Pastor Mallord went so far as to actually walk Cindy onto the plane before leaving her alone. Cindy could see that he was worried about her, but it was difficult to absorb much else. She went through the motions on automatic, as if in a dream. Cindy knew she was headed down to Bermuda. She remembered that Frank had called and said Ann had been killed. It was ungraspable for Cindy, impossible to imagine. Just yesterday, she and Ann had been talking and making plans for the future. Ann had just gone down to Bermuda for a much needed vacation. She’d been excited about it. How was it possible that her life could be cut so short? Who would ever want Ann dead? No one.
When Pastor Mallord hugged Cindy good bye on the plane, she remembered thanking him for everything and promising she’d stay in touch.
Cindy took her seat on the plane, put her head back on the cushion and felt tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Ann, Ann, Cindy called to her in her mind. Where are you? What happened? Are you somewhere hiding? Are you really gone? Please don’t worry. I’m on my way down to take care of everything. I’ll never, ever leave you alone.
As the plane lifted into the sky, Cindy felt an odd relief, as if she, too, was now headed in the direction of heaven and would be closer to her sister, somehow.
Cindy’s hands clutched at her seat the whole time. The trip was barely two hours and it seemed that almost as soon as they took off they were about to land. When the plane landed, she half expected Frank to be there at airport to greet her. Or, if he couldn’t come, she thought at least he’d send a car.
When Cindy got off the plane, and looked around, no one was there waiting for her. Disoriented, she made her way to baggage claim, thinking of all the times Ann had been here to pick her up and accompany her every step of the way. More than anything in the world Cindy wanted to see her sister again, to hug her and pick up where they’d left off.
Cindy got a cab easily and gave the driver the name of the hotel Frank and Ann had been staying at. Frank had texted and said he’d reserved a room for Cindy there. Other than that, she hadn’t heard from him again.
As the taxi drove through the balmy spring night, Cindy gazed out at the beautiful highways and tried to make sense of what was happening. When she woke up this morning in Oyster Bay, this was the last place she’d expected to be that night. It was as if she had been lifted on the wings of an eagle and dropped down in another world suddenly.
Before long the taxi arrived at Cindy’s destination, the luxurious Greenstone Hotel. It was one of the loveliest on the Island, surrounded by manicured hedges, limestone walks lit by sparkling evening lamps and magnificent, palm trees. Cindy was a taken aback. Frank earned a decent, but modest salary. She hadn’t expected him and Ann to stay at a place like this.
A bellboy came out to take Cindy’s luggage. The trip had all been so smooth and effortless, she felt as though she had simply come to meet up with Ann and Frank and join them for dinner, as she had done many times. Cindy needed to see Frank immediately. They had to go over what happened again and again; he had to make it real for her. And, beyond that, Cindy had a thousand questions for him she needed answers to right away.
As she entered the lobby Frank was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a couple of policemen were milling around. Cindy looked around at the elegant lobby and beautiful guests in evening attire, enjoying each other and the evening to the full. Even though the policemen were there, it seemed as if most guests didn’t even realize what had gone on, or if they had, wouldn’t really care. This was a wealthy, self-contained world that didn’t take well to being faced with messes of any kind.
Cindy took a deep breath, gathered herself together as best she could and went to the front desk to check in. On her way there, she was stopped by a large police officer with deep brown eyes.
“Cindy Blaine?” he asked, as if he’d been on the watch out for her.
“Yes?” she said, relieved that someone knew who she was.
“I’m Officer Trage, Chief Officer on the case,” he introduced himself immediately. “Your brother in law said you were coming.”
“Hello,” said Cindy, grateful not to be alone.
“We’ve actually heard about you and your partner down here on the force,” Trage went on. “You two have done some pretty impressive detective work.”
“Thank you,” Cindy barely got the words out.
“Where’s your partner now?” Trage looked around.
“He’s on another case in St. Croix,” said Cindy, wanting to put an end to any discussion about Mattheus immediately.
“I see,” Officer Trage nodded solemnly. “Well, first of all let me say for all of us that we’re very sorry for your loss.”