Death by Marriage

by Jaden Skye

  Cindy smiled. “Who’s Marshmallow ?”

  “He reads the stars, feels the tides, knows when the earth is turning.”

  Despite her wild, frizzy hair Heather had a strange beauty that pulled you in.

  “Thanks for having me here,” Cindy said then, raising the lemonade to her lips. It was delicious and hit the spot.

  “You’ve come about Paul?” Heather asked then, drinking her lemonade along with Cindy, eyes half closed.

  “How did you know?” asked Cindy startled.

  “No other reason Andrea would have sent you. She and I spent hours together after he died, going over every last detail. It was a terrible shock to everyone.”

  “I can imagine,” said Cindy.

  Heather gazed at her calmly. “Yes, you can,” she said. “You’ve been there. I feel it, you understand.”

  Cindy breathed more easily. She and Heather had an odd kinship, they understood one another, appreciated what each had been through.

  “How long did you know Paul?” Cindy asked carefully.

  “It was not that I knew him,” Heather said quietly, “it was that he was my whole life. Our love affair lasted for about three years. It kept both of us going. Can you understand that?”

  Cindy nodded. “Yes, of course,” she said.

  “I believe you. I see that you’ve suffered,” Heather said. “Actually, you can’t believe a person or trust them unless they’ve suffered, terribly.”

  Her voice grew louder, like music, thought Cindy.

  “If we hadn’t been together when we were, Paul could not have gone on,” Heather said.

  “Our relationship filled a deep need of his that nothing else ever could.”

  Cindy wondered for a moment how true that was. She resisted the impulse to look around the place Heather lived in and wonder why Paul hadn’t fixed it up for her.

  Heather laughed then, as if reading Cindy’s mind. “I like my place just as it is. I’m different from the others. I didn’t want his money. That’s why he needed me.”

  Cindy smiled then. “I understand,” she said.

  “Paul was an incredibly hungry man,” Heather said softly, leaning towards Cindy. She seemed to get pleasure talking about him. “I’m not saying I was all he needed, but I was an important part. Very important.”

  “Were you in a relationship when he was killed?” Cindy asked softly.

  “Are you a detective or something?” Heather asked then.

  Cindy nodded slowly.

  “Really?” said Heather, giggling with delight. “It becomes you. This is your right work. You’re soft and gentle. People sense it. You’ll find out everything you need this way. Don’t give it up.”

  “I don’t plan to give it up,” said Cindy.

  “You might though,” said Heather. “You’re tangling with a vicious world. It might not look that way at first, but under the smiles and flowers, this place is a terrifying jungle.”

  Cindy breathed deeply.

  “The human heart is a jungle,” Heather went on. “You don’t know how much yet, but you’ll soon find out.” Then she finished the rest of her lemonade.

  Cindy drank along with her and they both put their glasses down at the same moment.

  “I believe you’ve been sent to me to encourage you. Do you do this work alone?” Heather asked, curious.

  “I have a partner,” said Cindy.

  “A guy?”

  “Yes, another detective.”

  Heather smiled. “He’s probably madly in love with you, pretending to be all business.”

  “Not at all,” said Cindy flinching. It wasn’t like that and she didn’t want it to be.

  “Of course he is, that’s how guys are.”

  Cindy smiled and felt a pang of pain. “Not in this case. We’re both involved in the work,” she said. “That’s it.”

  “That’s what they all say,” said Heather.

  “My husband was killed just a few months ago,” Cindy couldn’t help saying. “On our honeymoon.”

  Heather’s mouth dropped open. “That’s horrible.”

  Cindy wasn’t exactly sure why she’d told her that. Maybe she just wanted to preserve Clint’s memory and give him respect.

  “You loved him tremendously, you adored him,” Heather May breathed softly.

  “I did,” said Cindy.

  “That’s why you’re here now, tracking down crimes. Oh my dear, I’m honored to meet you.”

  Cindy was surprised by her reaction. “Thank you.”

  “Ask me anything you want. I’ll be happy to tell you.”

  “Well, I need to know where you were the day Paul was killed?

