by Jaden Skye
Cindy’s heart ached for Kate. What had gone so terribly wrong in her life that allowed her to accept this kind of treatment?
“I’m sorry to hear this,” said Cindy slowly.
“You’re sorry to hear it, but those are the facts,” said Mattheus. “This guy you want to protect so much, Sean, he’s not worth it.”
“What about the bracelets?” asked Cindy, suddenly shaky?
“It would have been good to have that physical evidence,” said Mattheus, “but it’s not the end of the world. It’s not taking this case down by any means. And, Riva’s not exactly the most reliable witness either. Who knows when Sean actually gave Riva the bracelet? And, why in hell is she emailing Clay so much now?”
“How much?” asked Cindy, “and how do you know?”
“We’ve tapped into Clay’s computer and are following what he says and does,” said Mattheus.
“I thought he wasn’t a suspect. I thought he could go home,” said Cindy.
“Yeah, that’s why we’re checking, because he’s leaving soon,” said Mattheus. “Believe me, there’s nothing going on with him. He’s gets emails from Riva telling him she’s sorry for his loss. The guy needs a little comfort and connection, so he emails her back. Nothing out of the order. Could be Riva feels responsible for what happened, after all, she’s been hanging out with Sean. She probably knows much more than she’s letting on.”
“Conjecture,” said Cindy.
“You refuse to agree with me about anything,” Mattheus became solemn, “you refuse to take in the facts. I’m wondering why? What’s behind this, anyway? Are you playing for time because you don’t want the case end and us to be together?”
Cindy picked up her wine glass and drank it all down. Mattheus felt overwhelming.
“You’ve turned all your suspiciousness onto me, again,” said Cindy plainly. “It exhausting.”
Mattheus stood up at the bar. “Because you won’t answer my questions. Come clean, Cindy, what’s going on?”
“I’m tired of being suspected for every little thing,” said Cindy. “It wears on me like a pound of rocks. It doesn’t work, it’s painful.”
“Well, I’m sorry to have turned into a pound of rocks in your life,” said Mattheus, leaving his drink half unfinished, turning and leaving the bar.
CHAPTER 20
Despite the overcast sky and blustery weather Cindy decided to leave the hotel and walk along the shore to the natural volcanic pool about a mile away. It was a beautiful site that she had wanted to spend time at since she got here.
As soon as she stepped out of the hotel, warm, thick, salty winds blew at her, tossing her hair onto her face. It actually felt good to walk through the tail end of the storm, amidst the shells and driftwood that had been brushed up onto shore. The wild, windswept feel of the place oddly soothed her.
Cindy walked slowly, enjoying the feel of her feet on the sand and breathed deeply. Clay and his family would be probably leaving in a couple of days, as soon as the airport was ready. The case was going nowhere fast and Cindy felt sad about it. She felt badly for Kate’s family as well, particularly Carl. At first he’d seemed like a mountain of strength, and now he seemed more desperate for a way to make sense of things. Cindy found Carl interesting. He had many unexpected and interesting qualities.
The wind blew up as she walked and it was awhile before Cindy realized that someone was walking behind her, getting closer with each step.
“Cindy,” a male voice said behind her.
Cindy spun around.
“God, I didn’t mean to scare you,” said Carl, his hair blown about by the wind.
“You did though,” said Cindy laughing.
“I called to you while I was behind you,” he spoke quickly. “You didn’t hear me?”
“The surf must have drowned it out,” said Cindy.
Carl took a step closer and to Cindy’s surprise, it felt good and comforting to have him there with her.
“I’m on my way to the volcanic preserve,” said Cindy as the foam from the waves blew in their faces.
“May I join you?” asked Carl loudly, over the waves.
“Looks like you already have,” said Cindy, and they both smiled.
“Good, let’s go then,” he put his hand gently in the crevice of her back, turning Cindy back in the direction she was walking in.
