“We’re going too fast. Let’s back track a minute,” Barbara said. No one ever said anything about Shelly’s having gone missing.”
“It’s on the record,” said Cindy quietly. ”There was a search for her that went on a long time.”
“Where?” asked Barbara, amazed.
“In New Orleans,” said Cindy.
“No one here knew about that,” Barbara insisted.
“I believe you,” Cindy said.
“If we knew about that, she never would have been hired,” Angie flared up.
“Yes, she would,” Barbara defied her. “It wouldn’t have mattered. Brave women go missing. Sometimes it’s the only way they can escape!”
“That’s going too far,” said Cindy.
“Why?” Barbara turned on the offensive. “Are you taking Shelly’s side, or are you one of those women who turn against their own kind, who identify with the aggressor?”
Cindy flushed as anger welled up. “I’m not turning against anyone, “she defended herself heatedly. “I’m just trying to get facts and piece them together.”
Angie stood up and walked over to Barbara.
“Cindy’s not doing anything wrong,” she said quietly, “she’s doing her job.”
“I don’t like the insinuation that what happened could have been Shelly’s fault. It’s just another form of blaming the victim,” said Barbara, irate.
Cindy stood up as well. “I’m not blaming Shelly, I’m not blaming anyone. I’m not the judge and jury, here.”
“Well, you should be facing the fact that Shelly was emotionally abused and that’s why she left, no matter how she did it. She didn’t run away for no reason. Why don’t you blame the guy she lived with?” Barbara’s eyes were full of fire.
“Blaming is always beside the point,” said Cindy said emphatically. “We gather facts and let them speak for themselves. If we have a pre-planned agenda, then the truth will never be served.”
“Fancy words,” said Barbara.
Cindy breathed heavily. Barbara was on a mission and nothing was going to get in the way of it. She was automatically on the side of all the women, saw all the men as at fault.
“Tell me, have you ever met Mattheus? Have you ever sat down and questioned him?” Barbara couldn’t be stopped, was on a rampage.
Cindy felt her face grow pale. “Yes, I have,” she said. “In fact, we work together, we’re partners.”
“You’re what?” Barbara screamed.
The silence that fell in the room then was deafening.
“You’ve betrayed us!” Barbara finally breathed.
“I’ve done no such thing. I’m here to help Shelly. Neither Mattheus or I had any idea she was alive. She’s been officially missing for six years.”
Barbara gasped.
“You can only imagine what a shock her recent death has been to both of us” Cindy insisted.
“Of course I can,” Angie stepped to the forefront.
“You should have disclosed that you were Shelly’s husband’s partner immediately,” said Barbara. “I would have never introduced you to anyone.”
“Stop, Barbara,” Angie demanded. “Cindy hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then she turned to Cindy directly. “Have you questioned Mattheus, in depth, about the marriage?”
“He’s been fully questioned,” said Cindy, “not only now, but when Shelly disappeared six years ago.”
Angie and Barbara stared at each other.
“It’s all on the record,” said Cindy quietly. “I’m just telling you what it says. And I’m here to find out more.”
“No, that’s not why you’re here,” Barbara seemed furious now. “If you truly want to help, you’d better realize that you’re here to bring light to the horrible plight of abused women everywhere. Shelly worked here, was one of us! Her murder is just another expression of what we all go through.”
Cindy breathed heavily. There was no getting through to Barbara now.
Thankfully, Angie stepped up again. “Cindy’s not the enemy here,” she said to Barbara.
“I hate it when one woman turns on another,” Barbara exclaimed. “It’s treason. It isn’t fair.”
“Cindy’s not turning on anybody,” said Angie.
“Not supporting a woman in this situation is the same as turning on them,” Barbara exclaimed.
“The deepest form of support I can give to anyone,” said Cindy, “is to find out the truth.”
“The truth looks different, depending on what glasses you look at it through,” Barbara shot back. “Okay, I heard enough. It’s time to go.”
“Wait a minute,” Angie stepped in again quickly. “We need Cindy here.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Barbara, “only now I’m not so sure.”
“There’s no reason to believe that Cindy is on Shelly’s husband’s side. He’s not even a suspect,” said Angie.