by Jaden Skye
“You’re blaming me for this?” Margot was horrified. “How do you think our son’s feeling?”
Nell arrived at the table and came right up to Margot. “Exactly when did you marry my father?” she asked.
Margot put her hands over her eyes, but then took them down and swiftly stood up.
“Your father, your husband! It’s all ridiculous! He belonged to me. He never said a word about either of you. And I never want to see or hear anything about either of you again!”
Then she spun around and fled at top speed, between the tables, out of the restaurant, like a spinning top that would never stop spinning.
“I’m sorry, mom,” Nell said. “That woman’s completely nuts. She’s vicious, on edge, half crazy. She’s got to be the one who did it. It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
Kendra simply stood like a statue made of marble.
“Nothing at all is obvious,” she finally said.
CHAPTER 20
Abels was working as a dishwasher in a small, greasy restaurant behind the mall. It was mid-afternoon when Mattheus got there and the heat of the day pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe. By now his shirt was soaked with perspiration, and the place was even hotter, food steaming on the grills.
“Looking for Salmon Abels,” Mattheus said to the guy who greeted him.
“Who?” the guy looked confused.
A wall fan creaked as it barely managed to ground around.
“He just started working here –” Mattheus continued. “Washing dishes.”
“Oh,” said the guy, “Sure. One second -I’ll bring him out.”
Abels walked out, jittery. He was younger than Mattheus had imagined, scrawny with wild eyes. “What?” the guy asked, pissed off.
“Private Investigator,” Mattheus said.
“What you guys want from me now?” asked Abels.
“Just sit down with me in the back,” said Mattheus, “it’ll only take a few minutes.
Mattheus and Abels walked to two stools, in the back of the place, facing each other. The slanty window high up on the wall was cranked half shut and it was hard to breathe. Sweat poured down Mattheus’ face as he leaned in towards Salmon. Salmon’s head hung down, his eyes glued to the floor.
“Pick up your head and look at me,” Mattheus demanded. This could be it. He could have the killer right here, red handed.
Abels raised his head just a little bit. Mattheus scrutinized his round face carefully. He was younger than Mattheus thought he would be, late thirties maybe, scrawny, bones shaking under his skin.
“Look up at me,” Mattheus repeated.
Abels raised his eyes. There was a look of exhaustion. Mattheus could see he’d been through this many times.
“Even when you’re free, you’re not free,” Abels muttered. “They come after you like a pack of thieves.”
“Pick up your damn head and look at me,” Mattheus demanded. This could be it. He could have the killer right here, red handed.
Salmon raised his head just a little bit. Mattheus scrutinized his round face carefully. He was younger than Mattheus thought he would be, late thirties maybe, scrawny, bones shaking under his skin.
“You know what you’re here for now, don’t you?” Mattheus was going for the jugular.
“No,” Abels bit his lip.
He was acting sassy, but he was scared, and their conversation was being recorded. If all went well, Mattheus could get a confession from him and the case would be closed.
“I’m out of the clinker,” Abels said in a thin tone. “And you’re trying to throw me back in.”
“You got it all down pat,” Mattheus said. “Pretty smart.
Abels smiled a crooked smile. “Could say I’m smart,” he answered. “Most people think so. Then I got framed for a job I never did.”
Mattheus wasn’t getting taken in. “What did you get framed for?”
“Killing some lady,” Salmon smirked.
“You do it?” Mattheus asked chummy.
“No, “said Abels. “She was a fancy dame and they needed someone to pin it on fast. It was just before elections. So, they found me dealing drugs in the neighborhood. That was it. I had a record, so they jumped my bones and good.”
Mattheus pushed his stool back slightly. “You had a pretty, damn good lawyer though,” he prodded, taking the conversation on a different track. “You think he’d go along with something like that?”
Abels leaned in close to him, like they were two conspirators exchanging notes. “That guy couldn’t stand my guts.”
