by Jaden Skye
“Find out who this guy who works for me is,” Price demanded.
“I will,” Cindy replied. “And I want to talk to you in person, as soon as possible.”
“Okay, okay,” Price seemed disconcerted. “I’ll do what I can, but, don’t get too excited. No one’s figured out anything yet about the hotel murders. My guess is they never will. And, even though some people think I know everything about what’s going on in Bermuda, I don’t know about those killings either.”
“I’m not saying I believe you know everything,” Cindy continued, “I’m not even sure those murders are connected to my sister’s death. But I need names, I need possibilities, I have to find out.”
“Yes, you do,” said Evan, “and so do I. Okay,” he went on, without hesitation. “Come meet me tomorrow at noon on my yacht. We’ll talk then. My secretary will give you directions.”
Cindy was delighted. “Thank you,” she breathed.
“My pleasure,” said Evan as he transferred the call to his secretary who told Cindy exactly how
to get to the yacht and to be sure not to be late.
*
Evan’s yacht was magnificent, gleaming white and rising high over the waves majestically as
though it routinely housed royalty and dignitaries of all kinds. Cindy walked up the way to the entrance,
slowly, letting the warm, salt air from the water caress her skin. She had taken extra pains to dress for
the meeting, wearing her finest, silk, lime hand printed dress. It flowed over her body gracefully,
whirring slightly above her knees. She’d also brushed her hair a long while and let it hang loosely over her shoulders. This was the first time since Ann’s death that Cindy had taken pains with how she looked. But Evan Price was a wealthy, magnet here and Cindy wanted to meet him on his own terms.
When she entered the gallant boat, Cindy was met with a valet who had been stationed there to greet her and welcome her on board.
“Mr. Price is awaiting you, in the dining room on the second floor,” he said to Cindy the moment
she arrived. “Let me show you there.”
*
The moment Cindy walked into the dining room, Evan Price stood up to greet her.
Cindy was stunned to see how young he was, mid-forties at the most. He was a bit taller than Cindy, with dark hair, wide hazel eyes and well defined features that made him seem in command. Dressed elegantly in a custom shirt and blue silk mascot, he looked as though he’d walked off the cover of a men’s fashion magazine.
Price was also clearly surprised at the sight of Cindy, stood back a moment to take her in.
“A detective?” he said, as she drew closer, seemingly amused. “I thought you’d be an old, dowdy lady.”
“Detectives come in all shapes and sizes,” Cindy felt pleased by his visceral response.
“Come in, sit down,” he seemed pleased to be with her. “Here’s a wine list, please choose.”
Cindy didn’t want anything to drink, but chose a glass of Merlot anyway, just to keep the mood between them and high.
“Talk to me,” Evan said then, leaning back in his chair, his elbows practically reaching to the railing of his yacht.
Cindy listened to the waves lapping against the boat and thought what a beautiful afternoon this would have been if Ann were here to share it with her. Cindy felt oddly comfortable now with Evan, was very glad to be here with him. At the same time it was hard to meet his constant gaze.
“Tell me whatever you can,” said Cindy, trying hard to remain professional. “I have to find my sister’s killer,” her eyes unexpectedly filled with tears. “She didn’t deserve to die so horribly here in Bermuda.”
Evan’s face grew momentarily grim. “I’m truly sorry,” he said to Cindy.
“Thank you,” Cindy felt it was so.
“Why are you convinced her death is connected to the hotel murders?” Evan went on.
Cindy looked over at him plainly, “I’m not convinced, I just don’t know what else to think,” she said, at a loss. “It’s just strange that my sister died in the same hotel as the other women.”
“Yes, it is,” Evan snapped to attention. “You working with the police?”
“Yes, we are,” said Cindy.
“We?” Evan looked curious.
“My partner, Mattheus, is down here helping me with the case,” Cindy replied.
“Lucky guy,” said Evan.
