Death by Marriage (16 page)

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.”

Cindy
took great exception to that.  It made her feel like a child.  “I’m not leaving
the island until I’m sure,” she said.

Mattheus
stood up, annoyed. “Then it sounds like you’ll be here alone for a very long
time. Down here these things can take forever.”

“Mattheus,”
Cindy reached up for him.

He
looked down at her, as if from far away. “There’s not one other viable suspect
that’s turned up.  All loopholes have been covered. And I got a good deal on
the plane tickets.  We’ll go back, take a break, and then pick up another case.
There have been three articles about us already in the papers. I’ve had a
couple of inquiries.”

Cindy’s
body froze at the thought of leaving. She couldn’t abandon Kendra like that.

“I’m
just not ready,” she said, “neither is the case. There’s more to come, I feel
it.”

Mattheus
shook his head. “Feelings can be tricky.”

“I
have to explore my hunches,” Cindy insisted.

Mattheus
was firm. “Look, I’ve seen this syndrome before and I don’t want you getting
caught in it.  There are cops who are always looking for the next clue, chewing
on a bare bone when all the meat’s gone.  They can’t stand admitting failure
and so they won’t let go. If I thought there was any value at all in staying,
don’t you think I would?”

 Mattheus
words hit Cindy hard.  Was that what she was doing? Chewing on a bare bone?
Living a life that had no juice in it? Mattheus was just trying to snap her out
a trap he thought she was falling into. But she didn’t feel finished.

“I’m
staying,” she said.

“Do
what you want,” snapped Mattheus, annoyed. “I’m getting out of here. There are intense
storm warnings. It’s scheduled to hit in a couple of days. The island people
did their Hurricane Supplication Day festival early. You know what that is?”

“What?”
asked Cindy dumbfounded.

“It’s
a holiday when the locals ask to be spared from devastating storms. They’re
expecting category 4 winds – 135 mile force. You have to be out of your mind to
stay down here.”

Mattheus
could say what he liked. Cindy knew she couldn’t leave.

They
left the restaurant together without saying a word. Once out in the lobby,
instead of going back up to her room, Cindy turned and walked out of the hotel.
She refused to be pressured by Mattheus and couldn’t help thinking about Nell,
left alone without her father and her mother now in jail.  Cindy had been
shocked to see Nell arrive at the lunch. Clearly, she’d wanted to meet Margot.  Nell
had mentioned at the time that she thought Margot did it. Cindy had let that
comment just lay there, but she’d been wondering about it more these days. She wanted
to talk with Nell about it. Cindy never felt that she’d spent enough time with her.
At the very least she could visit, say hello, and give her some support and comfort.

Cindy
hailed a cab and decided to take it straight to Kendra’s home. It was windy and
cooler than usual, and the rain kept falling harder, making the roads slippery
and slick. Mattheus was probably at the bar, alone, talking to whomever was
around. She couldn’t let herself think about him. He was wrong to pressure her
in that way. If they were going to be a team, they’d have to make decisions
together. Since when was he scared of a storm?

The
drive to Kendra’s house went quickly and when Cindy arrived, strangely enough,
the front door was open. Cindy turned the knob, and walked. The place felt
silent, empty and haunted, filled with desolation and gloom. For a second,
Cindy felt scared, as if something worse were hovering.

She
walked around the downstairs slowly, looking in corners, wondering where Nell
was. Maybe visiting her mother in jail. But, maybe not? Cindy thought of
calling out for her, but decided instead to go upstairs and see if she might be
in her room.

She
got to the second floor and behind one door heard a strange hum. Cindy knocked
on the door. No one answered. Before she opened it, she decided to knock again.

“What
the hell do you want?” a raw voice called from inside.

Cindy
jumped back startled, “It’s Cindy Blaine, can I come in?”

Even
before she finished saying that, the door flung open and Nell stood there,
staring.

“What
are you doing here?” the words poured out of her by themselves. “Who let you
in?”

“The
door was open,” Cindy said. “I’m sorry.”

“You
can be as sorry as you want, but what did you really do for us? Nothing. My mom’s
locked up and my father’s dead.”