“Shelly’s death wasn’t your fault,” said Cindy.
“That’s a hard case to make. Now even the cops are pointing a finger at me. I feel like I’m one of their suspects,” Mattheus added glumly.
Cindy felt chilled.
“The cops think you’re involved in Shelly’s murder?” Cindy had to be sure.
“Nobody’s said that out loud,” said Mattheus, “but it’s in the air. A few hours ago they called and asked me where I was when she was killed. Thank God I was in Grenada, or there would be hell to pay.”
In her wildest dreams Cindy hadn’t imagined that Mattheus could be considered a suspect.
“Why would they suspect you? Why?”
“Maybe they think I wanted revenge of some kind,” Mattheus mused. “Maybe they think I found out where Shelly was, and sent someone else to finish her off? Who knows? It’s normal to suspect the people she was closest to.”
“You were not one of the people she was closest to!” Cindy was emphatic.
“Of course I was,” Mattheus insisted.
“What are you talking about? For the past six years you two weren’t in contact. You thought she was dead. You Isn’t that true?” Cindy demanded.
“Of course it’s true,” snapped Mattheus.
“How exactly did the police find you?” Cindy continued.
“The authorities in New Orleans knew where I was,” said Mattheus. “I kept in touch with them in case something turned up.”
“Then you’re completely off the hook,” said Cindy. “There’s no link at all between the two of you.”
“Maybe off the hook legally,” said Mattheus, “but not in everyone’s eyes.” “That’s why we have to find out more about her,” Cindy exclaimed. “To set the record straight!”
“Why do you think I’m going to Rancher’s Bar to talk to Anthony’s friend Tommy?” Mattheus said.
“That’s a good move,” said Cindy.
“Why do you think I was waiting for you here, to find out what they said at the Shelter?”
That was the first time Mattheus said he’d actually been waiting for her, wanted information.
“You going back to the Shelter again tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes, I am,” Cindy said. “I have to. There’s a lot more information waiting there.”
“Good,” said Mattheus, standing up.
You want to come along?” asked Cindy.
“Don’t pressure me,” said Mattheus, “you’ve turned into ball rolling fire, and I can’t take it.”
A ball of rolling fire? That must be how the whole world felt to Mattheus now. Even though he was investigating Shelly’s murder, he was also in the process of mourning not only his marriage, but the person he thought he was. That had to be hardest of all.
Cindy desperately wanted to get through to him. “What Shelly did, doesn’t reflect on you. You said yourself that she snapped.”
“Yeah, I said that,” said Mattheus, “but what do I really know? Her murder was brutal. She was not only strangled, but scratched viciously. Whoever did it, really hated her guts. And that’s not all - her whole head was cracked wide open. Why? Tell me that!”
CHAPTER 15
After Mattheus left for Rancher’s Bar, Cindy went to the piano lounge in the hotel to unwind. Not only had the day at the Shelter been long and exhausting, her discussion with Mattheus left her unnerved. It hadn’t occurred to her that the police would suspect him. She wondered if it were true? It was easy to become paranoid on a case, suspecting everyone and end up believing the police were suspecting you, too. Still, Cindy couldn’t help wondering if the police knew something about Mattheus she didn’t? The fervor with which Mattheus clung to his memory of his relationship with Shelly was alarming. Clearly, he’d blocked a lot out about his marriage. There might have been something else important that Cindy had no idea of.