“What are the chances we figured this out?” Mattheus was open mouthed.
“It’s a sign,” Cindy breathed.
“A sign that we’re smart and gutsy,” said Mattheus.
“A sign that someone is helping,” Cindy trembled.
“A sign that we’re on the right track,” said Mattheus.
“The password just came to me out of the blue,” Cindy replied. “There have to be angels lending a hand.”
Chapter 17
First they scrolled through Frank’s emails. As Cindy expected they were routine and dull. Mostly business appointments scheduled back in the States, without one mention of Beggio. There were also a few scattered emails from Ann asking what time he’d be home, and telling him what they were having for dinner.
“Boring, if you asked me,” Mattheus murmured, rubbing his forehead.
“See, I told you,” Cindy murmured. “There’s nothing in Frank’s life that’s dramatic or hidden, he’s an open book. We’re on the wrong track with him.”
“Maybe yes, maybe no,” Mattheus squinted his eyes. “He could be storing hot, secret emails on his unknown cell phone for all we know.”
“There’s nothing hot about Frank,” Cindy insisted.
“Could be, we never know,” Mattheus smiled.
“Could be is just conjecture,” Cindy responded, annoyed.
“True enough,” Mattheus leaned closer to Cindy, ruffling her hair with his hand. “I remember the day I taught you that.”
Cindy smiled back, “I do, too,” she responded. “You were a great teacher.”
“You were a fantastic student,” Mattheus replied. “Beautiful and adorable, just like today. And gutsy, very gutsy.”
Cindy felt waves of love coming from Mattheus towards her.
“Let’s go look at Frank’s Facebook page now,” Mattheus went on, conspiratorially.
They quickly flipped to Frank’s Facebook page and scrolled along slowly. In some ways Frank’s page resembled Ann’s. The same photos of the two of them were posted, along with the restaurants they enjoyed going to. There were also photos of the same couples with them.
“There’s nothing here,” Cindy whispered, gratefully. “Same old thing, dull, dull, dull.”
“Wait a minute, don’t be so quick,” Mattheus pulled the computer over to him. “Let me check his messages and responses.”
Cindy leaned back and closed her eyes briefly. Mattheus wouldn’t find anything, she would surely be vindicated. She’d known Frank practically her entire life and though they’d never gotten on so well, he’d always been a pillar of stability. That was one of the things that Ann loved so much about him. It was impossible that Frank could remain a suspect. Then the challenge would be to go deeper and see how Ann’s horrible death took place. Cindy thought she’d probably have to go back and talk more to Evan Price. There was no way he’d told her all he possibly knew about the murders at the hotel.
“Whoah, look at this,” Mattheus suddenly said.
Cindy opened her eyes quickly. “What?”
“The day before Ann was killed, Frank defriended a woman on Facebook.”
“Really?” Cindy sat up straighter and crammed closer to the computer. “Who?”
“That’s something we’ve got to find out, don’t we?” Mattheus breathed.
“Do you know how to do that?” Cindy asked, agitated. She never would have expected that from Frank.
“It’ll take a little while,” said Mattheus.
Cindy stood up. “Why in the world would Frank do that?” she spoke to herself out loud.
“Lots of possible reasons,” said Mattheus as he worked with the computer. “It’s not only that he defriended her though, it’s that the time he did it that’s significant – the day before Ann died.”
Cindy took a deep, painful breath, suddenly remembering her mother’s words that all men stray sooner or later. It seemed impossible to think that of Frank, though.
“Listen, we’ve got to give the computer to the police and let their experts help out, right away,” Mattheus seemed to feel as though they’d hit gold.
“No, Mattheus,” Cindy’s voice rose quickly. “We can’t do that.”
“Cindy, this is a murder investigation,” Mattheus stood up quickly. “It’s a serious piece of information. We have to share it. The police can go further with it, check into her possible networks.”
“The police will use it to get Frank,” Cindy practically started sobbing, suddenly feeling like a traitor to the family. “They’ll reel Frank in. Let me call my mom first and see if she knows where Frank is so we can talk to him first. Let’s give him a chance - for Ann’s sake anyway.”
“We’re finding the killer for Ann’s sake,” Mattheus reminded Cindy.
“But Ann would want us to give Frank a chance, to talk to him first,” Cindy’s voice was practically breaking.
“Okay, go ahead, call your mother. See if she knows where Frank is, and I’ll keep trying to find out who the person is that he defriended.”