Cindy was flooded with a mixture of feelings when she heard that. She felt sad for Mattheus and proud of him too, for having gone forward and doing the work he did.
You came down here to help your friend,” Sand continued. “We were pacifying her in the beginning, but this has gotten out of hand. You’re snooping where you don’t belong, creating waves where we need smooth sailing. You got the poor guy worried about you. We come here to investigate, and he sees you smooching with Dale. How do you think that makes him feel? ”
“I wasn’t smooching with anyone,” Cindy was offended. “I was talking to him to find out what I could.”
“Yeah, on the back lounge, drinking, staring into each other’s eyes. Give me a break. ”
“You got it all wrong,” said Cindy.
“I’m telling you to get out of the picture,” said Sand. “Leave my partner alone!”
Sand stood up quickly and walked away. Cindy walked to the edge of the lounge for a moment and then decided to walk out on the beach, along the shore, to get away from all of it and let herself think. She was horrified that Mattheus’s wife had been killed. That explained so much, including why he felt close to Cindy. They’d been through the same thing.
*
It felt wonderful walking along the edge of the beach, barefoot, the soft sand rolling through her toes. Cindy ran everything through her mind: Dale, Elizabeth, Sand and most of all, Mattheus. She had stumbled into a convoluted world, where people were intricately interwoven. Anyone down here could have wanted Ames dead. Anyone could have done something to him. Dale could have gotten rid of him for financial reasons, or because he didn’t want Ames to find out that he’d slept with his wife. Elizabeth could have been furious about her divorce settlement. The drug cartels themselves could have snuffed him out.
Cindy lifted her beautiful gown, splashed her toes in the water, and thought about Clint. How she wished he could be here with her now. She wondered what it would take for her to be really able to let him go?
As she stood still, looking up at the star-studded sky, she heard steps behind her. Cindy had no idea who it could be, and got stiff and filled with dread. She didn’t move a muscle as the footsteps came closer and closer on the sand. Where was there to run?
“What are you doing standing here alone?” Mattheus’s voice rang out on the rolling water.
Cindy swept around. “You scared me to death.”
“I’m taking you home,” he said, putting his hand on her arm.
“Did you have a good night hanging out there with Dale? Plan to go out on his boat with him? ”He was jealous and peeved.
“This isn’t like you,” Cindy said, “I was investigating. . . ”
“Yeah, yeah,” Mattheus said, “okay, let’s get back to the restaurant now. You’ll wait for me there. I’ll get my car and drive you home. ”
“Mattheus,” Cindy said intensely, “I’m glad to have you drive me home, but I also have to tell you, there’s absolutely nothing going on with me and Dale. Nothing at all. ”
Mattheus paused, backed up and looked at her then with a crinkly smile.
“Sorry about that,” he said, suddenly sheepish. “Guess my nerves are a little on edge these days. So many bases to cover. So many people in town”
*
When they got back to the lounge, everything had changed. Pandemonium had hit the place. People were scurrying around, yelling, calling to each other. Someone was standing alone crying. It was as though doomsday had struck.
“What the hell happened?” said Mattheus, a vein standing out in his neck.
Sand spotted them immediately and came running over.
“Jesus Christ, where were you? I’ve looked everywhere,” he was breathless.
“What’s going on?” said Mattheus.
“You’re ready for it?” Sand’s eyes were flashing.
“What?”
“Ames’s body just washed up onto shore.”
CHAPTER 18
Dalia could not stop pacing in her living room. Her hands were in fists that banged against her legs as she moved.
“Dead, dead,” she kept muttering. “He must have jumped off the boat and drowned himself.”
The phone kept ringing and Cindy had to be the one to answer it.
“Is she doing all right?” It was Nina, alarmed.
“No, she’s not,” said Cindy.
“Should I come right over?”
“Not yet. The police will be here in a few minutes. There’s a procedure we have to follow. ”
The phone rang again. “Just keep her calm,” said Mattheus. “We have to complete identification of the body.”
“Was he in the water the whole time?” asked Cindy.
“The medical examiner will answer everything.”
Cindy begged Dalia to take some valium that she had in the house. Dalia barely heard what she was saying.
The doctor arrived quickly and when Dalia saw him, she started shrieking, “Get out, get out. I’m not taking anything. You’re not drugging me. Who called you anyway? ”
“Cindy did,” a tall, slender man said quietly.