Mattheus let out a long, slow whistle. “Then why the hell did he take on the case?”
“He had to. They told him to do it and it made him look good. That’s all he cared about, looking good for the public. And keeping the cops happy and sweet. This guy got plenty of passes by looking good. He didn’t give a hoot about me - let me fall right through the hole. I’m positive that he was in cahoots with the big boys on this one.”
“Think so?” Mattheus said. This could go to his motive to take Paul down.
Abels stretched his neck upwards and rubbed his long hands over his bony face. “Yeah, I think so. I think they’re all in cahoots. You too.”
“Not me, Mister,” Mattheus took exception. If there was one thing he refused to do, it was to be in cahoots with anybody. “I work on my own.”
It didn’t seem to impress Abels, who scoffed.
“So you got out of jail and let your lawyer have it. Right?” Mattheus said. “Must have felt good to get back at him?”
Salmon looked confused. “What do you mean let him have it? I haven’t seen him since the trial.”
Mattheus edged closer, turned up the heat. The guy’s face was about two inches away.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” Mattheus smirked. He had this guy locked up in his mind, bound in chains, confessing the killing. Mattheus desperately wanted to hear him confess.
“How the hell could I see the lawyer?” Abels spit the words out.
“I mean you took him down, just like you did the lady.”
At that, Abels froze. His eyes shifted back and forth fast, as if he were trying to grab onto an apparition floating in front of his face.
“Wait a minute, now.” He was getting the gist of it.
“Wait for what?” Mattheus said. But Abels looked so confused that Mattheus suddenly wondered if this guy even knew that Paul had been found in a pool of blood, dead.
“Why should I wait another second?” Mattheus growled. “We waited long enough to get our hands on you. You got out of jail a couple of weeks before Paul was killed. Everyone knew you blamed him for what happened to you.”
“Holy Christ,” yelled Abels. “Someone killed Paul?” He started shaking bad then.
“Don’t act like you didn’t know it,” Mattheus stood right up against him.
“What the hell does that have to do with me?”
“You hated the dude. He lost your case.”
Abels laughed in Mattheus face as spittle ran down the side of his mouth. “I hate a lot of people, Mister. It doesn’t mean I kill them.”
Mattheus stepped back looking at the fear in his eyes. “Where were you on the first Sunday of the month?”
“Easy. The festival. That day I was with friends in St. Croix. A whole bunch of people were there. We celebrated and I went with them to a carnival that afternoon. Lots of people saw me there. I helped a guy in one of the booths. I’ll give you his name.”
Mattheus stepped back. The guy’s eyes were still darting around in his head.
“I’m a rotten lousy critter, man, I’m a thief, I’m a bastard, but I didn’t kill anyone. In fact, I feel awful that the dude died.”
“You feel awful?” Mattheus was mocking him.
“Listen,” Abels crept closer. “I noticed every day I saw him that something was bugging this guy bad. Very bad. One day I said to him, Calm down, dude, what the hell’s bothering you? Someone breathing down your back? He l
aughed in my face and said it was worse than that. I said, oh yeah, what? He said, I’d never understand and I was lucky I never had any kids. Something in that guy’s family was making him crazy. Big time. I don’t know if that helps you?”
Mattheus took a few steps away, as a slow chill went up his spine. This guy had no way of knowing that Paul had two families, two set of kids.
Mattheus head spun around and around. He had to breathe, step back, take it easy. It was possible this guy didn’t do it. Could be he’d tracked down another guy that amounted to nothing. Mattheus relented,
“You’ll give me the names and addresses of all the people you were with on that day, also the booth you worked in at the carnival?”
“Definitely,” said Salmon.
“In an hour or two we’ll know if you’re lying. If you’re lying, man, it won’t be good for you.”
“I’m not lying,” Salmon said.
Mattheus believed him, and his heart sank into his shoes.