“You’re an incredibly brave young woman,” Carl said as they started walking again.
That surprised Cindy, “Why?”
“You don’t see it,” he said, “you don’t see anything about yourself,” and he put his whole arm closer around her.
“Carl, I’m with Mattheus,” Cindy said then, edging away.
“Then where is he, at a moment like this?” asked Carl.
“At a moment like what?”
“At a moment of danger and loneliness,” Carl replied spontaneously.
“What’s the danger?” Cindy was confused.
“We just had a disturbing interview with Clay,” Carl continued. “We just found out that Sean didn’t give the bracelet to Riva. Things are stirring, unknown forces working.”‘
“It’s always that way in my line of work,” said Cindy quietly.
“Mattheus should be at your side,” Carl was emphatic.
Cindy was stung. “We like time alone,” she answered defensively, “we need it. Especially when working on cases.”
“Is this work you plan to do forever?” Carl asked, his brow curling. “Don’t you want to settle down and have a family one day?”
Cindy was silent. Of course that had been something she’d wanted all her life, something she’d hoped for and planned.
“Maybe?” she said.
“Maybe?” Carl was taken aback. “Why only maybe?”
Cindy felt as though Carl was turning into an Uncle to her now, looking after her the way he’d looked after Kate her whole life long. And, to her surprise, Cindy liked it.
“You get used to a life style,” Cindy started, “it gets a grip on you. Before you know it, years pass by.”
“How well I know,” said Carl. “I worked for years as corporate lawyer.”
Cindy was surprised.
“Just kept doing it because it brought in money and prestige and the wives wanted that.”
“And what did you want?” asked Cindy.
“Someone like you,” said Carl, looking at her through the sand which was blowing up around them. “That’s all I ever really wanted, someone just like you.”
Cindy felt shivery. “That’s probably how you felt about all your wives in the beginning,” she said softly. “It’s how everyone feels with someone new.”
“No,” Carl shook his head slowly, “this time is different. Let’s sit down and talk. The volcanic pool can wait for another time.”
Cindy smiled. He had a sweet charm about him that made it easy to go along.
The two of them stopped walking then and sat down at the edge of the shore.
“I know I’m too old for you, Cindy,” Carl started.
Cindy shrugged, age meant little to her. Her life had taken so many detours that conventional standards didn’t mean much anymore.
“It’s not about age,” said Cindy, “it’s about who a person is, what they want, how we are together. It’s about what we bring out in each other. But, truly, I’m not looking for anyone new.”
“You’re really in love with Mattheus?” Carl turned to her full on.
Cindy couldn’t answer.
“You hesitate,” said Carl swiftly. “If you were really in love you would have said so right away.”
“I don’t know what really in love means anymore,” said Cindy. “Relationships are more complicated than that. I definitely love Mattheus, that’s for sure.”
“Love him but not in love?” Carl persisted.
“You can’t build a life on in love,” Cindy said. “How long do those feelings last anyway?”
“If it’s the right person, a who
le lifetime,” said Carl.
Carl was sweet and hopeful and Cindy liked that. “It’s nice that you’re still so hopeful, Carl.”
“Actually, it’s amazing,” he responded, “given all that I’ve been through.”
Cindy agreed. He’d been through a lot and was still open to finding love. She mused about that. It could certainly indicate a hopeful person, or perhaps it pointed to an attraction to getting hurt, on his part, or to an addiction to the rush that falling in love brings. Cindy wanted to know what had gone wrong in his marriages. But this wasn’t the time to ask about it. Things were hard enough for him now as it was.
“You know, I found out new things about the case from Mattheus,” Cindy said, turning the focus away from them, back onto Kate.
Carl seemed surprised. “Really? What?”
“Well, for starters, Mattheus didn’t think the fact that it wasn’t Kate’s bracelet that Riva had would make that much of a difference. Mattheus found more witnesses though. He said he’d located some people in Kate’s life who actually heard Sean threatening her and verbally abusing her publically.”
