by Jaden Skye
“The police said the missing woman’s case has gone cold,” said Cindy.
Tracy laughed for a second. “Gone cold? In a week? Welcome to the Caribbean. You don’t know how many times I’ve heard that before.”
Cindy liked her immensely. She was right on top of things, got the big picture immediately and didn’t need to be filled in on all the grimy details. And, although she was fully on board, Tracy didn’t seem emotional. Just completely present to what was going on. Cindy felt both a strange relief and exhilaration talking to her.
“I’ve just been given a photo of a woman I believe is the one we’re searching for,” Cindy went on, her voice growing lower. “She’s curled up alone in a room.”
“Who gave you this photo?” Tracy shot right back. “It could be a ploy to lure you in.”
Cindy had a moment of fear about telling Tracy where the photo actually came from.
“I received it from a reliable source,” said Cindy, not entirely sure if that were so, but not wanting to get sidetracked either. Cindy didn’t believe that Santos was trying to lure here anywhere, but she knew how it might easily look that way.
“What looks like a reliable source is often a camouflage, especially in missing person’s cases,” Tracy went on. “Before you use a lead to track down a person, you’ve got to be sure who the lead came from.”
“I need to find Kara immediately.” Cindy was unwilling to back away. “And I need to know where the room she’s being held in is.”
“Okay, got it,” Tracy replied. “You need a forensic photographer and I’ve got a great one, Alan Dain. He can take a photo you give him and pull information off it that could practically solve any crime. Get this photo to him and he’ll let you know just where the room is, in no time flat.”
“Fantastic,” said Cindy, excited.
“I’ll give you Alan’s contact information. He’ll tell you exactly how to scan the photo to the computer to send to him. There’s also a certain way to fax it. You do what he says and you’ll get your answers.”
“What do I owe you?” asked Cindy, thrilled to have met her, feeling wonderful talking to another woman detective.
“Nothing,” said Tracy. “It’s great talking to you. I’ve known Alfred for years and he thinks the world of you. He’s a fantastic guy and I’m happy to help both of you.”
Cindy was amazed that Alfred knew someone like Tracy. How in the world could they have met? It seemed such an unlikely connection.
“Alfred’s lucky to have you as his friend,” said Cindy.
“No,” answered Tracy, her voice buoyant, “you got that wrong. I’m the lucky one.”
CHAPTER 20
Cindy contacted Alan immediately. After speaking to him and receiving detailed instructions on how to send the photo, she went back to the hotel to follow his directions. While waiting to hear what he had to say, Cindy quickly put in a call to Alfred. She had been truly impressed by Tracy and wanted to thank Alfred again for putting them in touch. She also wanted to know more about Alfred and Tracy’s relationship. How had they met? What had he told Tracy about the case? Was Tracy helping in other ways as well? It actually seemed likely that Tracy was working with Alfred behind the scenes. Otherwise how could he know so much about Santos? How could he even have been able to locate him at all?Alfred’s phone rang and rang, but he didn’t pick up. Cindy left him a quick message.
“Call me when you get this,” she said. “You’re right, I love Tracy. She’s wonderful. Want to talk.”
Then Cindy hung up and put a call into Mattheus. Thankfully, this time he picked right up.
“I’ve got a fantastic lead,” Cindy said the minute Mattheus said hello.
“What?” asked Mattheus, sounding preoccupied.
“I’ve got a photo of a girl curled up in a room that I believe is Kara,” Cindy breathed.
“You’ve got what?” said Mattheus, incredulous.
“I think I have a photo of Kara curled up in a room,” Cindy went on.
“You think, or you know?” Mattheus became disconcerted.
“Her face isn’t clear, she’s curled up,” Cindy continued, “but I’m sure it’s Kara.”
“Cindy, what’s the matter with you?” Mattheus grew irritated. “Right now I’m here working with the police, digging out confidential information about Kara and Shane’s relationship.”
“Information from the shelter?” asked Cindy, fascinated.
