“Who was it? Why?” Cindy wanted more and more from him. “Do you know why Frances was arrested?” She suddenly felt that Tad might know more than he was letting on. Was he protecting Tiffany, even in death?
Tad breathed deeply, arched his eyebrows, and pulled himself together.
“I’ve heard rumors about why Frances was arrested,” Tad said in a strident tone.
“What kind of rumors?” Mattheus never left a sensitive point go by. He loved zeroing in on painful moments.
Tad remained centered though. “Rumors are just rumors,” he said condescendingly. “As a reporter, I’ve learned to give rumors exactly the importance they deserve. Very little.”
Cindy smiled. She’d also been trained as a reporter, way back. She, too, enjoyed searching out facts. She understood Tad, resonated with him.
“I was also trained as a reporter, originally,” she said to Tad, to make him feel better, create a bond.
Tad liked it. “Great,” he said, “then you know what I mean.”
“I certainly do,” said Cindy, “all kinds of rumors are flying, both about the case, and about Tiffany.”
“About Tiffany and me?” Tad looked agitated.
“Something like that,” Cindy replied, taking a cue from Mattheus’ play book.
“Well, they’re ridiculous,” Tad’s back arched slightly. “People are so jealous and bored they’ll say anything to brighten their day. Tiffany’s friends don’t have anything better to do than gossip constantly. What do you expect from light weights?” His face was filled with scorn.
“You didn’t care for her friends?” asked Mattheus.
“Absolutely not, “ said Tad, “especially that loser, Frances. But, little by little I was taking her away, removing her from their influence. So, they try to get back at me by starting rumors. It’s extremely ugly.”
“They are ugly rumors,” Mattheus chimed in.
Tad’s lips pursed closed. “Like what?”
“Rumors about Tiffany’s true feelings,” Mattheus said.
Tad began to tremble. “Don’t listen to rumors, ask me. Tiffany loved me more than anybody. They couldn’t stand it. They were all jealous of me.”
“Who in particular?” asked Mattheus.
“I can’t point anyone out,” said Tad.
“Was it Frances?” Mattheus kept going.
“No, I never thought so,” said Tad. “He was just a loser, as far as I could tell.”
“Why?” asked Cindy.
“France’s a druggie who comes from a lousy family. His father beat his mother to a pulp. She had to go to the police,” Tad reported.
This must have been common knowledge. Tad knew every detail.
“I never had any idea why Tiffany was friends with Frances?” Tad continued, “Or, any of them.”
“You know what rumors they’re spreading?” Mattheus dug back in.
“That Frances and Tiffany were sleeping together, while she was with me!” Tad’s voice grew higher and thinner. “It’s total crap.”
“That’s why the police arrested him,” Mattheus said. “Frances confessed.”
“Confessed to what? Confessed to nothing. It’s a stupid lie,” said Tad. “He lives in a dream world and makes things up. It makes him feel important. There’s no way it could have happened. I was aware of where Tiffany went and what she was doing all the time.”
“But I heard that Tiffany loved her space,” said Cindy.
“I gave Tiffany lots of space. Why wouldn’t I?” said Tad. “It wasn’t my desire to chain her. But, at the same time, I was completely aware of where she went and what she was doing. I always asked her and she always told me.”
“Did you tell her where you were, too?” Mattheus listened carefully.
“Of course,” said Tad, gallantly. “We were partners, we were a team.”
“What did you love so much about Tiffany, Tad?” Cindy couldn’t help asking. It was obvious that the two of them occupied such different worlds.
“She was beautiful, she loved living, and she needed me badly,” Tad said, in one long breath.
“What did she need you for?”
Tad didn’t like that question particularly. “Well, if you look closely, it’s fairly obvious,” he said, “she was surrounded by spoiled, wealthy people who lived only for the next pleasure.”
“So?” said Mattheus.
“They all live a life based upon bottomless desire,” Tad continued heatedly. “It doesn’t get them anywhere.”
“Her father didn’t,” Cindy corrected him.
“I’m talking about her friends and family,” Tad answered quickly. “Her father is something else, a man of honor.”
Cindy was surprised to hear that phrased used. It seemed completely out of place in this world.
“Her mother and older sister aren’t like that either,” Cindy kept it up.
“Tiffany’s mother is a whole different story,” said Tad, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t know if you realize it, but Tiffany’s mother is partially insane.”