  Heather smiled. She was too smart not to realize what Cindy was asking. “You’re wondering about my alibi?” she said. “I gave it to the police already. It checked out, thank God, because I’m often here alone. That particular afternoon there was a design show down at the museum. I was part of the planning committee, so I went. A lot of people from town were there, furniture designers, painters, architects. We have it once a year. It attracts lots of tourists. In fact, Kendra usually came as well. She woke up that morning, feeling ill.”

  Cindy enjoyed speaking with Heather, but realized that there was still an important question she hadn’t answered. “Were you and Paul still a couple when he was killed?” Cindy asked again softly.

  “No, we weren’t,” said Heather, resigned to being questioned. “It was over for a couple of years by then.”

  “How come?”

  Heather looked away, out into the woods that surrounded her small home. It was clear she hadn’t come to terms with it, yet.

  “Lots of reasons?” Cindy prodded her.

  “No,” said Heather, “just one. One reason that ended it suddenly.”

  The sound of a lone Mackay pierced the afternoon.

  “Those birds always act up before the hurricanes come. We have a week or two to get ready,” Heather said. “Not long now. You can feel the winds stirring in your veins in the early morning down here.”

  “Are you with someone else now?” Cindy couldn’t let go.

  “I’ll never be with someone else again,” Heather said, suddenly stern, staring at Cindy, her eyes full of pain.

  “I’m sorry,” said Cindy.

  “Don’t be,” said Heather. “What Paul and I had was worth it. The years we had together will hold me a whole lifetime.”

  Cindy was moved. She wondered if she felt that way about Clint. Could the memory of the time they had together last her a lifetime and beyond? She didn’t think so. Already, she felt the loneliness tug at her.

  Cindy didn’t want to intrude, but she had to know more. “Did Paul break it off?”

  “No, I did,” said Heather.

  Cindy was surprised. “Can you tell me why?”

  “I could if I wanted, but I don’t want to,” Heather said. “Actually, I’ll do better than tell you. I’ll give you the address of someone to see. Go there and see her. And you’ll find out everything you need to know.

  Heather grabbed some paper that was lying on a small table and quickly wrote a name and address on it. Then she handed it to Cindy.

  Cindy inspected the paper carefully. Her handwriting was bold, fierce, unstoppable. It took Cindy back. All the lines for the future sloped upwards, filled with confidence and promise. It didn’t fit with the story she told.

  “This is powerful hand writing, “said Cindy.

  Heather lifted her head, proudly.

  “It shows that you’re not afraid of anything,”

  “I’m not,” said Heather in a deeper tone. “I’m not alone because I’m afraid. I’m alone because I refuse to have another broken heart. These things can destroy you.”

  “How well I know,” said Cindy.

  “Then keep your eyes wide open,” said Heather. “It’s easier than you think to let yourself get ripped apart.”

  CHAPTER 8

  Mattheus couldn’t get Roomey Burke out of
his mind all during the flight home. The guy had a compelling way that got under your skin. The fact that he considered himself part of Paul and Kendra’s family interested Mattheus tremendously. The guy had influence over Kendra. Maybe she didn’t need the two million from the insurance, but he could sure use some of it. First thing back, Mattheus would check his alibi. It wasn’t enough to find out whether or not Roomey was at the show, he’d have to find out how long he’d actually stayed. Mattheus had also gotten the names of the guy in the high stakes poker game, Silbert Hours, who was indebted to Paul. As soon as he checked out Roomey’s alibi, he’d find out about him.

  The plane landed easily and Mattheus took a quick cab back to the hotel. It was good getting away, but he was glad to be back, too. As the cab pulled up to the hotel, he realized he hadn’t let Cindy know what time he’d be returning. He got out of the cab and suddenly felt curious about where she was now and what she’d been up to.

  Mattheus walked into the lobby, half expecting her to be sitting there, waiting for him. She wasn’t. He went up to the front desk and asked them to ring her room. As he took the phone his palms felt a little sweaty. This new arrangement between them would take some getting used to. He’d spent the last three years on the police force, dealing with guys and set schedules. The phone rang in her room several times. No one picked up. Mattheus looked at the phone, disconcerted.

