by Jaden Skye
Mac motioned for the waiter and menus.
Cindy ordered soup and salad and Mac ordered crabs.
“You’re an incredibly beautiful woman,” Mac said bluntly, after they’d ordered. “It’s surprising to see you in this line of work.”
“I like what I do,” Cindy replied plainly, “I’m well suited to it.”
“I’m sure are, but there’s a story behind this,” Mac raised his eyebrows, as if waiting to hear more.
Cindy would not go there, though. “I’m here for Peter and Allie, their families and friends,” she replied. “At the moment, it’s your story I’m interested in.”
Mac put his head back and laughed. “I like that. You’re sharp.”
“You said you wanted to talk to me?” Cindy asked, staying on focus.
The soup came in a moment and smelled delicious and warm.
“Have some soup first,” Mac said gently, lifting it off the tray and handing it to her.
For an inexplicable moment, Cindy wanted to cry. She had no idea why, probably tired and shaken by the details of the case. She hadn’t had enough time between cases, to rest up, either.
“Soup good?” Mac asked softly.
“Delicious,” she said, drinking it quickly. “Thank you.”
Mac ate his crabs slowly. “I like you,” he said.
Cindy wondered what was coming next.
“And I don’t want you to go off in the wrong direction,” Mac continued, slowly.
For a second Cindy felt like a young girl in school, being guided by a teacher. Was he trying to make her feel she couldn’t handle things on her own, that she needed him? It was a tactic that would confuse her judgment.
“What’s the wrong direction in this case?” Cindy asked quickly, staying on point as she felt the warmth of his body beside her.
“I don’t know what these girls said to you,” Mac responded, “but you’ll be wasting your time if you focus on Allie’s relationship with Peter.”
“Where does the focus belong?” Cindy took him up on it.
They both stopped talking a moment and looked at each other. Mac’s beautiful eyes pierced hers deeply.
“Focus on me,” he said and smiled.
Cindy could not think for a moment.
“What about you should I focus on?” she finally said, trying to keep centered and clear minded.
“Run your information by me,” Mac continued. “Not only am I interested in what you discover, I can help you separate the wheat from the chaff. There’s a lot of loose wires at this wedding, little time bombs waiting to go off. Most of them mean nothing.”
Like who, Cindy wanted to ask, Vivien? But she kept quiet.
“There’s always a lot of drama with these folks. Most of it amounts to nothing. They live off it. It gives them a high.”
“A lot of drama in your life as well?” Cindy suddenly asked, curious. Mac was daunting, sensual, provocative, and seemed to know exactly what he was doing.
“There used to be a lot of drama in my life,” Mac said softly, “now I’m single and free from it all. I’ve one daughter who lives with her mother on the other side of the world. Me, I come and go as I choose. The world is my oyster.”
“Quite an accomplishment,” said Cindy.
He laughed. “You can say that again.”
“A world traveler?” she asked.
“When I choose to be,” Mac replied. “I like it down here, though.”
“I can see why,” said Cindy. “It’s beautiful, luxurious, with great weather. Your company’s doing fabulously, too, I imagine. What’s not to like?”
“Exactly, I’m a man who has impeccable taste and can have whatever he wants. And what I want most is to help with this case. Edward and Dana have been my best friends for years. They look fine on the outside but they’re spinning inside. I want to be a rock for all of them.”
“You are a rock,” said Cindy softly.
“Thank you,” Mac replied, pleased.
“And what can you tell me about Allie’s disappearance?” Cindy went on.
“I felt something bad was coming for a long time,” Mac said, “not this, of course, but something. Allie got too upset about little things, would go off into a spin. Now, don’t get me wrong, I liked the girl – very much.”
“Did you think she was good for Peter?”
“I did in the beginning,” said Mac, “at the end I began to have my doubts. She was unstable.”
“Did you say that to Peter?”
