Cindy opened her mouth and took it.
“I’m staying here until you’re better,” Mattheus said. “The Senator flew over immediately last night as soon as he heard what happened. He can come back tomorrow. He’s tremendously upset.”
Cindy took another mouthful of applesauce. She had no desire to see the Senator at all right now.
“They’ll keep you here for a little while,” said Mattheus, “and then we’re on the plane back to the States.”
It was too much for Cindy to process right now.
“Game over,” said Mattheus. “Some you win, some you lose.”
“This wasn’t like him,” thought Cindy, taking another spoon of food.
“Besides, there’s plenty of law enforcement down here on the case,” he continued feeding her.
“Like who?” Cindy managed to get out.
Mattheus smiled. “Still the investigator?” he said. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, you really have to rest.”
Cindy closed her eyes, and blissfully fell asleep.
*
It was two days before Cindy felt well enough to speak to any visitors who came to the hospital. But by then it was actually amazing how much better she felt. Mattheus had stayed at her side continually as well, putting any fears and suspicions she’d had about him totally to rest. I must have been crazy, thought Cindy, believing what I did. Hanuah got to me, played with my mind. There’s a huge lesson to learn here.
Cindy thanked Mattheus many times. He said he was grateful to be here with her, helping her heal. Cindy knew he hadn’t had the opportunity to be there for his wife when she was attacked and killed. This has to be relieving for him now.
After lunch on the second day they said it would be fine if Cindy had a few visitors. The Senator had stayed outside waiting each day and was the first to come in.
He walked into the room, looking devastated.
“I’m so sorry,” was the first thing he said, walked over, and sat next to Cindy’s bed. “I should have never let it go this far. Thank God we haven’t had another casualty here.”
Cindy’s heart went out to him. He was in way over his head, caught in a quagmire he could not crawl out of.
“I’m doing well,” she said.
“What in the world inspired you to go to the most dangerous, seedy part of the island?” he asked right away.
Cindy paused. She didn’t want to tell him what she’d learned about his daughter or that Rori had sent her there.
“You get lots of leads that you have to follow,” was all she replied.
“I know you were doing this for our sake, but it has gone far enough,” he repeated. “Once you’re well, you and Mattheus have to leave.”
“We’re being officially fired?” she asked. A strange time to be fired, she thought, when they were so close inside the web.
“For your own good,” said the Senator, “and for our sakes as well. There’s plenty of cops on the job now, anyhow. The gendarmes have called for backup from Guadeloupe.”
Cindy wanted to ask if Hanuah was among them, but didn’t want to stir up more trouble or endanger anyone else.
“I see,” she said.
“You both have done a wonderful job,” said the Senator, “please realize that. In fact, I have a nice bonus for both of you.”
That was the last thing Cindy cared about.
“When you’re ready to be discharged, Mattheus will go back to the island and pack up. I’ll arrange for first class tickets on the next plane home for both of you.”
“You’ve paid attention to every little detail,” said Cindy.
The Senator took that as a compliment.
“Yes, thank you. I have. You’ll probably only be here one more day - be discharged tomorrow. I know my family wants to thank you and say good bye.”
“That’s kind of them,” said Cindy. “By the way, did the police happen to find out who attacked me, and why?”
“It’s being looked into as we speak,” the Senator said in a suddenly official voice.
“I hope you realize that whoever did it,” Cindy remarked, “is very likely connected to the death of your daughter.”
“Strong possibility,” said the Senator ruefully.
“And, as Frances is locked up in jail, clearly he had nothing to do with it,” Cindy spoke intensely.
“Doesn’t look like it,” the Senator said, officially, once again. “I’m sure the police will not hold him much longer.”
Cindy wasn’t so sure.
Mattheus walked into the room then.
“I’ve told Cindy about the plans for what happens after her discharge,” said the Senator.
“We’re off the case officially,” Mattheus said to Cindy.
The Senator stood up and looked at them both.
“Once again, I’m terribly sorry about what happened to you,” he said to Cindy, “I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“And I’m sorry about the death of your daughter,” Cindy responded. “I hope you will forgive us for not finding the killer. But we’ve come very close now.”
“Yes, you have,” he mumbled and walked out of the room.
Cindy and Mattheus looked at each other then.