  “Happen to see Cindy Blaine this morning?” he asked the guy at the desk.

  “Who?” the guy didn’t recognize the name.

  “Beautiful blonde woman in her thirties, from the states.”

  The guy at the desk raised his eyes. “Oh, of course,” he said, “how can you miss her?” I think the past day or two she had breakfast on the patio restaurant over there.” He pointed to one of the hotel restaurants. “She’s expecting you?”

  The question took Mattheus back. Even though he’d told her generally when he’d be back, he’d been purposely vague. There was no reason for her to be expecting him, to be hanging around, waiting. That was a mistake on his part, Mattheus realized instantly. They needed to fill each other in and make plans about who would do what next.

  Disconcerted, Mattheus walked towards the restaurant the guy had pointed out. It was only 9:30 in the morning. He hoped, by luck, she’d still be there.

  The restaurant was down at the end of the lobby, overlooking a large garden, filled with wild flowers, plants, little iguanas and island birds chirping all day long. To Mattheus’ delight, the minute he walked in, he saw Cindy seated at a front table, drinking coffee and reading the local paper. His heart stopped a second, and he held back. She looked beautiful sitting there in the sunlight, dressed in a soft, blue and green printed cotton dress. She seemed strangely comfortable and at ease, as if she fit right into the lush tropical landscape.

  Mattheus walked over and she suddenly looked up, startled.

  “My goodness,” said Cindy, “I had no idea you’d returned.”

  Mattheus pulled out a chair for himself at the table. “Mind if I join you?”

  Cindy smiled. She was confident and more than a little sun tanned.

  “Of course, join me,” she said.

  Mattheus sat down. He’d had breakfast on the plane, but could easily eat more now. The beautiful weather, trees and fresh air constantly sparked his appetite. He ordered scrambled eggs and coffee, as the waiter re-filled Cindy’s coffee cup.

  “Tell me about your trip,” she started, putting the paper down. “Useful?”

  “Very,” said Mattheus. “Checked the records at the casinos -- Paul played in a high stakes poker and a guy in the game was badly indebted to him. A great reason to take him out. I’m going to check into hm. Beyond that, I met a gambling buddy of his, Roomey Burke. Strange character who said Kendra talked to him a lot. Told him she was lonely, towards the end of their marriage.”

  Cindy raised her eyebrows slightly, as if that wasn’t such a surprise. “Not so unusual,” she said softly.

  Mattheus agreed. “True, except that it’s interesting to notice that Kendra spoke about it to him.”

  Cindy nodded. “Or so he says.”

  Mattheus smiled. Cindy was getting tougher by the day, not taking anything at face value. “Okay,” said Mattheus, “but why would he make it up? What’s in it for him?”

  “Sometimes a guy enjoys feeling that he holds a special place in a woman’s life,” she said “even when he doesn’t. Guys blow things up in their mind. It can make them feel important.”

  Mattheus didn’t like that. This was a part of Cindy he hadn’t yet seen. “You sound bitter,” he said.

  “Not at all. Just realistic. There’s lots of characters here, floating on the fringes. Who knows what they had to do with the murder? I don’t want to jump to conclusions, just keep my mind open.”

  Mattheus’ breakfast came and he ate it quickly.

  “You’re starving,” said Cindy, “didn’t you eat on the plane?”

  “I did,” said Mattheus, wolfing it down.

  Cindy suddenly looked concerned about him and extended her hand for a moment. Then she quickly took it back. “I’d like to meet this Roomey Burke,” she said.

  “You will,” said Mattheus, between mouthfuls. “What about you? Who did you find?” It was great being with her, but it also made him nervous.

  “I had a great two days,” said Cindy. “Met a couple of fascinating women. One owns the Spa in town, Salon B. She gave me the name of another woman, Heather May, who claims she had a romance with Paul for about three years. Said it was over for a long time before the murder happened, though.”

