by Jaden Skye
“What kind of things were said about Sparks?” Cindy was surprised by the warning.
“Sparks recently fired a bunch of employees,” Gregg continued. “These employees are upset and putting out all kinds of lousy things about Sparks. They’re saying he’s an arrogant slave driver and bastard.” Gregg grew tense as he spoke.
“Is that true?” asked Cindy.
“Not by a long shot,” Gregg answered. “I was the guy closest to him, even closer than Bat. He treated both of us like gold. But if you didn’t keep your word, or if you crossed him, Sparks didn’t like that. He could get a little rough then. If he found you weren’t doing the job, or letting information leak out anywhere, you were gone without a moment’s notice.”
“Is that what happened to those employees?” asked Cindy.
“That’s right,” said Gregg. “They were a bunch of smart alecks, trying to take advantage of Sparks. He couldn’t let that go on. So, now they’re trying to smear his reputation online. But none of what they say amounts to anything.”
“Could one of these people have gotten him killed?” asked Cindy.
“I seriously doubt it,” said Gregg. “They’re small fish with no real power. Just whining out loud. And besides, they’re all back in the States right now, not one of them is down here in Belize.”
“They could have sent someone down here to kill him.” Cindy didn’t want to let it go so fast.
“I really doubt it,” Gregg insisted.
“Okay,” Cindy temporarily relented, taking a new track. “Did something bad happen to anyone Sparks was guarding recently?”
Gregg stood up at that question, and stared hard at Cindy. “You’re smart,” he said. “I forgot all about it. Now that you mention it, one of the people Sparks guarded, a young woman named April, got killed a few months ago. Sparks took it very personally. It tormented him. I told him it happens all the time. ‘Not to me,’ he said.”
“Who was she?” asked Cindy.
“April came from a very wealthy family,” Gregg continued. “In fact, her family has a mansion down here in Belize, they came down to vacation regularly. The family hired Sparks to keep close tails on her.”
“Why?” Cindy was fascinated.
“Because they hated April’s fiancé, Ron. He was a loser after their money, a freeloader.”
“How did April die? Where was Sparks when it happened?” Cindy was all over it.
“She died strangely.” Gregg’s voice grew garbled. “She was taken during the middle of the night when her family thought she was safely at their home. Someone grabbed her from her own house. She was missing for two days and then found slashed in the woods nearby. No sign of a break-in, either. What happened definitely wasn’t Sparks’s fault.”
“Did anyone blame him?” asked Cindy.
“They didn’t. Sparks headed up the investigation and it didn’t take long before April’s killer was found.” Gregg scratched his head slowly. “It was her fiancé, Ron.”
“They were sure about that?” It all seemed too cut-and-dry to Cindy.
“Yes, they were,” said Gregg. “April had finally gone along with her parents’ wishes and broke off the engagement. Ron sure wasn’t happy about it. It didn’t take much to nab him. Sparks helped the police get him convicted. Ron’s rotting in jail now as we speak.”
“Could Ron be trying to get revenge on Sparks now?” asked Cindy. “Could he have gotten someone to take Sparks out?”
Gregg shook his head slowly. “Doubtful,” he said. “And besides, nobody knew that Sparks was coming down here now. Bat and I made sure of that. We covered Sparks’s tracks wherever he went.”
“What about the celebs down here on the yacht?” asked Cindy. “They knew he was coming down, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, that’s just by chance,” said Gregg. “They came down here to party the same time as Sparks came for the wedding. He said it was okay if they knew. He was actually glad they were all going to be here at the same time. Sparks was planning to have fun with them. There was no problem at all.”
Cindy stood up abruptly then and straightened her skirt. “Who would have wanted to kill Sparks, Gregg?” she asked pointedly. “No one would know better than you. Who exactly were you guarding Sparks from?”
“No one in particular,” Gregg insisted. “Mostly we kept Sparks away from press and people who were snooping. Sparks liked having us around, it made him feel important. We liked him, too. But I truly have no idea who would have wanted to kill him. Neither does Bat. We’re just as shocked as everybody else.”