Carl shot up in a bolt. “Who told him that? Exactly what did they hear Sean say?”
“They said he called Kate names and want her to get away,” said Cindy.
“That’s it?” asked Clay.
“That’s a lot,” nodded Cindy.
“I’ve heard all about that before,” said Carl. “It was common knowledge. Kate and Sean had lots of lovers quarrels publicly. That’s why I kept trying to get her away from him. He was a loose cannon with his mouth. But he never lifted a hand to her.”
“Still, it builds the case against Sean,” said Cindy.
“Maybe,” said Carl, “but there’s no direct evidence linking him to her killing.”
“No, there isn’t,” Cindy agreed. “It’s tough, I so badly want you and Kate’s family to have closure.”
“Closure?” Carl moaned suddenly, “It’s never going to happen. Not for me. This is a wound I’ll never get over. I don’t know how I’ll get along without Kate. I just don’t know how.”
“It’s going to take time, but you’ll do it,” said Cindy quietly, “I know you will.”
Carl leaned over then and kissed the top of Cindy’s head, and she felt his warmth and yearning flowing down inside.
*
Carl and Cindy spoke for a little while longer and then returned to the shelter of the hotel as the sky suddenly became more threatening and the ocean looked as though riptides were beginning to form. They parted in the lobby and Cindy went back up to her, wondering what state of mind she would find Mattheus in.
When she walked into the room, she didn’t find him at all. He wasn’t there. Probably elsewhere in the hotel, Cindy mused. As she walked to sofa to sit down, Cindy saw an envelope addressed to her on the table. It was from Clay.
Cindy opened it quickly, her hands trembling. The note was written in plain, somewhat scrawling handwriting.
Dear Kate,
Do not come back to see me again. Do not bring Carl or Mattheus. I, too, am grieving and must recover. There is no respect here for me, no one cares about what I’m going through. Kate warned me about Carl and now I see how right she was. He’s cold hearted and nasty. If Kate knew you, she would have warned me about you too. She’d stay, stay away from all of them, Clay. They’re all predators, looking for a kill. I’ve written poems about predators that have been published. I can spot a predator whenever I see one. And now I see one. A woman like you, with many men, must not come back to see me.
Cindy shivered. She read the note a few times. It was disturbing and bizarre. She had to show it to Mattheus, it had to be explored.
Cindy quickly took her phone to call Mattheus. His answering service took her message.
Then she quickly called Carl. “I got a strange, upsetting note from Clay,” Cindy said to Carl immediately.
“What kind of note?”Carl’s voice sounded strained and nervous.
Cindy wanted to have Carl come over and read it for himself, but what if Mattheus suddenly returned?
“Clay’s warning me not to come and see him again,” said Cindy. “And he said you mustn’t go either.”
“I mustn’t?” said Carl. “Well, now I’m going to make a point of making another visit. The airport won’t be open for another two days, so, I have time. I’ve already checked on him and found out that when he’s not in the hotel he goes roaming somewhere. I’m going to find out exactly where. He’ll go there and I’ll surprise him.”
“Why are you going? For spite?” asked Cindy.
“I’m going because this guy puts my teeth on edge,” said Carl. “I want to find out more about him for myself.”
Cindy liked the idea, and she liked Carl’s defiance, his determination to see things through and unwillingness to take things on face value.
“Okay,” said Cindy, “I’m going back onto Kate’s Facebook Page to check things further now. Let me see what else has popped up.”
“Clay doesn’t have a Facebook page,” said Carl. “Now that says something, doesn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” said Cindy. “Some people are private. Let me see what else I can find on Kate’s Page.”
*
Kate went straight to the computer on the patio, sat down and quickly went onto Kate’s Facebook Page. It was now filled with messages of sorrow, horror and condolence. People were posting constantly, as if she were still alive.
Kate, Kate, how did this happen? We love you. We’re praying for you.