“I’m lucky to have him as well,” said Cindy, wanting to keep things clear. “We investigate murders in the Caribbean mainly.”
“This time it hit too close to home, though,” Evan remarked.
“Much too close,” said Cindy, sadly.
“You’re honest, you’re frank, I like it,” said Evan. “Did the police tell you to come here and talk to me?”
Cindy relaxed a bit then. “No, just the opposite,” she smiled at him. “They told me to leave you alone, that you’d already been questioned.”
“So, why are you here?” he asked, taken by surprise.
“I don’t usually listen to what people tell me,” said Cindy. “I have a radar inside that keeps me on course.”
“Good for you,” Evan liked her answer and looked at her appreciatively. “And what does your radar tell you about me?”
“That you know the lay of the land, you’re at the center of it. Most people believe that the hotel murders were somehow connected to big business.”
“We talked about that already,” said Evan quickly. “When they don’t know where to look, they blame big business. Did the police tell you that?”
“No, if fact they did not. They’ve been quiet about it, said they know nothing.”
“And you don’t believe them?”
“I’m not trained to believe, I’m trained to find out what’s real and what isn’t,” said Cindy definitively.
“A woman after my own heart,” Evan said and picked up his wine glass. “Let’s drink, let’s toast.”
Cindy picked up her glass and lifted it opposite his. Trage was right she thought, Evan was suave, he was glib. He was also smart with a streak of no nonsense plain talk that Cindy liked very much.
“To us,” said Evan promptly, “to finding out the truth about everything, the murders, your sister, and who’s behind the bloodshed on this island that’s been spilling over onto me as well.”
Cindy drank to that eagerly, draining her glass in one long drink.
Evan laughed, “Wow, you’re thirstier than you think.”
“This is great wine, said Cindy, holding out her glass as he poured another.
“How has the bloodshed been spilling over onto you?” Cindy wanted to hear more, as Evan poured himself a second glass of wine.
“The first thing you’ve got to know,” he said as he drank more wine, is about business on this island.” People in Bermuda have one of the highest pay scales in the world. But although there’s no sales or income tax, the cost of goods, including food is pretty high. So, they also have one of the highest costs of living, have to spend a lot to survive. That’s because eighty per cent of everything is imported. Bermuda has no natural resources like oil, gas, gold or anything.”
Cindy wondered why he was telling her all this and what bearing it had upon what happened to Ann. She did her best to listen closely and hear what he was really saying beneath the words, what he really had in mind.
“So, what are the main industries in Bermuda?” Evan went on. “The two top industries that control of economy are the International Business and Tourism Industry. Over fifteen thousand international companies have set up operations here. The international business is mainly around insurance, re-insurance and fund and trust management. Bermuda runs the third largest re-insurance in the world. This has made it a global magnet for international business - that and the fact that there’s no taxes for business here. The BMA oversees things making sure there’s no money laundering, fraud or other financial crimes.” And he smiled.
Cindy recalled then that he’d been brought up on charges on different counts. “You’ve never run into trouble?” she asked innocently, wanting to flush him out.
“Sure I’ve run into trouble,” he answered swiftly. “When you’re at the top of the mountain, everyone underneath wants to bring you down. It’s human nature and I’m used to it.”
“A terrible way to live,” said Cindy.
“I like it, myself,” Evan grinned. “Let them try all they want - no one’s ever pinned a thing on me, and no one ever will.”
“How can you be so sure?” asked Cindy, bristling at his arrogance.
“Because I don’t do anything to deserve it,” he quipped. “I live straight, do my business straight and am just smarter than most folks.” He drank the rest of the wine in his glass then and quickly poured another.
Cindy wasn’t here to dispute his view of life, or look into his business dealings. She held her focus tight on her sister’s death.
“What has all this got to do with how my sister died?” Cindy repeated.
“It could be just coincidence that your sister got killed in the Greenstone Hotel,” Evan said suddenly then, swerving in another direction. “The last killing there happened two months ago. Everything’s been quiet since. I was sure it was all over.”