*
By the time Mattheus called Cindy the alibi had already been checked. It was air tight, he told her. Salmon hadn’t killed Paul. He hadn’t been anywhere near the crime scene.
Cindy listened quietly. “This is a bummer,” she said. “The police have already listened to Margot’s tape recording of the lunch. They heard Kendra say she’d detested Paul. She’s just been arrested. But before she went to jail, there was one last thing she did.” Cindy paused, agitated.
“What?” said Mattheus.
“She fired both of us,” said Cindy.
“That was stupid,” said Mattheus. “She needs us more now.”
“She doesn’t think so,” said Cindy.
“Meet me at the hotel,” said Mattheus.
“In an hour,” said Cindy, sounding entirely defeated.
CHAPTER 21
Cindy was thrilled to see Mattheus back at the hotel. He took her hand when she came into the lobby and gave her a little hug.
“Let’s go get a drink before dinner,” he suggested, “you look beautiful.”
That was the last thing Cindy expected.
“Besides, we’ve got a lot to talk about, Mattheus collected himself quickly.
They went into the lounge, sat down, and ordered.
The drinks came and they each took theirs. Mattheus downed his quickly. Cindy looked up at him as he drank. He seemed a little nervous. Maybe because they’d been fired. Nobody likes that.
“She’s not in her right mind,” Cindy said, “that’s why she fired us now.”
“I don’t care about that,” said Mattheus. “People do all kinds of things in desperate moments. And besides, she didn’t participate in her own defense. She lied to you.”
“Did you tell the police that?” asked Cindy horrified.
“No, I didn’t,” said Mattheus. “It must have been the tapes from the lunch that did it for them.”
“I can’t shake the feeling that Kendra didn’t do it,” Cindy continued.
“I don’t disagree,” said Mattheus, “but there’s nowhere else to go. Salmon Abels was Kendra’s best hope, and that went nowhere. There’s nothing left.”
“The case against her is all circumstantial,” Cindy repeated. “They never found a weapon.”
“A road is paved step by step,” Mattheus said. “When all signs point in one direction
Cindy put her hand over his. “Kendra didn’t do it,” she said emphatically.
Mattheus became quiet. “That’s a big statement. You’ve got to prove it.”
“Kendra’s nervous, outspoken, frazzled to the bone,” said Cindy, “she may not always be likeable either, but I’m sure she didn’t know anything about Margot. That’s what they’re all grabbing onto now. The motive was the second wife.”
“Cindy,” Mattheus stopped her. “The police spent more time talking to Heather. She told them that Kendra knew about Margot.”
Cindy was dumbstruck. “She knew? I don’t believe that. Heather has her own agenda. She’s getting something out of this - had to be terrifically jealous of Kendra. Heather’s framing her, left and right.”
Mattheus raised his hand to call the waiter to get another drink.
Cindy drank her drink slowly. It had been getting cooler on the island the past few days and the rum and soda warmed her.
“So, if you don’t think it’s Kendra, what’s your best guess?” Mattheus asked as he waited for his refill. “Heather?”
“I don’t think so,” said Cindy, “she’s just getting a sick pleasure out of watching Kendra squirm. Maybe she thinks Kendra did it, hurt the man she loved. When Heather found out about second wife years ago, she let go of Paul completely. It hurt like hell, but she just dropped him.”
“A strong lady,” said Mattheus, “good judgment.”
“It’s not so easy to drop someone you love,” Cindy said quietly.
“No, it isn’t,” said Mattheus. “I still go nuts at times thinking about Shelly.”
“Your wife?” asked Cindy. This was the first time he’d mentioned her name.
“It was good, we were happy. I thought we would last forever. We would have, too. We both felt it right away, as soon as we met.”
“I know how that is,” said Cindy, remembering when she’d first met Clint. It was as if the world had opened up in front of her, bringing this incredible gift. It was only destined to be enjoyed for a short while, though.
“There’s not one person in the world who can take Shelly’s’ place, either, “said Mattheus looking away.
