Cindy took a deep breath. Had Ames turned into a deadbeat dad, copping out on his financial obligations?
“Why wasn’t there any more money?” Cindy asked. “I thought he was doing well.”
Tomale guffawed. “We guys got to pay you gals off forever?” he asked. “You know how much this sucker already gave her?”
“How much?” asked Cindy.
“More than anyone could ever need for ten lives. This was one greedy bitch. ”
“Was Ames in trouble financially?” Cindy pressed on.
“We’re all in trouble,” Tomale said. “
“I thought Ames’s partner Dale had big money,” Cindy continued.
Tomale made a low, snorting sound. “Even people with big money can get sick of throwing it around.”
Cindy wasn’t sure what he meant by that.
*
Cindy filled Mattheus in on what Tomale said, as soon as she hung up the phone.
“There’s one more thing, Mattheus,” she said then. “Someone through a rock through my window last night with a note tied to it.”
“WHAT?” he said, horrified.
“The note said YOU’RE NEXT,” said Cindy.
“JESUS CHRIST,” said Mattheus, “that’s what I was afraid of. I’m coming right over. I want to see the rock myself and I want to see the note. ”
“It’s connected to what happened to Ames,” said Cindy.
“Yeah, of course,” said Mattheus. “And it’s also connected to you. They’ve got their eye on you now. ”
“Who?” said Cindy.
“Believe me,” said Mattheus, “I’m gonna find out, and fast.”
Dalia walked into the kitchen, just as Cindy was hanging up the phone.
“Who’s that you were talking to?” she asked lightly, in passing, as she gathered papers to put in her briefcase.
“Mattheus,” said Cindy lightly. “I just wanted to see if anything new had turned up.”
Dalia frowned and tossed her head back and forth. “You have so much faith in Mattheus,” she said, “have more faith in yourself.”
Cindy felt irritated being criticized by Dalia. She remembered how Dalia always had something nasty to say about everyone, couldn’t really keep her friends. Now, she understood why. She’d be your best friend one minute, the next find something wrong.
“You got feelings for that guy, Mattheus?” Dalia asked then. Clearly it had been bothering her that Cindy was speaking to him.
Cindy stood up and walked over to her.
“Mattheus has been giving me a helping hand.”
“That’s all? He’s a great looking, rugged guy, charming as hell. Lots of women down here have gone after him. To no avail. Don’t waste your time. ”
Cindy flushed and stood up. “Dalia what are you talking about? Clint hasn’t even been gone for six months. ”
“So, it’s normal to be lonely. What’s so bad about that? You’re not staying here waiting for him to come back to you one day, like I’m waiting for Ames. ”
Cindy felt punched in the heart, as she realized with horror that Dalia was right. Clint wasn’t coming back. Why did it take so long to realize that? Somewhere within she hadn’t fully accepted that Clint was gone for good. Perhaps she’d even come down here as a way to say goodbye to him. The thought of it was dizzying. She hadn’t yet come to terms with what had happened to Clint or how life could sweep away all that was most precious in a few moments. Cindy also didn’t fully understand how it was possible that the man you loved and thought you knew, had a life totally hidden from you. Even though she’d never found out things about Clint that were remotely similar to Ames, still, in both cases, they lived in a separate world that their wives had no knowledge of. It made her feel insecure.
Cindy wondered about Dalia then. What would she do when she found out the truth? Who would she turn to? She wondered where Dalia’s family was, and if they would be supportive?
“Do you stay in touch with your family, Dalia?” Cindy asked suddenly.
“What family?” Dalia said, surprised. “You know my mother died before I graduated high school.”
“Your dad? Your brothers?”
Dalia threw her head back and ran her hands through her long, auburn hair. “Look, I have work to do. Why are you asking me these questions? My family hates me, they’re all jerks. They were then and are even worse now. ”
Cindy remembered Dalia’s brother as being lovely boys.
“My father married again and so did the boys. They couldn’t stand either of my husbands, practically broke up my marriages. I had no intention ever of introducing them to Ames. They didn’t deserve to meet him. Ames is my family now, and the people down here. Nina is my sister.
“And you,” Dalia continued, “if things go well between us, you can become my sister too.”
Cindy didn’t know if that was a threat or back handed gift.
“Life has been pretty rough with all of us,” Cindy replied.
Dalia suddenly seemed to feel threatened, as if the conversation had gone too far.