“They’re useless,” Meryl interrupted. “It’s all for show.”
“We’ve spoken with Tad and just now had an interview with his parents.”
“You’re wasting precious, valuable time,” Meryl’s voice had urgency. “Tad has nothing to do with this, I told you before. And his parents are holed up in their own private world. They never really knew anything about Tiffany’s life, and they didn’t care. They’ve only called our family once since this happened. They’re cold as ice.”
“We have to take it one person at a time,” Cindy said slowly.
“What else?” Meryl demanded.
“I was calling to get Shane’s number and address,” Cindy replied.
“Better,” said Meryl. “I told you to do this in the beginning. What made you decide now?”
“Mrs. O’Connell,” Cindy said calmly, “we hear different things from different people and then plan our course of action.”
“Don’t double talk me,” said Meryl, “and don’t call me Mrs. O’Connell. My daughter’s been murdered and I deserve to have you talk to me straight.”
Cindy didn’t want to give her every detail of the investigation. Some of it would come to nothing, some had to be kept quiet. She had no intention of telling her that Mattheus was going to the party at the Russian Mogul’s home that night. Meryl seemed unstable. For all Cindy knew Meryl would turn up there herself.
“I am talking to you straight,” Cindy said. “Please give me Shane’s contact information.”
Meryl relented and gave it to her. “Will you call me after you see him?” she pleaded.
“I will,” said Cindy.
“Thank you, thank you,” she practically broke into tears then. “I just need to hear something.”
“I understand,” said Cindy. “I’m doing my best.”
“I know you are, dear,” Meryl replied softly, “And I know you’ll find the killer.”
*
When Cindy called Shane, she found him at his favorite surfing beach. It was about three miles from where she was now, and he said he’d be happy to see her if she came.
The beach Cindy headed to was known for surfing, located up behind a cliff where the waves were strong. There were many different beaches on the island, some calm and peaceful, others rocky, this one filled with waves that drew surfers from all over the world. Cindy had noticed on Facebook that Shane was an avid surfer, lived following the tides.
As Cindy drove to the beach, she wound her way through the mist that was growing deeper. It would probably start to rain soon. The weather was unpredictable today and it was hard to believe that Christmas was only a few days away, with the mist, warm breezes and salty air.
When she reached the beach, she parked the car and stepped out onto the moist sand. The surf was rough and for a terrible moment, it brought back memories of Clint. Pictures flashed through her mind of the many times he’d gone surfing as she’d waited for him back at the hotel, or came to get him at the beach. He’d always looked thrilled and refreshed after his time in the ocean. Then Cindy remembered the awful day he went surfing and never returned. She grew dizzy for a moment as the flood of memories engulfed her and then slowly faded.
She had to ground herself. Cindy was here on this island with Mattheus now. They both were detectives who’d come to investigate another crime. For a moment she had no idea how her life had taken such a different turn. Clint and Mattheus were opposites in many ways, but at the core, the same. Both were filled with integrity and committed to being of service. She loved and respected that about both of them. Cindy had to trust and admire the man she was with, whatever they were doing together.
As she walked down towards the beach and looked over at the ocean she saw a young, blonde, man with a surfboard, roll out of the ocean onto the sand. It had to be Shane. He saw her walking towards him and waved.
“Over here, over here,” he called to her.
Cindy walked quickly to where he was standing, the wind rustling her skirt. As she got closer she saw that he was about Tad’s age, tall, muscular and suntanned. To Cindy’s surprise, he looked happy to see her.
“Shane?” she said as she got closer.
“Ho, there,” he said, running up to where she was. “Good to see you,” he seemed excited. “Thanks for coming. I appreciate it.”
“Let’s sit on the sand and talk,” said Cindy.
“Great,” he said.
Cindy was taken aback. There was nothing at all about him that seemed uncomfortable or suspicious. He couldn’t wait to get going with the interview.
“How the hell did this happen?” he started, as if Cindy had some answers.
“That’s what I’m here to find out,” Cindy said.
“Jesus Christ,” is all I can say. “If something like this could happen to Tiffany, then no one is safe.”
Cindy could see that under his bravado, he felt badly.
“You knew her very well?” Cindy said.
“For years and years,” said Shane. “She’s the last person in the world you’d expect something like this would happen to.”