“Tell me about the women who were killed there?” Cindy liked that he was finally talking and wanted to flush him out more.
“Each woman was killed the same way – poisoned,” he commented. “They went to sleep and never woke up.”
Cindy hadn’t heard that. It wasn’t what happened to Ann, either.
“Each woman was connected to the glitzy life here,” Evan went on. “Everyone who investigated the case came up with the conclusion that the killer wasn’t out to get the women. The killer was after their boyfriends, the big, hedge fund guys the women hung out with. Finally, they realized that each of the women who got killed was with a guy from the same hedge fund.”
“That’s a huge fingerprint,” Cindy murmured, “shouldn’t be hard to come up with the killer after that.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Evan. “But when you don’t want to find out something, evidence conveniently gets blurry, or lost.”
“The police got rid of evidence?” asked Cindy.
“I didn’t say that,” Evan’s jaw was set firm. “You’ll never find me accusing anyone. The whole thing just looks suspicious, if you asked me.”
“What hedge fund were these guys involved with?” Cindy asked then.
“It doesn’t even matter now,” said Evan. “It wasn’t my hedge fund if that’s what you want to know.”
“A rival company?” asked Cindy.
Evan laughed loudly then. “I really don’t have any rivals,” he said. “Maybe some people think they can compete with me, but compared to my assets, they’re all small fry.”
“What do you think the motive for the killings was?” Cindy was tired of the bantering.
“Who the hell cares?” Evan retorted. “It doesn’t matter a damn.”
“Of course it matters,” Cindy took exception.
“Not to me. All that matters to me is that I had no part in it,” Evan declared. “People get killed all the time over money. Who knows, maybe it was a furious investor who lost money, getting back at the big guys? Maybe it was a jilted lover? Maybe it was someone else trying to take the whole fund down?”
“Or, maybe an inside deal that went bad?” Cindy mused. “And the fund covered its tracks beautifully. Of course evidence would disappear if the fund didn’t want its dealings made public. People were paid off, big time.”
“Okay, so now you proved you’re a terrific detective,” said Evan smiling. “But, just remember, it wasn’t my fund.”
Cindy looked directly into his eyes then. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their encounter. His eyes were open and gleaming, hiding nothing. In the flash of a moment, Cindy trusted him completely. He saw it, too.
“Thank you for believing me,” Evan responded quickly. “Listen, there’s no end to the annoyance factor of this, either. The cops keep contacting me, one way or another, won’t let it alone. I’m getting sick of it, I really am.”
Cindy was pleased to hear that the cops were still trying to solve the case though.
“I don’t like being hounded by anyone,” Evan’s lips grew thin, “let alone by the police. Doesn’t sit well with me.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Cindy said softly.
Evan calmed down at that. “Not you, believe me. I’m not talking about you. I like having you here.”
“Thank you,” said Cindy.
“In fact, I hope I can see you again,” he smiled.
“I’m spending every minute working on the case,” Cindy replied quickly, “and then spending what time is left over with my family and partner.”
“Of course,” Evan replied quietly. “I meant I hope I can help you out with this.”
“I hope you can, too,” Cindy breathed.
“Tell me about your sister’s husband,” Evan said then, lowering his eyes.
“Frank has a mid-sized business of his own, back in Wisconsin. He’s not involved with any hedge fund,” Cindy assured him.
“You never know, you’d be surprised,” Evan answered skeptically. “Maybe he’s not involved with the big investors, but there are smaller funds here that take everyone.”
Cindy suddenly felt exhausted, both from the wine and conversation.
Even saw it immediately, and pulled his chair closer. “Look into a guy named Tony Beggio,” he whispered loudly. “He’s a slimy guy that runs a smaller fund – always surrounded by questionable characters looking for a quick fix. Maybe your brother’s involved with him?”