“Exactly,” said Mattheus. “They both were there at the same time.”
“I know,” said Cindy.
“And we’re digging to see if it’s possible that Shane and Rowley ever met.”
“Keep digging,” said Cindy, “it’s important.”
“So, if you’re telling me you can’t see the woman’s face in the picture, but just feel that it’s Kara, that’s not enough for me to stop what I’m doing and pay attention to that.”
Cindy understood. Put that way her lead didn’t seem at all consequential.
“Where did you get this photo from, anyway?” Mattheus relented.
Cindy didn’t want to go into it any further. If she told Mattheus she’d gone down to see Santos again, he’d be upset. And if she told him about Tracy or Alan, that would sound like a wild goose chase to him. He would also be upset that she hadn’t let him know about all of it sooner. There was no way to win here.
“The photo just turned up,” Cindy responded.
“Where?” Mattheus asked.
“Mattheus, you’re right, it isn’t important,” Cindy backed down. “But it’s very important to find out if Shane ever met Rowley. Please keep going.”
“Thank you,” Mattheus replied. “You plan to track this photo down further?”
“I do,” said Cindy lightly. “But It’s just a gut feeling, that’s all.”
“Okay, follow your gut and keep in touch,” Mattheus said, not lending much credence to any of it at all.
“I will, and you keep in touch, too, Mattheus,” Cindy said as both of them hung up the phone.
*
The call back from Alan came much sooner than Cindy expected. Without even a second’s hesitation Alan told her exactly where the photo had been taken and how to find the room.
“I can give you the general vicinity,” Alan reported. “The actual room will be within a one-mile radius from that vicinity, either north or south. We’ve worked with the lighting, shadows, and the flora and fauna seen through the window when the photo is greatly magnified. In my estimation you’ll find a hut there. The room is inside a broken down hut.”
“Is the woman in the photo alive?” breathed Cindy.
Alan stopped a moment. “That’s a big question,” replied Alan. “But from the look of things when the photo was taken, she was living. I can’t say for now.”
“No one can,” said Cindy, “but I’m tremendously grateful. Thank you.”
“Get back to me after you go there,” Alan insisted. “And please, don’t go alone. Pay someone to accompany you if you have to. The place won’t be hard to find. But it’s located in the basin of the rain forest, about as far away from civilization as you can get.”
“Okay,” agreed Cindy. Everything Alan said made sense to her. Speaking with him, a tremendous surge of confidence ran through her veins.
“Go with someone who knows the territory,” Alan went on. “There are plenty of locals who can you take you right there. And don’t forget to call me as soon as you return. I’m interested.”
As Tracy had said Alan was terrific. His directions were not only specific, they were wise in all respects.
“Thank you so much,” Cindy said once again.
“It’s my pleasure,” Alan replied, and meant it.
“I’ll call you as soon as I can,” Cindy replied and hung up feeling hopeful. She would find someone to take her and go right away.
Cindy wondered who she could go with. Mattheus was out for now, and she hadn’t yet heard back from Alfred. Cindy liked Ala
n’s suggestion of going with a local and suddenly Holly flashed through her mind. Holly would know someone who could take Cindy there safely. And, as Alan suggested, Cindy would certainly make it worth his while.
*
Cindy immediately took a cab to the casino. After she arrived and milled around it was only a few moments before Holly came over to her.
“Santos isn’t here today, honey,” Holly told her immediately.
“I actually came to see you this time,” Cindy whispered in return.
“To see me? Why?” A look of fear flashed across Holly’s face. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no, something’s right,” said Cindy. She trusted Holly and knew she could speak to her freely. “I have to go down to the rain forest basin and need someone to go with me.”
“The rain forest basin?” Holly looked at Cindy closely.
“For a few hours,” Cindy continued. “I’ll make it worth the person’s time. I need someone who knows the area.”
Holly paused a moment and thought. “Felix knows every inch of the island like the back of his hand,” she whispered. “In fact, I think he was a guide down there once. And he could sure use some money right now.”
