Cindy felt curious about where Mattheus came from and why he moved down, but didn’t want to get off focus. “Was Ames’s first marriage terrible?” Cindy asked.
Mattheus smiled slowly and threw back his head. “It wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t perfect. It went the way most marriages go, somewhere in between. Times of happiness, times of misery and times of just, plain boredom. ”
Cindy wondered if Mattheus was married, or ever had been. He seemed like a fiercely independent loner, smart, craggy, tough but also, oddly, caring. She could feel his fondness for Ames.
“I’m sorry you lost your friend, “Cindy said.
“Thanks,” said Mattheus, “But Ames wasn’t exactly a friend. I’d say an acquaintance I ran into a lot. He made an impression. Came from a lousy, rotten background and pulled himself up by the bootstraps. ”
Cindy didn’t want to waste any more time. “What do you think happened to him?” she asked pointedly.
Mattheus turned to her swiftly, his clear blue eyes looking directly into hers.
“It’s not exactly the popular viewpoint, but I think he took off with someone else.”
Cindy was shocked. “With who?”
“That, I’m not sure of.”
“Dalia told me the two of them had a great marriage,” Cindy said, her heart beating faster.
“It’s true, they did,” said Mattheus. “He cared for Dalia very much, she’s beautiful and magnetic. But that doesn’t mean someone else couldn’t creep into the picture as well. It happens all the time. ”
That thought filled Cindy with sadness for Dalia.
“Do you have any ideas about who it could be?” Cindy tried her best to sound matter of fact about it.
“I have some ideas,” he said, “but I’m not sure.” Mattheus rubbed his hand over the wooden bark they were sitting on. He saw that his statement had upset Cindy.
“This is a rough business you’re drifting into,” he said bluntly. “It isn’t pretty, it isn’t happy. You see things about people you wished you never saw. Happily married guys go off with other women all the time. Especially down here, where there’s a huge selection, beautiful women of all countries, races, classes. Any guy can have his pick. ”
Cindy swallowed sharply and wondered if Mattheus lived his life that way, too. He seemed so comfortable with the idea of it.
“That’s unfortunate,” Cindy replied sharply.
Mattheus laughed out loud, “Unfortunate? Some guys would say the opposite. ”
“And what would you say?” Cindy asked, pointedly, looking right at him.
“I’d say it’s each man for himself. Up to him. I don’t sit here in judgment. That’s not my job. ”
Cindy felt momentarily stung. “I don’t sit in judgment, either,” she retorted.
Mattheus cocked his head to the side and grinned. “Now, why do I think that’s not necessarily true?” he said. “Could it be because your lovely face is flushing beet red?”
Cindy felt her face flush even more.
Mattheus leaned a little closer. “Listen, I don’t want to upset you or anything,” he said.
“Who said I’m upset?” said Cindy. “Seems like you take a lot for granted.”
“Okay, okay,” he said. “So, what’s next on your plan?”
“After I meet with you, there’s a lot of people I need to interview.”
He smiled and his nose crinkled. Cindy suddenly saw what he must have looked like as a little boy, playful, mischievous.
“I’ll give you a tip,” he suddenly offered. “Interview his first wife, Elizabeth next.”
Cindy was grateful, and also surprised. “Any special reason?”
“She was close to Ames right up to the end. She’s a complicated lady. ”
“Well, thanks,” said Cindy.
“And after you speak to her, come back and talk to me. I’ll help you sort it through. ”
Cindy had no idea what it was that softened him up, or made him change his mind.
“I appreciate that,” she said.
“Nothing personal,” he said. “This place is tricky. It can turn dangerous in a second. We don’t need anyone else turning up dead. ”
CHAPTER 6
Elizabeth didn’t sound thrilled to hear from Cindy. But she wasn’t being difficult either. She told Cindy to meet her at the spa at Magniffe Hotel early in the afternoon.
“Just come,” said Elizabeth briskly. “The hotel’s at the southernmost tip of the island. When you get to the hotel have them page me. They know me well. I’ll be there all day and you can ask me any questions you have. ” Then she hung up.
At least she didn’t say no, thought Cindy.
When Cindy mentioned to Dalia that she was going to see Elizabeth the next day, Dalia frowned.
“Where are you going to meet her, at the spa?” Dalia asked.
“How did you know?”
“Elizabeth’s main occupation is indulging herself,” Dalia said. “She’s always getting massages, soaking in the hot tubs, lying in the sun. All she cares about is herself. Ames’s son Brad’s is left at home, being raised by the help. It bothers Ames a lot. ”