“It’s highly unlikely,” Cindy looked at Evan blankly, “my brother in law is not a slimy guy.”
“Look into Tony Beggio anyway,” Evan insisted.
“Okay, I will,” replied Cindy, feeling downcast.
“Chances are your sister’s death has nothing to do with the hotel killings – chances are she or her husband were involved in something else. Whatever it was, it wasn’t pretty. There’s a lot of undercover crap going on down here. Check out that husband.”
None of what Evan suggested resonated with Cindy.
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help,” Evan said then. “Keep in touch anyway. And please get me the name of the person who works for me, too. I’m interested to know who he is.”
.
Chapter 12
Cindy was thrilled to have met Evan. Not only did she like him, she felt he was someone she could count on, come back to talk to time and again. Although he’d offered to have one of his cars take her home, Cindy insisted upon going back alone. She wanted to walk a bit first along the water on her way to the hotel. It was a beautiful, warm, afternoon and Cindy needed time to unwind. She wanted to take in the blue sky, listen to the song of birds and bask in the great beauty of this perfectly manicured island.
The walk along the water was easy and peaceful. Cindy went over all she and Evan had discussed again. This was the first time Cindy had learned that the women who were murdered had been poisoned. It was shocking, awful, but Ann’s situation was nothing like that. Ann had not been poisoned, she’d struggled with her murderer, fought for her life. The hotel murders were fascinating and it would be easy to get side tracked into trying to solve them. But Cindy had something more important at hand. Finding out what had happened to Ann, was Cindy’s first priority, nothing could override that. Where could she turn now?
Cindy thought about going to talk to Tony Beggio as Evan suggested, but she couldn’t imagine that Frank would be involved with a guy like that. Cindy knew she had to uncover more about Ann’s life at the end. She also had to learn more about what, if anything, was going on with Frank. It was a painful road to take and Cindy didn’t want to take it, but nothing else beckoned.
As Cindy walked slowly she let hersel
f breathe the sweet, salty air deeply and forget about time. Whatever she did or didn’t do, whatever she found, or didn’t find, nothing would bring Ann back. It would take a long while for Cindy to learn how to live life without her sister around. Cindy would also have to discover how to forgive herself for not being close by when Ann needed her. It was easy to look into the underbelly of big business and hunt for a culprit. It much harder to stop and look into herself.
Suddenly, Cindy’s phone rang, interrupting her reverie.
“Where in the world are you?” Mattheus sounded nervous. “You should have been back here at least an hour ago.”
Cindy was surprised at Mattheus’s urgency, unaware of how much time had passed. “What time is it?” she asked.
“Time for you to be back,” Mattheus quipped. “It’s almost three. How long did that lunch go?”
“A couple of hours, I guess,” said Cindy.
“A couple of hours? That’s a long time,” Mattheus said. “Where are you now?”
“Walking back, along the water,” said Cindy. “It’s actually beautiful here, I never noticed it before.”
“You sound strange,” Mattheus commented, uneasy.
“No, I’m fine, Mattheus, “just taking it slow.”
“I’m waiting for you here,” Mattheus responded. “I’ve found stuff to go over with you and I also want to hear what Price had to say.”
Cindy picked up her speed. She knew she had to go over everything with Mattheus, and she would. But for a little while, it had been lovely just taking a simple walk by herself.
*
Mattheus was downstairs in the lobby waiting when Cindy walked in. He ran right over to her, put his arms around her and gave her a hug.
“I missed you,” he said, “I was worried about you. I was nervous about you being out there alone.”
“I’m okay, Mattheus,” Cindy closed her eyes, taking in his concern. It felt good and also constricting at the same time. “Please don’t worry about me.”
“But I do,” he said. “This is a delicate time.”
“I know,” Cindy replied.
“Come on, let’s go out on a hiking trail,” Mattheus said then. “We’ll get some fresh air, walk together, unwind and decide what to do next.”