“No, never. You don’t say something like that to a guy who’s in love. I’m not going to tell you I didn’t hope he’d reconsider, at times. Peter’s a bright guy, he’s got a good head on his shoulders. Does great work at the company. He’s important to all of us.”
“Did he reconsider?” Cindy asked plainly.
“Not that I ever heard,” said Mac.
“What do you think happened to Allie?” Cindy looked at Mac directly.
“I think she went into one of her panics,” Mac said softly. “She and Peter got separated under water, she couldn’t find him and must have gone crazy. They found her vest and tank. It looked like she ripped them off in desperation. People do that when they panic, when they can’t get enough air.”
“You think Allie drowned?” Cindy wanted specifics.
“Seems obvious,” said Mac.
“Where’s her body?” asked Cindy.
“Who knows? But it’s unlikely that she swam to the surface and is alive, lost on the Island. Come on now, that’s some kind of dream.”
“Unlikely, but possible,” said Cindy, testing.
“Nothing would make me happier,” said Mac, “but I wouldn’t count on it. Actually, this wouldn’t be anything more than a missing person case, if they hadn’t found that her air gauge was broken, that someone could have tampered with it.”
“That’s a big if,” said Cindy.
“Equipment breaks all the time. There’s no reason to suspect Peter,” said Mac emphatically.
“Who else could have been involved in tampering with the air gauge?” Cindy needed to know.
“What’s the point in speculating?” Mac went on. “I doubt anyone will ever see her again, and without the body, even though the gauge was broken, this can never become a criminal case.”
Cindy wondered why he wanted things closed so quickly.
“Take the pressure off yourself,” Mac continued. “Take it easy, take it slow. There are people at this wedding who will drive you crazy, if you let them. And it will all be for nothing.”
That was a strange way to put it. Body or no body, the case was more than a disappearance. The air gauge had possibly been tampered with, someone could have interfered with Allie’s supply of air. Whether or not they found the body, there might be plenty of circumstantial evidence laying around. Cases like these were always put together one piece at a time.
“Our efforts are never for nothing,” said Cindy. “A life has been lost. Allie deserves a thorough investigation.”
“Lives are lost all the time,” said Mac grimly, “especially when people go diving at night.”
CHAPTER 7
Cindy went back up to her hotel room to wait for Mattheus. It was dinner time and they also had to fill each other in on what they’d found so far. She opened the door, entered, took a moment to bask in the luxury that surrounded her. The room was magnificent and spacious, designed to invite its guests to relish the incredible nature surrounding them, be free from all cares. It was soothing to be here by herself for a few moments. There was so much to digest, so many unanswered questions drifting around in her mind.
Cindy walked to the patio and stepped out on it, letting the evening breezes wash over her. It was Allie who should have been standing here, looking out at the ocean, filled with the joy of a new bride, about to start her life with a man she adored. Where was she? What had really happened to her? Little by little a picture of Allie was forming in Cindy’s mind. She was beginning to sen
se the contradictions in Allie’s life, her loneliness, struggles, longings. Was there a chance she could still be alive? Had she made it to the surface, landed somewhere, lost on the shore, hoping someone would find her? It was a very, very long shot. Most likely the tides had pulled her far out to sea. As Cindy stood and listened to the ocean, she could almost felt Allie crying out for help.
As Cindy stood there, she heard the door to the hotel room open, and someone come in. She turned around quickly.
Mattheus stood in the middle of the room, looking around, not seeing Cindy standing out on the patio. He looked rumpled and tired, but handsome as ever. It had been a long day for both of
them. Cindy watched him rub his hands over his face slowly and was seized with a desire to rush over, embrace him, tell him how glad she was they were here together. She wanted it to be the way it had been when she used to put her head on his shoulder and he would whisper to her. She needed it at the moment.
This was no time to follow her impulses, though. Before they got closer again, Cindy had to feel safe and certain. She stood still watching, as Mattheus ambled over to the desk in the corner of the room, opened the computer that was on it, and began writing something. After collecting herself for a few moments, Cindy walked in from the patio.
