“Frank just defriended you on his Facebook page - the day before my sister was killed,” Cindy wasn’t pulling any punches.
“I didn’t even know I was defriended,” Ronnelle exclaimed. “I hardly know who all my friends on Facebook are. Everyone’s on everyone else’s page. Who the hell is this guy Frank, anyway?”
Cindy’s stomach fell. Ronnelle seemed entirely plausible. Perhaps Frank had become her Facebook friend and developed some strange fantasy about her. Ronnelle could have offended him without her ever knowing it. When she’d said she didn’t know Frank, Ronnelle could have been telling the truth. Was it possible Frank was some kind of sick stalker? Could it be that nothing had gone on between them, that he’d only dreamt about it? Horrifying as that thought was, it somehow seemed more in keeping with the Frank that Cindy knew. She couldn’t imagine him as a ladies man, as hard as she tried.
Ronnelle then broke out into a lovely smile and took Cindy’s hands. “Listen, I’m terribly sorry about your sister,” she said, “but I have no idea about any of this. I’m sorry this guy Frank defriended me, but it never even registered. There are so many guys on the island, each one looking for something else.”
“I can only imagine,” said Cindy. Cindy felt strange listening to Ronnelle. She had a forthright charm about her that was delightful. It was hard to believe she was lying.
Cindy suddenly feeling the weight of the heat and the crowds and the terrific noise bearing down upon her. She also felt the weight of the loss of her sister and confusion about what had really happened to her. Maybe it would be better for Cindy to leave the stadium now. Ronnelle’s story seemed impenetrable. There was no reason to doubt it, actually. She was probably down here playing the field, having a good time, a respite from her life back home.
Cindy turned to go. “Thanks for talking to me, Ronnelle,” she said in parting. “I can see it would be fun for you down here. Where are you from anyway?”
“Wisconsin,” Ronnelle answered lightly as Cindy began to slide away.
Cindy stopped in her tracks. “Wisconsin?”
“Yes, why?” Ronnelle’s attention had turned back to the game.
“My sister and Frank are from Wisconsin,” Cindy’s voice deepened as she stared at Ronnelle.
“Really? What a coincidence,” Ronnelle remarked lightly.
Cindy took a step closer again. “I don’t believe in coincidences,” she said, suddenly threateningly.
Ronnelle took a few steps away. “Get away from me,” she exclaimed sharply. “What are you, a nut or something?”
“You’re from Wisconsin and so was my sister and so is Frank,” Cindy repeated heatedly.
“So what the hell?” Ronnelle flung her words out loudly. “Lots of people are from Wisconsin. Get a grip, honey! It’s a big world.”
Cindy made her way out of there like a bat out of hell. Suddenly, she’d wanted to grab Ronnelle, pin her down and force her to admit that she knew Frank – force her to tell her why she’d been defriended. Only thing was Ronnelle might not have known him and thankfully, despite her suddenly flare of rage, Cindy recognized that. The fact that both Ronnelle and Frank were from Wisconsin, was nothing more than circumstantial. Cindy could get in big trouble for pushing too hard. And more trouble was the last thing she needed now. She ran all the way out of the stadium sweating and heading for the safety of her hotel room.
*
A few minutes after she got into her room and flung herself on the sofa, Cindy heard a knock on her door. Expecting Mattheus, she got up quickly and opened it up. To Cindy’s amazement, her uncle Charlie stood there waiting.
“What’s wrong? Come in,” Cindy mumbled quickly.
“You look hell warmed over,” Charlie said kindly as he closed the door behind him.
Cindy felt happy to have him here with her now. “Sit down Uncle Charlie,” she said.
“Cindy, sweetheart, is this too much for you?” Charlie asked without moving.
“Yes, it is,” Cindy remarked, “but I have to do it anyway.”
“Your friend Mattheus is a good man,” Charlie went on, “let him do the brunt of it.”
“Ann was my sister, Charlie,” Cindy remarked, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. “You can’t pass something like this off on others.”
“No, you can’t,” Charlie agreed, slowly. “You’ve been a wonderful sister, in life and in death,” he continued slowly.
The simple sincerity in his tone touched Cindy deeply. “Why did you come here now, Charlie?” she asked.
“I know where Frank is staying,” he said plainly then.
Cindy’s heart started beating wildly.
“I know they’re out looking for him, too,” Charlie went on. “I don’t want the police to catch him and pull him in like a dog.
Despite herself Cindy started sobbing, “My God, my God, do you think Frank did it?”
“I didn’t say that,” said Charlie, “I have no idea. I only know where he is.”