“How did you find out?”
“She told me,” said Wynn, the tears falling more swiftly as she started to walk quickly again. “Tiffany spoke to me about everything.”
“She didn’t speak to Rori?”
“No.”
“Did Tad find out?”
“No, he didn’t,” Wynn stamped her foot. “He never knew. I’m sure of that. Neither did Rori, or anyone. Just me, I’ve been carrying this awful secret alone. And I’ve kept it completely quiet, until now.”
“How awful for you,” said Cindy walking faster beside her as Wynn picked up her pace.
“Don’t judge her,” words spilled out of Wynn that she’d obviously wanted to speak for a long time. “He gave her something she needed badly.”
“Sex?” asked Cindy.
“More than that,” said Wynn. “She was a different person when she came back from being with him, she was peaceful, complete. I could see it on her face.”
“No one in your family suspected?”
“Just me, I knew.”
“This must have been a terrible burden to carry,” said Cindy softly.
“It was. I’m just telling you know because I’m terrified that it may have something to do with her death.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know. I’m not the detective. You are. Find out.”
“Tell me about this recent guy, Frances,” said Cindy.
“This one was more than just a recent guy. I felt she actually loved him.”
“More than Tad?”
“Much more. After Tad left, she’d rush out to be with Frances. Not only here, but back at home. Seemed like she couldn’t get enough of him. She couldn’t refuse him, even if she wanted to. Sometimes I saw her getting dressed to meet him. She turned into someone else.”
“Then why did she get engaged to Tad?”
“That’s the twenty four thousand dollar question,” Wynn stopped for a second and stared at Cindy. “I asked her that over and over. Tiffany said Tad was good for her. He calmed her down and let her do whatever she wanted because he liked lots of time to be alone.”
“Let her do whatever she with other men?”
“No, of course not! He had no idea. He let her go out as much as she wanted with her friends. She didn’t feel tied down. Tiffany was terrified of being tied down.”
“Why else did she get engaged to him?”
“How do I know?” Wynn grew restless, “maybe it was our mother? She was crazy about Tad. She pushed and pushed for the engagement.”
“Why?” asked Cindy. “Do you think your mother had any idea about what was going on behind Tad’s back?”
“Never,” said Wynn. “Our mom thought that Tad would stabilize her. Tiffany could get flighty at times.”
“Did your mother ever meet Frances?”
“Only as one of Tiffany’s friends. She never thought much about him - no one did. No one does now.”
Cindy tried to slow Wynn down. This was important information and she didn’t want to miss a word.
“Let’s sit on the bench for a few minutes,” Cindy said.
There were a bunch of benches scattered on the sidewalk. They sat down and Wynn breathed more easily.
“How can you be sure Tad didn’t find out?” Cindy grilled her. “It would be the perfect motive for the crime.”
“Tad never found out, I’m positive,” said Wynn and she lifted her I phone and emailed the video from the engagement party to Cindy. “Take a look and see.”
Cindy opened her phone and looked at the video. Tiffany was there, in Tad’s arms. They were laughing, dancing, having a great time. The video then switched to Tad glowing, making a speech about how finding Tiffany made his life complete. There was no way in the world he could have known about Frances and make a speech like this.
“Tad was the one who really needed Tiffany much more than she needed him,” Wynn continued as Cindy looked at the video. “He could get too quiet at times. And he needed our family. My dad really loved him, that meant a lot to him, too.”
“Is Frances at the party?” asked Cindy, looking at the video.
Wynn fast forwarded the tape. “Here he is,” she said
A handsome, rugged, dark haired young man, with a small scar on his chin, stood there talking to a few other people. Rori was next to him laughing, holding a drink in her hand.
“I need his full name and address,” said Cindy. “I’ve got to talk to him right away.”
“Please don’t say you found out from me,” Wynn started shaking.
“Of course I won’t,” Cindy assured her. “You can count on me.”
“For what?” asked Wynn.
“For everything,” said Cindy, taking her hand. “You’re a brave woman, Wynn, and you’ve been a big help. Both Tiffany and I thank you for everything.”
CHAPTER 12
The moment Cindy returned to the hotel, she saw Mattheus waiting for her in the lobby.
“Where were you gone to for so long?” he asked, walking over to her, edgy.
Cindy smiled to herself. Where were you last night? she thought, and glanced at her watch casually.