“This is going nowhere, fast,” said Cindy.
“Just the opposite,” said Mattheus. “We’ve got important information to work on. If the police and medical examiner are so eager to get this case closed, there’s something bigger going on. It has to do with Petrovich and the government. The ruling families are probably involved. The Senator has got to be right.”
It was logical enough, but Cindy still wasn’t convinced. She went to her computer and pulled out the video of the engagement party again.
“I want to look at the video of the engagement party again,” she insisted.
“It’s a waste of time,” said Mattheus. “You’ve looked at it over and over. You won’t find the killer there.”
Cindy turned on the computer anyway, and pulled up the video. She let it run, and focused in on every detail.
As she was doing that, Mattheus put a call into the Senator.
“Yeah, Cindy and I just heard that the medical examiner is saying that Tiffany might have been pregnant?” Mattheus said. “What do you think of this?”
There was a long pause.
“Right, I agree,” said Mattheus. “No, it’s alright, calm down. Cindy and I are going to Petrovich’s party tomorrow night. No, Cindy needs to be there with me. This time I’m not leaving her out. Yeah, I know the police in Guadeloupe are up here on the case. The question is what case? What are they really here to track down?”
Cindy put her attention back on the video. She’d seen it so many times she almost felt as if she’d been at the party herself. Yet, there were so many moments that were recorded, something important could have easily slipped by. Suddenly, in one corner of the film, something caught her eye. She froze the frame immediately. It was a brief moment, she hadn’t noticed. Tad and Tiffany’s mother were in a corner, arguing intensely. Cindy stared and stared.
“Look at this, Mattheus,” she called out sharply.
Mattheus’ came over and looked over her shoulder.
“What am I looking at?” he asked.
“This,” Cindy pointed to the image. “It’s Tad and Tiffany’s mother going at it.”
“So?” said Mattheus.
“It doesn’t fit. What are they fighting about? The mother was the one who urged Tiffany to get engaged to him. She supported the relationship.”
“Come on,” said Mattheus, “you’re grasping at straws. People who are close argue. It doesn’t mean anything at all.”
“It does,” said Cindy.
“What?”
“I don’t know exactly, but you know all the things he said about her. That it was his job to take Tiffany away.”
“So,” said Mattheus, “lots of son in laws feel that they have to help their wives become less attached to their family. And wives feel the same way about their husbands too. It’s natural. It’s no big deal.”
But looking at Tad and Tiffany’s mother didn’t feel natural to Cindy. “There’s something more here,” she murmured.
Mattheus shook his head. “You’re making a big deal about nothing,” he said, “the real gold is going to be waiting for us at Petrovich’s party tomorrow night. We’re going to find out more about the deals going on, who’s involved and who stands to lose big bucks if they don’t happen. This is where we have to look.”
Cindy leaned back and glanced up at him.
“And, just in case you’re wondering,” Mattheus went on, putting his hand on her shoulder lightly, “I have the best date for the party any guy could want. I’m very glad you’re coming with me.”
Little chills ran up Cindy’s shoulders. “So am I,” she said.
CHAPTER 15
Before the party, Cindy had something important to do. She put a quick call into Tiffany’s mother to find out what went on between her and Tad at the engagement party. The frame on the video gripped Cindy’s mind and she had to explore it in greater depth.
Wynn picked up her mother’s phone.
“So great to hear from you, Cindy,” she breathed, relieved.
Cindy was glad to talk to Wynn as well. “How’s it going?” she asked.
“Not good. Nothing is good,” Wynn sounded distraught. “Mom is having a harder and harder time coming to terms. She leaves the boat every day, roams around, trying to find the killer. People find her poking around in all kinds of odd places.”
“Like where?” Cindy felt alarmed. She had to go find Myrtle immediately, sit down with her and talk.
“She’s been drifting around Pebble Beach, an old fishing village, talking to people, looking for things.”
“What’s she looking for?” asked Cindy.
“God knows. She says she feels Tiffany talking to her, telling her where to go.”
“Have you called a doctor?” Cindy asked again.