Mattheus looked up, startled. "Jesus, I thought you were downstairs, somewhere. You scared me half to death.”
Cindy smiled, “Am I so terrifying?”
“You can be when you want to,” Mattheus smiled. “Terrifying’s a good word for it.”
Cindy felt herself grow tight and grim.
“I just got in a few minutes ago,” she answered, pulling away. “What are you writing?”
“Notes to myself,” said Mattheus. “We’ve got quite a cast of characters here. If we map everything each one tells us, we’ll find all kinds of tiny contradictions which will lead us to straight into the arms of the killer.”
Cindy walked over to the computer and threw a quick glance at it. Mattheus was sending an email to someone. She wondered why he didn’t just send it from his phone.
“Who are you emailing?” she asked lightly.
Mattheus looked up at her put off. “That’s all I get? A quick question?”
“What’s wrong with that?” asked Cindy.
Now I’m part of your investigation, too?” Mattheus remarked.
Cindy laughed, “Should you be?”
He finally looked directly at her.
“No, I shouldn’t. We should trust each other completely! Even when we disagree – even when we disappoint each other. We still should never take our trust away!”
“I do trust you,” Cindy replied swiftly, “I was just curious who you’re emailing?”
“My mother,” Mattheus grumbled. “I’m telling her that I’m down here at the beautiful Cayman Islands, in the super deluxe honeymoon suite, with a gorgeous woman who says she trusts me, but doesn’t really. Not only haven’t I gotten one hug since I’ve been here, I even had to make sure the room had two single beds.”
Cindy knew Mattheus was joking, but the truth beneath his comment hit her hard. He’d been hoping she’d run over and give him a hug when he came in. He obviously felt she didn’t trust him enough to go back to the way things used to be.
There’s all levels of trust, Cindy wanted to tell him, but this wasn’t the time to delve into their relationship. This trip wasn’t about them, and no matter how beautiful the room was, it wasn’t a honeymoon suite. They were here together to track down leads and find out why a beautiful young woman, about to become a bride, disappeared the night before her wedding in the murky sea.
“We’re not exactly on our honeymoon right now,” Cindy reminded him.
“We could be though,” Mattheus turned to her fervently. “After the case is over we could stay on and have our honeymoon here. We could find a justice of the peace to marry us. It doesn’t have to be so complicated.”
Cindy didn’t know where all this was coming from. She drew a long, sharp breath. Mattheus was mixing everything together, refusing to acknowledge that they needed time to work things through, get to know each other better.
“But maybe you don’t want to ever have another honeymoon?” Mattheus said, suddenly flippant. “Maybe one lousy experience was enough for you?”
Cindy felt her face flushing. That was unnecessary. Mattheus was blaming her for not wanting to get closer to him right now. Was he blaming it on the fact that Clint had been killed on her honeymoon? Cindy absolutely refused to say another word about it. It was unfair and this was not the right moment.
“Fill me in on what you found out this afternoon,” she said in a clipped voice, determined to take things in a different direction.
“Do you still want to go to the Dive Shop with me and the police first thing in the morning?” asked Mattheus.
“Yes, I would, said Cindy, wondering why he thought she would change her mind.
“Good,” Mattheus liked that. He seemed to ease up. “This afternoon was busy,” he went on. “Most of the groomsmen are freaked out about this. They’re a tight little bunch, who adore Peter. No chink in their armor, all have the same story. They say Peter’s a great guy and was happy with Allie. Seems like Peter makes a pile of money working for his father, and a couple of the groomsmen work with him. His best man Tad’s his right hand guy at work. Peter’s got a cushy deal if anyone ever had one. He works directly under Mac, the sleazy partner.”
Cindy was offended. “What’s sleazy about Mac?”
“That guy’s a player if I ever saw one.”
“Where do you get that?” Cindy defended Mac.