“What about Benita?” Cindy asked suddenly in a flash.
“Benita?” Gregg was horrified. “You think she killed Sparks?”
“I’m not saying that,” said Cindy. “But maybe someone killed Sparks to hurt Benita? Did she have any enemies? Was someone upset about their relationship?”
“Just the opposite, people were thrilled. They were a great couple. Benita loved Sparks to death. I never saw any woman who wanted to do more for her man.”
“Where was Benita when Sparks was killed?” Cindy had to ask that now.
“You mean does Benita have an alibi?” asked Gregg.
“Does she?” echoed Cindy.
“She does and the police already have it,” he said.
“Of course I’d like to talk to Benita about all this myself,” Cindy added.
“Of course,” said Gregg. “But take it easy on her, please. She’s totally unhinged now, not at all herself.”
“That’s understandable,” said Cindy.
“I guess it is,” Gregg conceded. “But it’s hard to watch. I’ll go get her now and you’ll see for yourself.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
While Gregg went to the side room to get Benita, Cindy got up and opened the door to the patio that overlooked the beach below. It was good to feel the warm, moist air flow over her as she stood there. The door to the patio should have been locked, however, Cindy couldn’t help thinking. If Benita suddenly got up during the night, seized with the pain of losing Sparks, it was perfectly possible that she could have come out here and jumped. Cindy remembered how she’d felt the first few days after Clint had been found dead on the beach during their honeymoon. The world had tipped off its axis then and nothing made sense anymore, including going on without him. Cindy was eager to talk to Benita for many reasons now, including to reassure her that life after tragedy went on. The world turned back on its axis again eventually. It had to.
Cindy stood there, allowing the breezes to wash over her face. The wind was definitely getting stronger and Cindy remembered warnings of a storm coming in during the next few days. As she stood on the patio gazing into the sky, her own life flashed before her quickly. Cindy saw all the preparations for her own wedding tonight, which was obviously not going on. Everything was being held in abeyance, as well it should. Cindy also saw her first wedding to Clint, his senseless death on the beach a few days later, and her relentless search for his killer.
Cindy vividly remembered her life-changing meeting with Mattheus, which didn’t take place until later. It had happened when Cindy herself began to help solving other murder cases, became a detective down in the Caribbean. At that time there was nothing else she could do to ease the pain she was in. Everything made sense to her when she helped others. And if she didn’t, nothing held together. Cindy knew very well what Benita was going through now and could use that knowledge to help her.
“Cindy?” She heard Gregg’s voice calling her from inside the room now.
“Coming.” Cindy turned back and stepped off the patio to speak with Benita.
When Cindy saw Benita standing close beside Gregg in the middle of the room, she looked forlorn. Benita’s eyes were red and swollen, as if she hadn’t slept a moment since Sparks was killed. Her long, beautiful hair was strewn over her face.
“I’m so sorry,” Cindy said, walking over to her. “I just stepped out for a moment to breathe the ocean air.”
> Benita immediately reached out and grabbed Cindy’s hand. “I’m sorry too, so sorry.” She could barely speak; her eyes were fluttering.
“Let’s all sit down.” Gregg had his arms around Benita, as if he were holding her up to keep her from collapsing.
They all sat down together on the long, luxurious, violet couch and Benita put her head in her hands and started crying.
“I can’t go on without him, I can’t,” she whimpered.
Cindy put her hands on Benita’s. “It’s takes time,” she whispered. “One day you will. For now, you have to rest a lot.”
“I can’t rest, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t think.” Benita’s whimpering grew louder.
“I’m here to help you, Benita,” said Cindy.
“Bring Sparks back to me then,” cried Benita more loudly. “Tell me this is all a horrible dream. Go put your wedding dress on and let’s all go to a wedding! Not to a funeral.”
