“Shelly could get pretty distracted at times, even distant, like she wasn’t there.”
Barbara scraped her throat. “Did you put that in the record?” she asked Frieda, looking at Cindy out of the corner of her eye.
“No, I didn’t,” said Frieda, “just told the office I’d like someone else. We’re encouraged to change counselors when we feel we need to, aren’t we?” she defended herself.
“Of course,” said Barbara. “I was just curious. Did you mention to Angie, that Shelly was distant and distracted?”
“Never,” said Frieda. “Why should I get her in trouble? She was fine most of the time, but then, once in a while, something came over her and it scared me. I wanted to get away.”
“What was it?” asked Cindy, alerted.
“I don’t know.”
“Try to pinpoint it,” Cindy insisted. Frieda had her finger on the pulse of something important, and Cindy needed to know more about it.
“I can’t pinpoint it,” said Frieda, a bit shaky. “I would just get a creepy feeling from time to time. It was like she wasn’t even in the room, like I was talking to an empty shell.” Frieda shuddered, “everyone here says to trust your instincts, so I did, and switched to Angie.”
“I understand,” said Cindy.
“Understand what?” asked Barbara, alarmed.
“Understand that when you trust your gut, it’s always the right thing to do,” Cindy said.
Frieda smiled wanly, seemingly relieved. “I didn’t mean to hurt her or anything,” said Frieda.
“You didn’t do anything to hurt Shelly,” said Cindy.
Frieda sat up straighter and stared at Cindy then, “How do you know that?”
“Well, I don’t, of course,” said Cindy. “
“I may have hurt her by dumping her and going to someone else” Frieda smiled thinly, displaying a row of tiny teeth.
“It’s possible that Shelly felt badly,” said Cindy, “but from what you told me, it’s okay to switch -probably happens routinely.”
“It does,” Barbara cut in swiftly. “In fact, we encourage it. We want every resident to be comfortable with their counselor. Frieda didn’t do anything to hurt Angie. Lots of the women here think that they’ve done something to hurt someone else, when it’s they themselves who have been hurt.” Barbara looked sidelong at Frieda.” Frieda is not only the victim of abuse, she’s also the victim of her own guilt.”
“But I’m doing great with Angie now,” Frieda perked up. Then she turned back to Cindy. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you more about Shelly’s life. I wish I could, why don’t you go and talk to Angie about it yourself?”
“That’s a wonderful suggestion,” said Cindy.” I definitely will.”
“Do it as soon as you can, too,” Frieda suddenly looked wan again, and her hands tightened into little fists. “You’ve got to find the killer! Quick! Or someone else here will turn up dead.”
CHAPTER 14
As Cindy drove back to the hotel in the cab, she couldn’t wait to see Mattheus and talk this all over with him. She needed him to be as he’d always been, strong, clear, a sounding board. They had to work their way through these details together and decide what to do next. Now Cindy wondered what state of mind she’d find Mattheus in. Sometimes he was more like his old self, at other times, he was reeling under the next shock wave of revelations he’d received. Despite some lovely moments, things were definitely different between them now. She wasn’t ever really sure right now what he was doing or where he’d be.
Cindy knew Mattheus had been planning to go to Rancher’s Bar and speak to Tommy. He’d also mentioned that Tommy didn’t get in until early evening, so there was a good chance, Mattheus would be at the hotel now. Cindy hoped so, really needed to see him.
To her relief, when Cindy got to the hotel, there was a note waiting for her from him at the front desk. I’m in the cocktail lounge down the hill from the pool, if you get in before five and want to talk.
That itself was odd. Why was he spending time in the cocktail lounge, rather than chasing down other possible leads. Usually, Mattheus would be at the Police Station, going over reports, checking facts, making calls. Cindy had to step back a moment and remind herself - this was Mattheus’s wife who’d been found murdered only a little over a week ago. This was someone he was still in love with, though he may not have realized it before. Cindy hadn’t realized it either.
She took his note, walked out of the lobby and turned down the sloping hill towards the cocktail lounge behind the pool.
*
The cocktail lounge was housed in a straw hut, with a bamboo roof, and surrounded by potted plants which added to its charm. Cindy had been there for a few moments a day or so ago. She walked in now and saw Mattheus, half asleep in a comfortable revolving chair in the corner with soft, gentle breezes blowing on him.
Cindy sat down in the chair opposite him quietly, not wanting to wake him roughly.