“Perfect,” said Cindy. “Where is he?”
“Hanging around in the back,” Holly continued. “When are you going?”
“Right now,” said Cindy.
Holly’s eyes grew wide. “Just like that?”
“Why not? asked Cindy.
“People usually prepare,” Holly said quietly.
“I don’t have time,” Cindy responded.
“This is okay with Santos?” Holly wanted to check every angle.
“Yes, of course,” Cindy replied.
“You’re positive?” Holly had to be certain.
Cindy couldn’t see how Santos could object. After all, it was he who had arranged for her to have the photo. Santos had wanted her to know where Kara was. Of course Cindy couldn’t say that to Holly.
“I’m positive it’s fine with Santos,” Cindy continued, as if she knew it for a fact.
“Okay then,” Holly agreed, “I’ll go get Felix right now. You wait here.”
*
Holly was right, Felix was thrilled to go and in no time at all they were on their way.
Felix seemed to know every inch of the forest. In fact, the more deeply they entered the winding paths, the more at home he became. Cindy was amazed to see the change in him as he slithered through the dense, tropical trees, humming to himself. As the early evening light faded Felix almost seemed part of the flora and fauna himself.
“The Jacquot Trail is in that direction,” he said in a silvery voice, holding out his long, bony hand and pointing in the opposite direction from the one they were headed in. “The trail’s named for our national bird, the Jacquot Parrot. It’s beautiful, beautiful.”
It was strange listening to Felix speak, and oddly comforting. It made Cindy feel as though she too were a part of the forest and knew exactly where she was going, every step of the way. With just enough light left to see, they crossed a ravine and passed giant ferns and plant life Cindy had never dreamed possible.
“Those are elephant ears trunked chestnut trees,” Felix announced as they walked along. “See the lianas climbing on them.”
Cindy looked at the thick climbing vines. They crept to the top of the tree, looping up and down, looking as though, they, too, were trying to catch the last glimpses of the day’s light.
“Those vines are used to make baskets,” Felix added proudly. “Everything here in the forest is important, has a use. Everything helps each other live.”
“Beautiful,” Cindy murmured, in awe of the incredible interconnection of all life down here.
Felix, encouraged by her response, continued. “If we’re lucky we’ll see the Green Iguana. It lives in these trees and grows to six feet long. Keep your eyes open, maybe we’ll see the Zadoli, our lizards. It’s possible. The Zadoli’s eyes are covered by membranes instead of eyelids so they can see at night,” he added.
Although she was intrigued, Cindy would have liked to have seen this at another time. Right now she truly couldn’t focus on any of the surroundings, just kept thinking of the hut they were headed to. Alan had described it carefully, but was it really here? Would they find it? Was it truly possible that Kara was still inside alive? Cindy also thought of the strange phone call pleading for help she’d received a while ago. The garbled directions in it oddly echoed exactly where they were now. Under four trees, around a fence, circle the corner.
“Let’s hope we don’t see the gecko though.” Felix was completely in his element, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Gecko has a bad reputation. Nothing stops them. When geckos fight an enemy they leave parts of their tails behind. You see pieces in the enemy’s paws.”
The image was disturbing to Cindy.
“We call geckos Mabouia, evil spirits,” Felix was quick to add. “Geckos attach themselves and don’t let go, just like evil spirits.” He grinned at the thought of it.
“How far are we from the hut, Felix?” Cindy asked then. The last thing in the world she wanted to do now was dwell on evil spirits. Had one attached itself to Kara? Cindy couldn’t help wonder. Was Kara in the grip of something far more than Cindy could even begin to understand?
Felix kept grinning. “Don’t worry, I’ve been down here before. I’ll take you right there. Santos knows we’re coming?”
That was the first time Felix mentioned Santos. It made Cindy uncomfortable.
“How far away are we?” Cindy wanted to change the topic.
