“You never met Shelly, right?” Alex continued.
Cindy was startled. “Never – when I met Mattheus we both thought she was dead. I met him years after she went missing.”
“So, why was it too soon for the two of you to move in?” Alex couldn’t help asking.
“We hadn’t been together long enough,” said Cindy.
Alex nodded and smiled. “Some people down here move in together after only a few dates.”
“I’ve recently lost my husband, too,” said Cindy.
“That’s right, I remember,” said Alex softly, “I’m really sorry about that.”
It seemed as if he wanted to reach out for her at that moment, take her hand, do something. Cindy moved away, though.
“So, how can I help you with all this?” asked Alex
“I wanted to go over details with you,” said Cindy, “and I needed to know how you felt about Mattheus.”
“We think he’s in one hell of a rough spot, definitely having a hard time keeping it together, too,” said Alex. “I personally think he’s in shock, and has been for a long time. I don’t think he ever really knew what went on his marriage. I’ve seen guys like that. They think everything’s great, then one day wake up and find everything’s fallen apart. Most of the time they never get over it. Their women say they’d been telling these guys how they felt all along, but the guys couldn’t hear them.”
Cindy could relate. Mattheus hadn’t really been able to hear how much she needed down time, even though she’d told him again and again.
“I think Mattheus wants to help,” Alex went on, “and we’re letting him do whatever he can. As far as I know, he plans to go to the Rancher’s Bar and talk to Anthony’s friend, Tommy. Tommy has absolutely no credibility, but we’re letting him go. Maybe it will make him feel better, learn something new.”
“He’s at Rancher’s Bar now,” said Cindy.
Alex looked surprised. “Rancher’s Bar is closed tonight,” he said.
“Mattheus didn’t realize that,” said Cindy.
“So, he’ll find out soon enough,” said Alex.
“And, what about me?” Cindy went on.
Alex smiled, “What about you?”
“Are you interested in what I find out at the Shelter?”
Alex looked up at her, momentarily shy. “Of course,” he said, softly, “actually, if you want to know the truth, I’m interested in everything about you.”
Cindy flushed and picked up her fork. She wasn’t going to respond to his comment, just stay focused on what she was here for.
She and Alex ate quietly then, until he suddenly looked up, and stared at the entranceway. Frightened, Cindy turned around.
Mattheus was standing there, unmoving in the entrance, glaring at the two of them.
Cindy and Alex stood up at the same time as Mattheus slowly walked towards them, scowling for all he was worth.
“I was standing there like an idiot in the lobby calling your room,” Mattheus said to Cindy, looking back and forth between her and Alex. “You didn’t say a word about meeting anyone for dinner.”
“It was a last minute thing,” said Alex.
“Sure, very likely, Mattheus sneered.
“Mattheus,” said Cindy, shaken, “I needed to talk to the police, Alex was free and in the neighborhood.”
“Talk to them about what?” Mattheus’s jaw tightened.
Cindy couldn’t say she needed to find out if Mattheus was a suspect, that he’d disturbed her with his shifting moods. She couldn’t say she needed someone stable to talk with.
“What in hell do you have to talk to the police with that doesn’t include me?” Mattheus held his ground.
Cindy had never seen him this way before.
“This is my case, this is my wife who was killed,” Mattheus was fed up.
“I wanted to fill the police in about the women in the Shelter,” said Cindy, “get some questions answered.”
“I’m the one you fill in about the Shelter,” said Mattheus. “Then we go to the police together. At least, that’s how it always has been.”
Alex stepped forward and put his hand on Mattheus’s arm. “Listen,” he said, “things are different right now.”
Mattheus shook his hand off abruptly.
“This is your wife’s murder we’ve investigating,” Alex went on.
“So?” Mattheus glared at him.
“So, you’re not yourself right now,” said Alex. “It could be hard for Cindy to talk to you about everything, to feel that you’re able to listen to every detail.”
“Thanks a lot,” said Mattheus, furious.
“Anyone would feel the way you do,” said Alex. “It’s normal.”
Mattheus spun around and confronted Alex directly. “Listen, buddy, don’t tell me how I’m feeling. It’s obvious you two are keeping something from me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” said Cindy. “I kept inviting you to the Shelter over and over. You didn’t want to go. You said I shouldn’t press you.”
Mattheus opened his hand and pointed to the table. “So, you’re getting back at me now?”