The three of them climbed down the slope of the mountain to the beach. Waves of warm, salty air greeted her as she walked close to the sand. The beach was full with people swimming, walking and laughing everywhere.
They walked to the edge of the water slowly and stood there. Little birds walked on the sand and seagulls flew around them.
“This is where I found her,” Jean Pierre said.
It was terrible, Cindy thought, that Tad lad left her alone that afternoon.
“Where did Tad go scuba diving?” she asked. “Far from here?”
“A couple of miles down,” said Jean Pierre. “It’s a well-known place. He went there all the time.”
Cindy looked into the ocean. What had really brought Tiffany to this spot? Tad said she didn’t feel like going scuba diving with him, needed some time alone on the beach. It seemed understandable enough, but nothing was ever that simple, especially where a murder was concerned. The fact that it was right after her engagement party may not have been by accident, either. Had she been too visible? Stirred up too much envy? Cindy suddenly wondered if Tiffany’d had any sense of her destiny? Often people had a premonition before something terrible happened. What had drawn her to this horrendous death? These questions whirled around in Cindy’s mind. She knew that she had to check back in with Tiffany’s mother soon, who was waiting for answers. What in the world could Cindy say? How could a mother absorb something like this?
“What are you thinking?” Mattheus said, breaking into her thoughts.
“I’m trying to sense what happened to her,” Cindy replied. “I’m taking the steps she took with her, in my mind.”
Just then Marc and Tomas joined them.
“Okay,” they said, “we’ve been here long enough. Don’t want to draw attention on the beach.”
Cindy looked up and around. Already a group of people were looking their way. It must have seemed strange to see the police here, gathered together.
They all turned around then and walked back to the car together. Cindy felt badly, as though she were leaving Tiffany stranded on the shore. She almost felt as if Tiffany’s spirit were begging Cindy to stay with her.
When they got back up the hill, Tomas stepped forward.
“Hope that was useful,” he said perfunctorily.
“Everything helps,” said Cindy.
“Next we’re going to talk to Tad’s parents,” Mattheus said.
Tomas bristled. “No reason for it. We’ve talked to them enough,” he sounded resentful. “There’s nothing more they have to say. We’re on top of the case. And the guys from Guadeloupe are on their way up, as well.”
“I hear you,” said Mattheus, “but we’re got our own work cut out, too.”
“You don’t get what I’m saying do you?” Tomas’s voice deepened. “Back off. Take it easy. We don’t want you guys spreading panic on the island. Tell the Senator’s family what you want, but it’s not going to help anything for you to get in our way.” His face was red and his eyes half shut.
“He means what he says,” Marc echoed. “If you step on the wrong shoes here, you can get kicked back pretty hard.”
“Got it,” Mattheus said.
“It’s been nice knowing you,” said Tomas then, as the three of them turned to go.
“Looks like we’ve just been relegated to no man’s land,” said Cindy.
“They can say what they want,” Mattheus grinned, “it takes more than that to get rid of me.”
“I wonder what they’re so afraid of our finding out?”
“Whatever it is, it stinks to high heaven,” said Mattheus, “underneath this luscious island, something’s badly rotting, and it’s time for us to find out what.”
CHAPTER 7
The drive to Tad’s parent’s home was surprisingly silent. Mattheus was in deep thought. He had a lot more research to do on Sasha Petrovich and the political situation on the island, but wanted to personally speak with Tad’s family as well.
When Cindy had called Tad’s parents, asking for an interview, it took a while for them to agree. Cindy had to promise to keep it short, before they finally gave her their address and directions to their home.
“I find it odd how little attention has been paid to Tad’s family,” Mattheus remarked, when Cindy mentioned that she got the appointment. “They’ve managed to escape into the shadows beautifully.”
“Why shouldn’t they? This has to be terrible for them as well,” Cindy replied.
“Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. Let’s find out. I’m going with you,” Mattheus was adamant.
Cindy wondered what he expected to find.
Now as they approached the home, the narrow road they drove on suddenly grew jagged as it twisted and turned. At the end of the road a large, well-appointed home stood grandly, under huge palm trees.
Cindy was taken aback. “This looks like a little palace,” she said.
“Many of the homes on the island are like this,” said Mattheus, unimpressed. “Getaways for the wealthy, while the rest of us mortals have to work.”
Cindy was surprised by Mattheus’ bitterness.