But Tad’s alibi didn’t sit well with Cindy. She couldn’t stop thinking about it, but decided to focus on the upcoming gala as she dressed for it. She knew the evening ahead would be exciting and glamorous. There would be lots of people there who could fill both her and Mattheus in on all kinds of deals and secrets about the Senator’s personal life.
Cindy got out of the shower, put on a robe, dried and blew out her long, full hair. Tonight it looked better than usual, shiny and golden from being out in the sun. She stopped a moment and looked at herself in the mirror. The woman who looked back out at her looked young, alive, exciting. Her eyes were sparkling and she had a great suntan. For the first time in a long time, Cindy felt like a beautiful, desirable woman again. She was thrilled to be dressing up, going out to a fabulous party. It was a welcome break from days and days of investigation and concern.
Cindy knew the party would be filled with magnificent women from all over the world, exquisitely groomed, dressed to the nines. There was no way she was going looking like a dowdy detective from New York. Mattheus was a great looking guy and Cindy had to get ready for those women to flock to him in droves.
Cindy chose a very short, black, silk, low cut, sleek dress, high heel shoes, and long, silver earrings. Mattheus would be shocked when he saw her, and she was looking forward to that. A surge of confidence burst through her. She could and would compete with the best. To top off the outfit she put on a long, string of pearls, and a couple of sprays of her most exotic perfume.
While she was getting ready, Cindy’d left her door half open, so when Mattheus came to get her, he walked right in.
“Anyone here?” he called out, as Cindy was putting on the last touches of make up in the bathroom.
“I’ll be out in a second,” Cindy called back.
A moment later, when Cindy walked into the room, Mattheus had his back to her, looking out at the ocean.
“Merry Christmas,” Cindy said softly.
He turned around quickly, and stared, dumbstruck.
“Whoah, you look amazing!” He could barely get the words out.
“Thanks,” Cindy smiled.
“No, wait a minute. I mean you’re breath taking,” he said.
The two of them stared at each other.
Cindy took in his warmth in deeply. She needed it, appreciated it.
“I’ve never seen you look like this,” Mattheus murmured.
“It’s my secret self,” Cindy whispered, “coming out for the grand party.”
“That’s some secret self! I’m thrilled to be going with you.”
Cindy liked that. She liked everything about the way the evening was going.
“It’s great to be going with you, too,” Cindy said. “Now, let’s go.”
Mattheus laughed. “Yeah, we’d better not spend the entire evening here-looking at each other, ordering in champagne, drinking.”
Cindy flushed. Their relationship lived on the edge. There were a few moments of closeness and then one or the other of them re-focused on what they were here to do. It was a built in safety mechanism and made these fleeting moments all the more precious.
“We’re headed for the wild time tonight,” Mattheus said, as they got into a taxi. “The party will be loaded with all kinds of leads. The best thing to do will be to split up soon as we get there, so we can work the room.”
“Definitely,” Cindy agreed.
But then Mattheus turned and looked at her, disconcerted, as if he wasn’t so sure he wanted her out there alone.
“You sure don’t look like a detective,” he said.
“All the better,” said Cindy.
“Yeah, I guess,” said Mattheus, as the taxi wound its way along the crowded roads to the brightly lit, sprawling, noisy villa, bursting with people, music, laughter and drinks.
*
“Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,” a large, hefty, handsome, man came right up to them the second they walked in, and threw his arm around Mattheus’ shoulder.
It had to be Sasha Petrovich, Cindy thought. He was extremely buoyant, as though he’d been drinking since earlier that afternoon. At the same time, he was sharp and clear as day.
Petrovich looked over Cindy admiringly, his eyebrows raised. ““And this has to be the beautiful partner of Mattheus,” he said. “I must say, I am amazed! With a partner like this, my dear Mattheus, what in the world are you doing here? If she was mine, I would keep her all to myself.” And he laughed loudly.
Cindy felt Mattheus flinch.
“Of course there are all kinds of partner to be had in this life,” Petrovich went on, plopping his other arm over Cindy’s bare shoulder.
She didn’t like it, edged away.
Petrovich looked at her, put off. This was not the response he was used to from women.
He turned entirely to Mattheus then.
“Come, let me introduce you to someone I know who will be helpful to you,” he offered.
“Great,” said Mattheus.
“And, you still have to let me know your decision about the offer I made you,” Petrovich didn’t miss a beat.
“I’m working on it,” said Mattheus.
Cindy wondered what offer he was working on. If Petrovich was trying to make her uneasy, he was succeeding.