Cindy was insulted, “Why?”
“She’s stubborn, like you. That’s where the similarity ends. I was just thinking of her because we’ve been trying to find out more about the divorce settlement, even though it’s sealed. Plus, she comes down to this neighborhood, regularly. ”
Obviously he was trying now to make things right, including her.
“Why does Elizabeth come down here?” Cindy was amazed.
“The night life,” Mattheus said. “It’s hot and smoking. She likes that. ”
Cindy wondered if Mattheus liked it, too. Was this where Elizabeth ran into him and found out he was unavailable?
“I also mentioned her,” Mattheus continued, “because we’re down here gathering more on her, too.”
Cindy felt that by giving her more information now, he was welcoming her back onto the case. It was his way of telling her that he was impressed with her decision to stick it out.
“Do you need to know more about Elizabeth’s nightlife?” asked Cindy, taking full advantage of his sudden willingness to talk.
“We need to know exactly who the guys are she shacks up with. She can’t go one night without being with someone. She could have said something to any of them about Ames. ”
“Is that why Ames left her? ’
“Just the opposite,” Mattheus said. “This started after he left her for Dalia. If you asked me, it’s her way of getting revenge. He left Elizabeth because she was cold as ice. That’s what he told me anyway I guess Elizabeth became determined to prove that Ames was wrong, by sleeping with everyone. She could have gone a little too far, though, when she hooked up with Dale. ”
Ames’s partner? ” Cindy was shocked.
“Yeah, another player too,” said Mattheus.
“Sounds like everyone down on this island’s a player,” said Cindy.
“Not me,” said Mattheus, smiling and tipping his head to the side.
Cindy smiled, too, remembering what Elizabeth had told her about Mattheus, and wondering if she should mention it to him. But at that moment a big, muscular guy walked up to their table, stopped and stared down at them. It was Sand.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” he asked, genuinely surprised. “A little party during work?”
Mattheus laughed, and Cindy recoiled. It was easy to see that Cindy irritated Sand. He had no room for her on the case.
“Had to rescue the little lady,” Mattheus said.
Sand pulled out a chair to join them, and when he heard that, his eyes opened wide.
“Cindy went to talk to the Captain, and the crew started to rough her up.”
“Damn lousy bastards, all of them,” Sand started to grit his teeth. Then he turned to Cindy, “what in hell gave you the idea to go there, alone? You could make more trouble for us then we already have. “Just leave us alone,” Sand said. “And stay away from my partner. My job is to keep him out of trouble. And you’re not making it easy. ”
*
The drive home with Mattheus was awkward and silent. Cindy couldn’t wait to be back at the villa, alone, with time to make sense of everything.
As they got closer, Mattheus finally broke into her thoughts.
“Okay,” he said, “I know you’re pissed at Sand, but if you’re determined to stay down here and work on the case, can I ask you to do something for us that will actually help?”
Cindy snapped to attention.
“There’s a lawyer we know of, Tomale, who operates from the part of town we just visited. He’s got connections everywhere and can get any sealed document opened in a matter of hours. ”
“A shady guy?” asked Cindy.
“So what?” said Mattheus. “It’s for a good cause. There are more questions pointing to Elizabeth and we need to find out what exactly what was in her divorce settlement to Ames. It could break the case open. The cops can’t ask Tomale to do this -- it’s too tricky. But you can. ”
Cindy turned and stared at Mattheus.
“That’s the life of a detective,” he said, matter of factly, “getting the facts anyway they can. It’s not always pretty. ”
Then he pulled the car to the side of the road, a few feet from the villa. “You willing to do it?”
“Yes,” Cindy said, “of course.” Mattheus had gone out his way for her and she wanted to reciprocate. She also truly wanted to be of help.
Mattheus nodded appreciatively and wrote something on a piece of scrap paper and gave it to her.
It was the name and phone number of Tomale. Cindy took the paper and put it in her bag.
“Can we consider it done?” Mattheus asked.
“Absolutely,” said Cindy.
Mattheus let out a deep breath. “But don’t go back down there again,” he warned, “there’s no reason for it. Just do the whole thing over the phone. I don’t want to hear that you turned up dead. ”
Cindy turned to him, her eyes flashing, “Believe me, I have no intention of turning up dead.”
“No one does,” said Mattheus. “Ames didn’t either.”
CHAPTER 14