“Close enough, I told you,” Felix laughed, “unless we step on a boa by mistake. They’re all over.”
Cindy had a moment of alarm and looked down at the ground for the giant snake. The ground was strewn with rocks, leaves, fallen branches. It would be easy to miss a boa who might be silently crawling underfoot.
“Don’t worry.” Felix suddenly touched Cindy’s arm lightly. “I have my eyes open. We won’t step on a boa, not tonight. Besides, we’re almost there. See that dip behind those trees? We go to those trees and follow the dip.”
Cindy’s heart sank. “What’s behind the dip, Felix?”
But suddenly Felix clammed up. As they got closer he was becoming more vigilant. The only sound now was the crunching of the leaves under their feet. Alone in the dark with Felix, Cindy suddenly decided to put in a quick call to Mattheus and let him know where she was. She took out her phone and dialed. No answer.
“There’s no reception in some parts of the forest.” Felix turned and was watching her closely. “Who are you calling, anyway?”
Cindy fell silent. She was completely dependent upon Felix now.
“You calling Santos?” Felix wanted an answer.
Cindy shook her head.
“Nobody fools around with Santos,” Felix continued.
“I’m not fooling around with anyone. Santos knows exactly where I am,” Cindy lied. It would definitely be safer if Felix believed that.
“And Santos knows I’m here with you?” Felix pressed, a tinge of anxiety making its way into his voice.
Cindy forced herself to be lighthearted. “Santos told me he knows everything,” she replied, “so he must know that you’re here, too.”
Relieved, Felix grinned. “You can say that again,” he muttered. “I never saw one thing that passed Santos by.”
CHAPTER 21
Everything changed as Cindy and Felix began their descent behind the trees. The wet, slippery ground was filled with loose rocks and branches and it grew darker and darker as they groped their way down. Cindy felt as if she were sliding into hell, following close behind Felix.
Suddenly Felix broke the silence. “There, there,” he uttered, pointing to something in the shadows.
Cindy stopped and saw a small hut leaning precariously against an incline. Was it possible? Was Kara holed up there?
“Is that it?” Cindy asked Felix, thunderst
ruck, suddenly afraid to take another step.
“It’s the first stop,” Felix whispered.
“What happens after that?” asked Cindy.
Felix wouldn’t say a word though, just moved stealthily, his footsteps growing lighter and lighter.
“Quiet,” he warned Cindy, over his shoulder. “We don’t want to let them know we’re coming.”
“Who?” Cindy shivered.
“Someone’s there,” Felix answered. “The place isn’t empty.”
Cindy froze. How could he be so sure? There was only a tiny light from some scattered stars shining on it.
“I smell it,” Felix answered. “Human flesh smells strong in the rain forest at night.”
Cindy wanted to throw up. “Who would be there besides Kara?” she demanded. Was Felix smelling her corpse? “How long has she been in that hut anyway?”
“Patience, patience.” Felix lifted his hand toward Cindy. “You ask too many questions. Wait and see for yourself.”
Cindy grew silent. He was right. Felix had a native wisdom that she had to rely on now.
“A few more steps,” he whispered, as they were suddenly at the ramshackle hut with a small, outdoor porch that looked like a shed.
Cindy took another step, and to her shock, suddenly saw someone there on the porch, curled up close to the floor. Whoever it was probably was as frightened of her as she was of them.
“Hello, hello,” Felix called out into the strange, damp night, spotting the figure.
Slowly, the person uncurled and faced toward them.
Cindy took another step and to her total amazement, in the shadows, there stood Rowley. “Rowley?” Cindy uttered when she could catch her breath.
Rowley stared at Cindy with an equal look of shock on his face. “What are you doing here?” he gasped, distressed.
“That’s a question I should be asking you,” Cindy quickly responded.
“I belong here,” Rowley uttered, digging his hands into his thighs.
“You belong here? Is Kara inside?” Cindy’s head was spinning. Had Rowley known where Kara was all the while?