Benita’s reaction was natural, Cindy understood. It was probably way too soon to speak to her now about her relationship with Sparks.
“Is there anything at all I can do to help you?” Cindy asked tentatively.
“Nothing.” Benita flared up then. “I want Sparks here with me. No one else. This isn’t good.”
How well Cindy understood Benita’s feelings. “Is there anything else at all you would like to say?” Cindy asked then, just in case there was.
Benita shot up from the couch then, a wave of hot anger flaming through her. “There’s plenty I want to say,” she practically shouted. “I loved Sparks and he loved me. And I won’t let anyone get between us!”
Cindy was startled and alarmed. “Was someone trying to get between you?”
“People can’t stand it when others are incredibly happy, can they?” Benita continued. “Have you noticed that?”
“I have,” said Cindy somberly. “Not all people, but some.”
“Too many.” Benita’s voice rose sharply. “The haters are all over, lurking in shadows. I told Sparks that time and again.”
“Who was upset by your relationship, Benita?” Cindy asked carefully.
Gregg made a face and shook his head, as if to say no one.
“People were jealous, they were nasty, they made comments.” Benita’s voice grew louder.
“Who, exactly? Tell me who, Benita,” Cindy insisted.
“I don’t know who, exactly. I’m not sure.” Benita backed down. “But I felt it, I told Sparks about it. And when I talked to Sparks, he listened.”
Gregg took a deep breath and gave Cindy a personal glance, as if to say this was all simply the railing of a distraught woman.
Cindy repeated her question. “Who was jealous of you and Sparks, Benita?”
Benita tapped her fingers on her face then, as if trying to remember. She looked momentarily like a little girl being caught at school not being able to answer a question.
“Benita was very close to Sparks,” Gregg interjected then. “She didn’t like people interfering.”
“That’s right.” Benita seemed to feel better hearing that. “I didn’t want anyone interfering.”
“How did they interfere?” Cindy was puzzled.
“If they wanted us to go somewhere with them, they had to ask me first,” Benita declared. “It was up to me to make arrangements. Sometimes they didn’t. Sometimes they’d call him directly, try to get between us. I didn’t like that. I told him to tell them I was in charge.”
“And what did Sparks do?” asked Cindy.
“Usually he told them to ask me about it. Sometimes he forgot,” she said.
“Did that upset you very much?” Cindy wouldn’t drop it.
“Of course it did.” Benita’s voice rose again. “Wouldn’t it upset you?”
Cindy thought about it briefly. Actually, not at all. Cindy was fine when Mattheus made arrangements for them.
“I’d be fine with it,” said Cindy then, eager to see Benita’s response. “It would be a relief.”
“Well, maybe you’re that kind of woman,” said Benita, pushing her long hair off her face. “But I’m not. I knew how all the women felt about Sparks. They couldn’t keep away.”
“Is that also true of the friends on the yacht down here?” Cindy wanted something specific.
“No, not them,” Benita breathed. “I know them all. They were all my friends first. They respect me and were happy for me and Sparks. Very happy.”
“So, who were you upset with then?” Cindy had to have an answer.
“I’m not sure who.” Benita’s voice grew more confused.
Gregg put his arm back around Benita. “This is a terrible time for Benita,” he said protectively. “She’s not really sure about what she’s saying.”
“Yes, I am sure,” Benita insisted, as Gregg gave Cindy a pleading glance. Cindy realized that Gregg was advising her to back away, give Benita time to collect herself. Of course, it was a reasonable request, but this was also a good opportunity to get information from Benita that would otherwise stay buried underground.
Cindy nodded at Gregg, though. “Just one more question,” she said.
“What is it? What do you want to know?” Benita suddenly glared at Cindy, who seemed to be quickly becoming one of the people Benita couldn’t trust. Cindy didn’t want that.
“I just was wondering why you weren’t able to get to the rehearsal dinner,” Cindy said softly, in a non-threatening way.
Benita came back to herself for a moment then. She snapped to attention and thought about it. The answer came quickly.
