“Really?” Mattheus was taken aback.
“It was useful,” Cindy continued. “He’s interested in the investigation, so I told Price about Frank’s hidden cell phone. He said everyone in Bermuda had one. It’s no big deal. He also said to stay away from Grenfield – that the guy’s famous for planting false leads.”
“Whoah,” Mattheus held his hand up. “That’s quite a statement coming from Price. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. Believe it or not, Grenfield said the same thing about Price. Those guys can’t stand each other.”
Cindy laughed, “I’m not at all surprised,” she said. “Everyone here talks behind everyone else’s back.”
“There’s a web down here and all these guys are involved in it,” Mattheus muttered. “I happen to like Grenfield myself, and you seem to like Price.”
“I wouldn’t say that I like him,” Cindy interrupted. “But he feels solid to me. He wants to help us, but I realize he also wants those hotel murders solved. They’re casting some kind of shadow on him, even if he’s not directly involved.”
“How do you know he’s not involved? He could be,” said Mattheus. “And I thought you said he didn’t think that Ann’s death had anything to do with those murders anyway.”
“He said that,” said Cindy, “and I agree. But it also seems as if Beggio was involved with those murders and that Ann could have inadvertently gotten caught in Beggio’s web.”
“How exactly?” asked Mattheus.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure yet,” said Cindy.
“Well, Grenfield is close to Beggio,” Mattheus remarked. “He’s by far the best lead we’ve got so far. If there’s any connection between Frank and Beggio, Grenfield will help me find it.”
Cindy suddenly grew very quiet. The direction they were heading in seemed circuitous. She felt as though they were walking around in a maze. Mattheus grew quieter as well as they approached the long line of taxis waiting for customers.
“Our number one focus now is to talk to Frank,” said Mattheus. “And, at the very least, we’ve got to get into his computer and see what’s doing.”
“Easier said than done,” said Cindy.
“There’s got to be a way we can break in,” Mattheus started ruminating. “Worse comes to worse we can brainstorm and figure out his password.”
Cindy liked the idea. She’d rather get into his computer surreptitiously without Frank finding out. Then they’d see for themselves if there was even a reason to grill him any further. Her guess was that there would be nothing much on it, it would clear him, ease things up.
“I like that idea,” Cindy perked up instantly, “Let’s go for it.”
“Great,” Mattheus was right on board. “Let’s start with the password to Ann’s computer. Do you happen know it? What was it?” he asked.
“Sunshine10,” Cindy suddenly remembered, filled with sadness.
“Lots of husbands and wife synchronize their passwords,” Mattheus mused.
Cindy hadn’t heard that, it was a strange idea to her. Actually she and Ann had somewhat synchronized their passwords.
“Ann and I did something like that,” Cindy mentioned then. “Her password was sunshine and mine Rainforest. We figured you needed both sun and rain.”
“Really?” Mattheus was encouraged, as he lifted his arm to hail a cab he hailed a cab down. “It sounds like we’re on the right track. Let’s go right back to the room this second, keep brainstorming and try a bunch of passwords. Sooner or later we’ll crack the code.”
*
Once back at the hotel they went straight up to Cindy’s room where Frank’s computer was being stored. They opened it quickly, leaned over it together and started guessing at passwords.
“What’s the opposite of sunshine? Dark clouds?” asked Mattheus.
“Try it,” said Cindy.
It didn’t work.
“Keep going,” said Mattheus. “Give me more ideas.”
“Thunder, storm, dark night, evening,” Cindy breathed.
They tried each one and nothing happened.
“Her password was Sunshine10 – try Sunshine20.”
Another bust.
“Combine two words,” Mattheus directed.
“Stormnight, darksun, eveningthunder,” Cindy called out.
Mattheus tried each one, but nothing yielded. The computer stayed dead locked.
“Frank always called Ann an angel,” said Cindy, unwilling to be defeated. “How about that? Annangel? Try it.”
Mattheus tried and it didn’t work.
I’ve got to find it, I’ve got to find, I’ve got to find it, Cindy fervently murmured to herself.
Suddenly in a blaze something hit Cindy. “Wait a minute,” she said. “Why would Frank have a password that was the opposite of my sister? He felt close to her his whole life long. Her password was sunshine10 - how about sunshine11?”
“Try it,” Mattheus acquiesced.
Cindy typed it in and to her total amazement, it hit the spot. The computer opened. They both stared at it.
“Divine intervention,” whispered Cindy.