“Nobody has to take her place,” Cindy said suddenly, a moment of clarity enveloping her. “Only, one day you might decide to make room in your heart for just one more.”
Mattheus was stung. He looked at Cindy sadly for a long while.
“The part that’s worst about it,” he finally said “is that I never found the guy who killed her. It drives me crazy. I can’t forgive myself. He’s out there, living his life and this beautiful woman is completely gone.”
“She’s not gone. She’s living inside you,” Cindy spoke heatedly. She felt such warmth and empathy for Mattheus. Clint was living inside her, as well. She felt it strongly as she spoke, realizing Clint could never disappear. She’d carry him and his love with her wherever she went. It was a wonderful moment, realizing that.
Mattheus slid closer on the sofa. “You’re an amazing woman, you know,” he said softly.
Cindy, taken aback, trembled.
She took a deep breath. Each word he said restored her.
“We’re lucky we have this work to do, and that we’re doing it together.”
Cindy wondered for a second, if he would ever be able to get past that, put it down, for even a short while? And would that even be good for them?
Strong winds suddenly blew in on them, giving them a taste of what was to come. All day the papers had been warning that hurricane Lola was coming their way. Paper was it was a hurricane 1 warning, to expect thunderous winds and rains. People were beginning to board up their homes already.
“We’re going to have to get out of here soon,” Mattheus said. “We’ll go back to Grenada until we take the next case.”
“I can’t go,” said Cindy.
“What are you talking about?” Mattheus flinched.
“Not without knowing who really killed Paul,” Cindy said.
Mattheus breathed more easily and put his hand on Cindy’s arm. “There are some things you never know,” he spoke softly. “Some cases you never close. You have to learn to live with it, and move on.”
“You haven’t,” Cindy said.
Mattheus smiled. “I’m trying to,” he said.
Cindy knew that was true. She saw how hard he tried to keep going.
“But when hurricane season comes, when the storms hit,” Mattheus continued, “you have to pack up and go.”
“Not when there’s an emergency,” said Cindy.
“There’s no emergency now,” he said.
“An innocent
woman put in jail isn’t an emergency?”
“You don’t know for sure that she’s innocent.”
“We don’t know that she’s not.”
“You’re stubborn as hell,” Mattheus laughed.
“That’s what keeps me going,” said Cindy.
*
After their drinks Mattheus and Cindy each went to their rooms then, to wash up, relax and prepare for dinner. Cindy sat down on her bed and looked up at the sky. It was heavy and overcast with threatening clouds. Mattheus was right. The storms would soon be coming. And the entire island was preparing for it – stores packing up, people getting out of town, stores selling batteries and jugs of water.
At dinner, Mattheus was quieter than usual. They’d had quite an afternoon, thought Cindy, he was probably just reflecting on it. Finally, as desert was being served, he spoke up.
“I got two plane tickets for us back to Grenada for Wednesday.” he said matter of factly.
Cindy was stunned. “I just said I didn’t want to leave yet,” she said.
“That’s ridiculous. It doesn’t make sense. There’s nothing more we can do for her now.”
“I disagree,” said Cindy.
“Besides, she fired us,” said Mattheus.
“She did it in a moment of upset,” said Cindy. “It doesn’t mean I’m running away. I don’t care if she pays anymore. It’s not all about money.”
He leaned towards her powerfully. “It’s dangerous to stay during a hurricane. If people don’t have to be here, they’re not.”
“It’s more dangerous to leave a case half cooked,” said Cindy fitfully.
Mattheus grimaced. “Let’s look at this realistically. Kendra’s been caught lying over and over. She even lied to you.”
“It doesn’t mean she committed murder,” said Cindy.
“It doesn’t mean you can help her, either.”
“Then what did she call us down here for?” asked Cindy.
“Maybe she thought you’d be easy to manipulate? Be part of a cover up? Women like her often enjoy maneuvering other women.”
