Cindy heard a soft voice call back, as Wynn opened the door.
Inside, the cabin was different from what Cindy expected. It was large, airy and well appointed, with a double bed covered with a crocheted bedspread, comfortable chairs, a white wooden bureau, little tables, and large windows overlooking an outdoor balcony, which stretched out over the ocean. Clearly, Wynn’s mother had lived a grand life, beautifully cared for.
She did not get up as Cindy and Wynn walked in. Instead, she, sat in one of the chairs, wrapped in a silk, burgundy bathrobe. Her dark hair was pulled back tightly and she wore no makeup at all. Her face was expressionless and she seemed older than the Senator, but it could just have been her state of grief.
“Close the door,” she said, as they walked in. “Now you can go downstairs with your father,” she said to Wynn. “Leave me and Cindy alone.”
Wynn seemed surprised. “I’d like to stay,” she said softly.
“There’s no reason for you to stay,” her mother ordered. “Your father needs you. Rori needs you. Go, right now.”
Wynn shrugged and walked to the door, casting a long glance at Cindy over her shoulder.
“Rori doesn’t need me now or ever,” she replied as she walked out the door.
“This has all fallen on her head and I’m sorry about it,” she said as soon as Wynn left the room. “But she’s always been the strongest of all. Everything falls on her head and she manages it.”
Cindy walked closer, took a chair and pulled it closer to where she sat.
“How do you do, I’m Meryl O’Connell,” she said.
“I’m pleased to meet you and your husband,” Cindy replied.
“My husband -,” Meryl smiled, “Don’t let him fool you. He makes a terrific impression, but it’s just a front.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cindy.
“Richard pretends to be strong,” Meryl continued, “He’s strong in the Senate, he’s strong in his views. He’s tough with negotiations, but otherwise, he’s dying inside.”
“I’m very sorry,” said Cindy.
Meryl stopped a moment and truly looked at her.
“I’ve heard wonderful things about you. You worked wonders in those other cases.”
“I did my best,” said Cindy. “And I was fortunate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Meryl asked. “If you’re not fortunate this time? Are you putting me on warning? Taking my last little bit of hope away?”
“That’s not what I meant,” said Cindy.
“Failure is not an option here,” Meryl said, suddenly a strict taskmaster. “I need to know what happened to my daughter. I need to know who did it and why!”
“Of course you do.”
“I refuse to go on without it.”
“I understand full well,” said Cindy.
“Don’t pacify me,” said Meryl, “Treat me with respect. I deserve it.”
Despite her sharp tongue, Cindy liked her, felt badly for her. Unlike the others on the boat, Meryl seemed to be coming undone. There was nothing she was hiding inside.
“Do you want a drink before we start talking?” Meryl turned and reached for a bottle of cognac that was on the table besides her. When Cindy looked at her closely, she realized that she’d been drinking since early that day. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy.
“I’ll skip the drink for now,” said Cindy.
“Well, I’m taking some,” Meryl poured the cognac into a glass.
“I need to know whatever you can tell me,” Cindy jumped in. “Maybe you can drink that later on, after we talk?”
“I’ll drink it now and also tell you whatever you need to know.”
“Fine,” said Cindy, “let’s start with your telling me exactly what happened. We only have bare bones information so far.”
“Because the police are trying to keep it secret,” Meryl snapped. “They’re more worried about terrifying the tourists than protecting them from a killer on the loose, or getting justice for my daughter, who’s lying on the beach, cold.”
Cindy stared at her. Did she truly believe that? Of course the body had been removed from the crime scene days ago. But time hadn’t passed for the mother.
“Can you tell me some details about the crime,” said Cindy, trying to keep her focused.
Meryl shook her head. She didn’t seem to be up to much.
“My husband has all the details of the case. He’ll tell them to your partner. I heard you have a handsome partner, Mattheus, and that the two of you make a dashing team.” Meryl lifted her hand to her hair and brushed it lightly. “You’re creating quite a sensation, you know. People have been looking forward to seeing who the two of you are. There have been quite a few articles about both of you.”
Despite herself Cindy flushed. It was strange to think of herself as a couple or part of a team. She viewed herself as a widow, a single woman with a working partner at her side.
“There are many questions I have about the crime,” Cindy wanted to stay on course.