Kate, we’ll never forget you.
I don’t believe you’re gone, Kate. I refuse to believe it. I’ll miss you forever.
Someone had posted pictures of Kate as a little girl, and then all through her years growing up. There were many photos of her there with Sean, at all different important occasions. They actually looked lovely and happy together. Cindy wondered who posted it all? Maybe a combination of her friends and family? The photos were compelling and moving. Cindy stared at them, tracing the journey of a young woman to the day she met her fiancée, and the fateful week-end she became engaged.
Now, in what looked like a memorial for her, there were also posted little messages that Kate had written to others in the past. They were simple, engaging and playful, describing her day lightly.
Sean and I had the most wonderful time roller blading, she wrote. The day was perfect.
Here are some pictures of Sean and me apple picking. What a beautiful day.
It was both heartwarming and unnerving to hear Kate describe her days in her own voice.
Cindy decided to scroll down once again and look at the messages Kate had posted announcing her engagement that fateful night.
Happy, thrilled, excited, she wrote.
Cindy carefully scanned every single message in response.
Someone, hearing about the engagement, had sent her a quick reply.
Be careful, Kate, the message said.
Kate answered just as quickly. Don’t worry, there are no predators on this island. Everything is safe and fine.
Cindy felt a chill go through her back as she read that one. Predators was not a word Kate had used anywhere else, or would have used, thought Cindy. It didn’t fit her. It was Clay’s word, not hers. Cindy sat there staring at the message. Why would Kate even think of a predator? And how wrong, she’d been about it.
As Cindy sat there staring at the computer, the room to the door opened and she heard Mattheus walk in.
“What are you doing?” he called, walking out onto the patio casually, as if nothing out of the ordinary between them had happened.
“I’m going through Kate’s Facebook page,” said Cindy.
“You did that already,” Mattheus replied.
“I’m doing it again,” said Cindy, defiantly.
“Find anything new? “asked Mattheus.
“First read that note Clay sent me that’s on the table outside,” said Cindy. “After tha
t, I’ll tell you what I found.”
“Oh God, this will never end,” Mattheus groaned.
“It will end when it ends,” said Cindy. “Please go read it, Mattheus.”
Mattheus left to read the note and Cindy kept scrolling. There had to be something else here that would tell her what she felt in every bone of her body and was longing to know. She went over every message from Kate and its responses with a fine tooth comb.
Suddenly Mattheus reappeared on the patio. “Okay, you’re right, this note is weird.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” said Cindy.
“No, not mildly. It’s putting it exactly right. The note is weird. Right now this guy is emotionally disturbed. But who wouldn’t be when they’d just gone through something like this?”
“I found a mention of a predator on Kate’s Facebook page,” Cindy turned to Mattheus directly. “Kate said to someone that there were no predators on this island. That’s a strange thing to say. Not like her at all.”
“Clay probably mentioned it to her and it was on her mind. Mattheus had an answer for everything.
“You don’t think it’s weird?” asked Cindy, agitated.
“I don’t think it’s pleasant, but it doesn’t mean a thing,” said Mattheus.
“Everything means something on a case like this,” said Cindy.
“Not everything,” Mattheus insisted. “Thinking every little thing has a secret meaning leads to madness. You have to know what’s really significant and what is not.”
“This is very significant,” Cindy stuck to it.
“Cindy, the case is solved. They’ve got Sean. It’s tied up.”
Cindy turned back to the computer. “I don’t believe Sean did it, Mattheus. Everyone just wants to pin it on someone and tie it all up.”
“That’s not fair,” said Mattheus more calmly, walking closer to Cindy. “I’ve gone along on this ride with you, but I don’t have to give up what I feel is right.”
“No, you don’t,” Cindy agreed, calming down as well. The tension that developed as cases proceeded inevitably spilled back onto both of them. “I know you’ve done your best.”
“And so have you, “said Mattheus more warmly.