“How could you miss it? It’s written all over him,” Mattheus looked at Cindy strangely.
“Mac’s a great friend to the family and also to Peter,” Cindy said.
“That guy’s got his nose in everything,” Mattheus insisted. “There’s not a thing that happens that he doesn’t know about. He plays people, figures the odds. It gives him pleasure.”
“A control freak?” Cindy was curious about Mattheus’s feelings.
“More than that,” Mattheus was adamant. “This guy’s after a piece of the action for himself.”
There was no way Mattheus could know that. And it was unusual for him to take such a dislike to someone so quickly. Basically, he was just going with a hunch and taking it to the furthest possible degree. Cindy hadn’t seen him so bitter before, either. Must be because there was so much money and influence here, she thought. Could be making Mattheus feel inadequate.
“Not only did I speak to the groomsmen,” Mattheus went on, “I got to meet a few women who aren’t in the wedding party.”
Cindy was surprised, “Like who?”
“Vivien,” Mattheus filled her in quickly. “A close friend of Peter’s.”
Cindy made a sour face. “There’s bad blood between Vivien and Allie.”
“Vivien’s gorgeous,” Mattheus breathed.
“What has that got to do with it?” asked Cindy.
“Well, I can understand why Allie might not have liked her. I’m sure lots of women would be threatened by Vivien,” said Mattheus. “She’s the kind of woman you definitely keep away from your man.”
Cindy felt her blood boil. “Vivien was Peter’s ex-girlfriend. Even after they broke up, they stayed very close.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Mattheus wasn’t impressed.
Cindy became more heated. “Peter and Allie fought a lot about it. It was a big bone of contention between them.”
Mattheus had no reaction. “Seems like most women need to find something to have a bone of contention about,” he finally said. “It makes their day.”
Cindy recoiled, felt insulted, but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him that.
“What’s Vivien like? What did you find out from her?” Cindy continued.
“She’s got long red hair, groomed to the hilt, sensuous,” said Mattheus.
Cindy felt as if Ma
ttheus were throwing little barbs in her direction, trying to make her feel shaky.
“Vivien told me that Allie’s mother hated her,” Mattheus continued, “and that her mother was incredibly jealous of Allie’s relationship with Peter. Vivien urged me to talk to the mom.”
“Vivien’s suggesting that Allie’s mother killed her daughter?” Cindy was horrified. “That’s pretty ridiculous. Makes me wonder more about Vivien.”
“You never know,” said Mattheus.
“There are some things you do know though, “Cindy responded. “You know not to go off on wild speculations. You taught me that, Mattheus. You taught me to keep a sense of balance, or things can get de-railed pretty fast.”
“Right,” Mattheus conceded, “but getting pulled into wild speculations is an occupational hazard. But every good detective’s been there. You’ve got to be willing to get de-railed sometimes, go after wild speculations.”
That’s how Cindy used to feel, but Mattheus had grounded her, taught her to stay with the facts. For the moment it seemed as though they’d switched places. Maybe it was still the shock of having found his wife’s body so recently.
“I think someone killed Allie,” Mattheus said flatly then.
Cindy was stunned. This wasn’t like him either. He never jumped to conclusions like this.
“There’s no real evidence of that,” Cindy responded.
“A tampered air gauge speaks loud and clear.”
“What was the motive?” Cindy shot back.
“Jealousy,” Mattheus responded without thinking. “It oozes all over this place.”
Cindy hadn’t seen any evidence of jealousy, except between Allie and Vivien.
“Jealousy’s a powerful, rotten emotion,” Mattheus spoke under his breath.
Cindy couldn’t help feeling that Mattheus was talking about himself.
“Why would these people be jealous?” Cindy probed further. “They all have what they need.”
“But it’s never enough,” Mattheus whispered, “don’t you know? The more you have the more you want.”
The discussion had taken on a strange tenor and despite herself, Cindy’s heart began pounding. She wanted to change the mood between them, take a break.
