Mattheus too smiled as if he’d forgotten everything being back in her arms.
“What happened?” Cindy murmured, “what do you have to tell me?”
“Come let’s sit down,” Mattheus said.
They sat close together on the couch. “I hate to talk about this right now,” he whispered. “I’d rather talk about us, our future.”
“We’ll have plenty of time for doing that later,” Cindy curled up next to him. “We’ve got to stay focused on Ann.”
“Okay,” Mattheus pulled himself together. “I have intense news for you.”
“What is it?” Cindy began to feel slightly alarmed.
“Grenfield recognized the photo I showed him of Frank. After we talked awhile, he finally admitted to knowing Frank well. Apparently he and Frank speak on the phone regularly.”
Cindy grew uneasy. “And?” she asked trying to find out what Grenfield actually said.
“I had to definitely establish that Grenfield knew Frank,” Mattheus continued, “so after I showed him the photo, I asked him for Frank’s cell phone number, to corroborate it.”
“Yes?” Cindy was waiting for the bomb to fall.
“Grenfield didn’t have the right number,” Mattheus said softly.
Cindy wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
“He had another number for Frank that they communicated on.” Mattheus stopped and stared at Cindy.
“What is it?” Cindy still didn’t know what Mattheus was getting at.
“None of us have any record of this other number at all. Frank’s got a hidden cell phone. And possibly a hidden life!”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” said Cindy. “Others may have this number!”
Mattheus shook his head. “This number is unofficial and hidden. I’ve already checked with the police.”
“You’ve done what?” Cindy shot up, like a flare. “You called the police first, without telling me?”
“Of course I called the police,” Mattheus looked confused. “I had to check immediately, see if they had this number, or knew where it lead.”
“No you didn’t have to do that without asking me,” Cindy was frightened. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
Mattheus looked horrified. “What are you talking about? You want me to hide evidence in a murder investigation?”
“Not hide it, just postpone handing it over, until we know more,” Cindy voice got high and thin.
“Cindy, your brother in law has been operating with an unknown cell phone number, that’s a big deal,” Mattheus uttered. “The police have to check the calls on it, see where they come from.”
Cindy closed her eyes quickly. Her head started pounding. “You’ve already given his private phone number to the police?” she barely took it in.
“Of course I have, it’s procedure,” Mattheus answered. “They’re checking it as we speak.”
“Oh God, oh God,” Cindy started trembling.
Mattheus stood up and took her in his arms. “Don’t imagine the worst,” he whispered quickly. “It could be a great find. The numbers on it could lead us to the killer.”
“Nothing will lead us to the killer,” Cindy suddenly started wailing, startling both Mattheus and herself as well.
“Something will,” said Mattheus softly. “And we have to be ready for the truth.”
“The truth, the truth,” Cindy pulled away from him swiftly, “the truth has many faces and colors. It doesn’t always look like what it seems.”
“I know,” said Mattheus, agitated, “that’s why we don’t leave any stone unturned, even if they’re part of the family.”
“Frank didn’t kill my sister,” Cindy called out then, emphatically. “Just because he has a hidden cell phone number doesn’t mean a thing.”
“You’re protecting him, hiding from the facts,” Mattheus responded firmly. “We need to get into his computer right away and I need to speak to him immediately.”
“Right now? Tonight?” Cindy answered breathless.
“Not tonight,” Mattheus put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “First thing tomorrow morning will be fine.”
Despite herself Cindy started crying.
Mattheus stood quietly by as she cried, and then slowly asked her. “What about your night, Cindy? What did you find?”
Cindy forcefully pulled herself together. “Beggio said he didn’t know Frank. There were lots of people at the party. One woman there, Penny, claimed to have recognized Frank - though she wasn’t sure where she saw him.”
Mattheus’s eyebrows raised. “Sounds like Frank’s part of the scene down here,” he murmured.
“Not necessarily,” Cindy fought back. “He comes down for business, we know that already. So, when he’s down here he takes in the sights. That’s not proof of anything.”
“No, it’s not,” Mattheus agreed.
“But you’re on board with the police, aren’t you?” Cindy asked. “You all feel that Frank’s the killer!”
Mattheus looked down for a moment. “The police feel Frank’s deeply involved. I don’t know for sure, but it isn’t looking good right now.”