  Mattheus put his fork down, startled and impressed. “That’s important information. The guy had a mistress -whew. The police didn’t mention anything about it. Are you sure she’s not fantasizing?”

  “I wondered about that myself at first,” said Cindy, “but the more we talked the more solid her story seemed. She said their time together was incredible, gave him something he never had anywhere else.”

  Mattheus smiled at that. “Guess women like to think that, as well.”

  “Heather May wasn’t angry with him either, seemed to be suffering because of his death.”

  “So, the guy played around,” mused Mattheus. “Not so good for Kendra. It could be more fuel for her motive to get rid of him.”

  “Or, it could implicate the mistress,” said Cindy.

  “Could,” said Mattheus, “but that’s farfetched if the relationship was over. Why would she want to get rid of him now? This goes more to Paul’s character. A cheater lies. Usually they’re good at it. Especially if they’ve had a long relationship on the side. For all we know this guy could have gotten caught in a web of lies that finally drove someone crazy. Crazy enough to kill him for it.”

  Cindy was fascinated, listening to Mattheus spin a web, construct a theory from nothing much. “You’re good at this,” she smiled.

  Mattheus smiled back. “So, tell me more,” he said, “how did you meet the gal who owns the Spa?”

  “Went to the bar where Paul was a regular.”

  At that Mattheus looked up at her keenly. “At night? Alone?”

  “Sure,” said Cindy.

  “You must have created quite a stir,” Mattheus felt uneasy.

  “Just business,” Cindy said. “It was crowded and noisy. I have the woman’s card. Her name is Andrea. She seems to know what’s going on in town.”

  “Talk to any guys?” he asked rather casually.

  Cindy smiled. “A couple, here and there. Why?”

  Mattheus shrugged and put his fork down.

  “There was one guy who troubled me though,” Cindy said, suddenly uneasy. “That cop at the station, Nojo, was there. He kept staring at me, was rude, threatening.”

  Mattheus’ jaw clenched. He felt agitated by the story.

  “I don’t recommend you go to those places alone,” he said in a strained tone. “Wait for me to go with you. That’s what I’m here for.” The thou
ght of her drifting around alone in these bars, made his skin crawl.

  “Other than Nojo, I had a good time. It was useful, meeting Andrea.”

  Let’s make a plan right now,” Mattheus said. “He wanted to set up a structure between them that would make them both comfortable, that would work. “For starters, I’ll handle the bars and night spots.”

  Cindy put her coffee cup down. “If I need to go there, you can come with me, too,” she acquiesced. “More importantly though, you handle the cops. I’ll speak to the women, friends and family.”

  “Good,” said Mattheus. “l will check out Roomey’s alibi today, contact the poker player, and also get in touch with the police about the cases Paul lost. I’m going to the police station first thing.”

  “Great,” said Cindy, “I can’t shake the feeling that someone Paul defended could be involved in this. How about you?”

  “Anything’s possible,” said Mattheus. “That’s what’s so fascinating about our work. What are your next steps?”

  “Before I go to see the woman Heather May suggested, I want to meet the main players in the case, particularly Kendra’s daughter, Nell. Kendra mentioned that she’d be home from school this morning. How about running over there with me for an hour, then we’ll go our separate ways.”

  “Sounds good to me,” said Mattheus. “After that, I also think we should take some time to visit Paul’s office, meet some colleagues, look around. That’ll give us both a fuller backdrop of his life.”

  “Great,” said Cindy. “I want to be completely prepared before I go see that woman. “Heather May told me that when I met her, I’d find out all I needed to know.”

  Mattheus pulled back at that one. It was a red light signal. “That’s quite a claim, “he said. “Don’t get your hopes up too high. When people promise me the moon, I usually take a few steps back.”

  Cindy looked sad suddenly and Mattheus wondered why.

  “Sounds like you’re afraid to trust,” she said.

  “I trust when trust is earned,” he said. “It takes time. That’s smart.”

  “I trusted Heather May,” said Cindy.

  “I’m not sure why,” said Mattheus. “It sounds to me like Heather May has her own agenda, her own reality.”