He didn’t take them. Why would he? thought Cindy. After all, we’ve just broken up. I’ve come down to work with him as a detective now. He’s respecting that.”
“Let’s go,” he said, nervous. “I’ve got a jeep waiting.”
They walked a few feet together to a red jeep that was parked nearby. Mattheus opened the side door and she climbed in.
“I told them to send your luggage to the Key House Hotel,” he said as he jumped in and started the motor. “I’ve got you a room on the same floor, next to mine.”
“Okay,” said Cindy. It was as if the time they’d shared together had faded, now it was all business again.
“I’ll never forget that you did this for me,” Mattheus said, as he looked out over his shoulder and pulled out of the airport, onto a long, narrow road. The road stretched out under palm trees, and led to the main highway. “We’re about ten minutes from the hotel. It’s a great hotel, right on the beach. As soon as you’re settled we’ll go down to the Police Station. I’ve been there once already, for a quick check in. I told them you were coming down to be on the case with me. They were fine with it.” His words rolled out one after another as if there was no stopping them. Obviously, he was in distress. How could he not be?
“This has to be a huge shock for you, Mattheus,” Cindy said.
“Yeah, when the shocks start coming there’s no end to them,” Mattheus mumbled, “lose one woman and find another – the body of another that is.”
Cindy shivered. It was gruesome to hear him speak this way.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, so am I. Sorry, but also relieved. At least I have Shelly’s remains. That’s something, isn’t it? Better than having nothing at all.”
Cindy felt slapped in the face.
CHAPTER 5
Cindy didn’t spend any time washing up or getting settled at the hotel. She got the key to her room, went in, and took just a minute to look out at the perfect sky and rippling blue waters and take a delicious, deep breath. The place was beautiful and it was strangely wonderful to be with Mattheus, but she wasn’t going to get lulled into that. They were back in two separate rooms again, and even though it was entirely fitting, it also made her sad. Their relationship always seemed to go in circles, back to square one.
Cindy went to the bathroom, splashed water on her face and looked in the mirror briefly. Her face looked fresh and filled with anticipation. There was always that adrenalin rush at the beginning of a new case. You had no idea what was coming, who you would run into, what strange world would surface in front of your eyes. Life became open and full of possibilities; everyday reality took on a different vantage point.
But this case was different, way too close to home. Mattheus’s life would never be the same now that they’d found his wife’s body. He would finally get the closure he’d been craving, but it was also his chance even to come face to face with one who did it. How would he handle that? Cindy wondered how much the cops really had. They hadn’t wanted to tell Mattheus about what they’d discovered until Cindy was with him. Too disturbing, Cindy guessed. They said they wanted Mattheus to be with someone when he heard what they found.
Cindy turned quickly now to go down to the lobby to meet Mattheus and get to the Police Station as soon as possible.
*
The Police Station down in Key West was the southernmost Police Station in the United States, situated in a new large, pink stucco building on a large boulevard. There was a long walk leading up to it, a circular rotunda with pillars in the front and a lone palm tree along the side.
As Cindy and Mattheus walked up the front walk, Police of Chief Rodney Barren came to the front and held the door open for them. He was in his late fifties, strong and steady with pepper and salt grey hair and clear, blue eyes.
“Glad you’re here, Mattheus,” Rodney said warmly.
Mattheus nodded and held out his hand. Obviously the two of them had a chance to spend time together and there seemed to be a nice feeling between them. Cindy was grateful for that.
“Cindy Blaine, my partner,” said Mattheus, gruffly.
Rodney turned and looked at Cindy appreciatively.
“Good of you to come down to help with this,” he said, offering his hand. “Rough case to handle when it’s your own wife.”
“Terrible,” said Cindy, shaking Rodney’s hand. She flashed on what it had been like to work on Clint’s murder, how terrified and alone she’d felt. It seemed like it had happened in another lifetime, hard to believe it was less than two years ago.
“The Key West Police Department is a state accredited organized made up of dedicated and professional men and women,” Rodney said as he led Cindy and Mattheus along the hallway to his office. Clearly, he was proud of it. “Our island is home to a diverse community and we serve a population of 25,000 full-time residents with over two million visitors each year.”