “You think she’s going to confess that these goons work for her company, that she called them on board to cover for her son?”
Cindy thought about it a moment. “No, that’s not what I think,” she said. “I actually think Lynch got caught in the cross hairs. But there’s more information we need from Raina. And, I’m not going to go about it directly. I’m going to go in from a side angle, going to set her up.”
“Come on, now you’re going off the deep edge,” said Mattheus. “Obsessions are contagious. Everyone’s prone to them at any time.”
“This is not an obsession,” said Cindy. “I need one more try.”
“Try for what?” Mattheus was irritated.
“I want to probe the corners,” Cindy demanded. “If these witnesses work for Raina’s company, we have no other choice.”
“Listen,” said Mattheus. “From what I understand, a large part of the island works for Raina’s company, in one way or another.”
“Like it or not, I’ve got to do it, Mattheus,” Cindy insisted.
“Why?” He seemed adamant.
“Because an innocent man’s life could be at stake,” said Cindy.
“Dawl doesn’t look like such an innocent man,” Mattheus shot back at her. “He told a million people he wanted Tara dead.”
“Having a big mouth is one thing, going to jail for murder is another,” Cindy replied.
“Okay, so do what you want,” said Mattheus, “but I don’t want any part of this.”
“Fine,” said Cindy. “I can handle it on my own.”
*
After they returned to their hotel room, Cindy went out on the patio, and let the soft wind blow through her hair. She didn’t know exactly what she was fishing for, but she knew she couldn’t get it from Raina directly. She’d have to unnerve her, set her up, if there would be any possibility of her spilling something important.
Mattheus walked out onto the patio as Cindy stood there, leaning on it. “I just called Raina to set up an interview for you,” Mattheus said softly. “She said it’s out of the question. In fact, she’s packing to leave as we speak. Her plane takes off in the morning.”
Cindy shivered. “She and Lynch have clearance to leave already?”
“She does,” said
Mattheus. “I didn’t ask about Lynch.”
“It’s not happening,” said Cindy, turning around swiftly.
“What’s not happening?” Mattheus looked nervous.
“She’s not taking a step off this island without speaking to me first,” Cindy said.
“That’s a little grandiose, wouldn’t you say?” asked Mattheus. “Are you having trouble because the case didn’t go your way? Not all of them do, we have to accept it.”
“Mattheus, there’s too much evidence here that doesn’t compute. I have to talk to Raina,” Cindy’s voice rose shrilly.
“So, go talk to her, don’t yell at me,” Mattheus responded.
“There’s no time to lose. I’m going to her hotel room now,” said Cindy. I’ll back when I’m finished.”
“Just like that? She said she didn’t want to see you and you’re barging in?” Mattheus asked.
“That’s right,” said Cindy. “Just like that.”
“And what if she doesn’t let you in the door?” Mattheus seemed agitated.
“I’ll find a way to get her to let me in,” a smile crept over Cindy’s face.
“You’re diabolical, Cindy,” Mattheus exclaimed.
“No, I’m committed, to finding the truth, “said Cindy. Then suddenly something struck her. “Mattheus, I just had an idea. Please listen to me, I need your help.”
“What?” asked Mattheus.
“Just do me this favor. Call Lynch and ask him if he’ll spend some time with you downstairs at the café?”
“Why?” Mattheus looked nervous.
“I don’t want Raina to be able to get in touch with him for a little while.”
“His cell phone will be on him. If she calls, he’ll answer.” Mattheus looked confused.
“Tell him not to in advance,” said Cindy. “Tell him you need all his attention with no interruptions for a little while. Engross him in the conversation. Talk to him about Bala. I know he cares about her.”
“What do you want me to say about her?” Mattheus was growing interested.
“Tell him she’s scared for the safety of the child. That will get him going. Tell him she needs him to help her. It doesn’t matter what you say exactly, just keep him out of Raina’s reach for about an hour.”