“I couldn’t attend,” she replied. “Kiera was just arriving on the island and she didn’t know anyone here. I had to go welcome her. Sparks said it was more important that I do that than go to the dinner. He was going and said he’d give the toast for both of us.”
The reply made perfect sense to Cindy. “Who’s Kiera?” she asked offhandedly, not remembering someone on her guest list with that name.
“Kiera is the sister of April, the young woman Sparks worked for who recently got killed.”
“She’s not a friend of yours then?” Cindy had to be certain.
“I wouldn’t exactly call her a friend.” Benita brushed her hand over her face. “Sparks invited Kiera down to Belize so she could cheer up. He felt it was the least he could do. We were all going to go to the celebrity yacht and join the party after the wedding was over.”
Cindy took it all in slowly. “That was nice of Sparks,” she noted.
“It’s the kind of man he was,” Benita replied.
“And how did you feel about having Kiera with you?” Cindy sensed a deeper discomfort about this in Benita.
“Sparks cleared it with me first, of course.” Benita’s eyes flashed for a moment. “I said it was fine. He convinced me how important having her here would be and I gave my approval.”
Gregg then gave Cindy another long glance. He seemed to want her to stop questioning Benita.
“Did you feel at all funny about it?” asked Cindy, plunging onward anyway.
Benita stepped forward boldly. “I told you, I approved it. So why would why I feel funny? What are you suggesting? Are you trying to make trouble between me and Sparks?”
Gregg then stepped forward. “It’s enough for now, Cindy,” he insisted. “Definitely time to leave.”
Cindy agreed. “I’ll be back to see you later on,” she said to Benita on the way out. “Rest now if you can and think of how I can help.”
*
After speaking to Benita, Cindy went back to her own suite. She felt tired and wanted to take a break and wait for Mattheus to return so they could debrief and plan their next moves. He’d probably spoken to Bat at the station, and she’d been fortunate to have had time alone with both Benita and Gregg.
I’m back in the suite, Cindy texted Mattheus, after she stretched out on the couch. Let me know when you’ll be here.
On the way back right now, Mattheus quickly responded. Stay right w
here you are.
Cindy closed her eyes. How long was this going to go on? There seemed to be a huge web surrounding Sparks that would have to be untangled. Unless the police were onto something, this case could go on a long time. Cindy couldn’t let herself think of the implications of that, or when in the world her wedding would ever take place.
In a few moments the door opened and Mattheus walked in. Cindy jumped up quickly, eager to rush into his arms. But as soon as she got off the couch the harsh look on his face kept her frozen to her spot.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “You look awful.”
“We’re in the middle of a lousy, rotten mess.” Mattheus’s voice was garbled. “The force down here is about as corrupt as I’ve seen. Even Bat agreed with me about that.” Mattheus plopped down into a nearby chair. “The cops are acting like we’re their enemies. They won’t give me the time of day.”
They both had been up against this before in other cases. It definitely made things harder, but sooner or later Cindy and Mattheus had always broken through.
“I’m sorry to hear this,” Cindy murmured. “The cops are probably under incredible pressure from higher up.”
“Not just that, they’re hiding something,” Mattheus grumbled, “and they can’t risk our finding it out. I’ve seen this kind of crap before. How about you? Find anything?”
Cindy wanted to hear more about what happened with Mattheus before she said anything. “What’s Bat like?” she answered.
“The guy’s shaken to his core,” Mattheus replied. “It was his job to keep Sparks safe.”
“Gregg said that they did their best,” Cindy replied.
“But their best wasn’t good enough, was it?” said Mattheus, looking up at her begrudgingly. “When did you speak to Gregg, anyway?”
“When I went to see Benita,” Cindy replied. “Gregg’s stationed in her suite, guarding her.”
“Makes sense,” Mattheus agreed.
“Gregg said that when Sparks was murdered, he and Bat had finished their shift for the day and were taking a few hours to themselves.”
