“Tell me what?” asked Cindy. “Was there a connection between him and Ames? Was he someone you knew? ”
“We didn’t know him, but we knew of him, saw him around. It’s a small place, and people recognize each other. After they found the body, the police investigated the case and said he was involved with the drug cartel. The guy owed money he couldn’t pay. They said it was pure coincidence that he and Ames disappeared a few months apart.
But I don’t believe in coincidence. I’m not a person who believes what they tell me, either. Like you, I think for myself. People lie. Do you realize that? ”
“Yes, I do,” said Cindy.
Dalia smiled. “Good. Then you know that we have to keep searching, and find Ames fast. ”
“Ames was never involved in anything shady?” Cindy looked at her carefully.
“Never,” Dalia said.
“Are you sure?” Cindy continued. “You know there are secrets we keep, even from ourselves.”
“I’m telling you, never,” Dalia said. “He didn’t have to. He was incredibly successful, had everything he needed -- and more. There are people around you can talk to about him. They may be of help, know something. I’ll give you their names. The police spoke to them already, but you are different. You can interview them in your own special way. Maybe they’ll tell you something different, maybe you’ll discover a detail the police missed. ”
“I need the police records,” Cindy said. “All of them. Including of the guy who turned up dead. ”
“I’ll get them for you, it’s no big deal. I told the police you were coming, said I was bringing a private detective down. They didn’t like it, but they have to cooperate. The Chief of Police insisted, he’s a good friend of Ames. I’ll introduce you to the cops in charge of the case. ”
Cindy took another deep breath, and tried to speak in a matter of fact manner.
“Dalia, why are you so sure he’s alive?”
“It’s not even a question in my mind,” Dalia said breathlessly. “I feel it at night when the sun goes down, I feel it in the morning. The first week, I couldn’t sleep at all, I was so devastated. Then, when I suddenly realized he was still alive, I was able to sleep, to eat, to think clearly. You have to believe me, Cindy. A wife just knows these things. ”
“I know she does,” Cindy said. She remembered how she knew right away that Clint had died. Not only that he’d died, but that it wasn’t an accident, that he’d been murdered.
“You’re right, Dalia,” Cindy said, “deep down, a wife always knows.”
CHAPTER 4
Cindy looked up from her notes. It was almost noon and the sun had grown hot overhead. They’d been out on the patio for a few hours, and Cindy was feeling restless, wanted to look around inside, see what might strike her.
“I’d like you to show me around your home,” she said to Dalia.
“Sure,” said Dalia, a little surprised. “Why?”
“It’s too hot outside now,” Cindy smiled, “and I’d like to get more of a feeling for where Ames lived.”
Dalia stood up, “Of course,” she said, “I was going to show you around, anyway -- the way you said it just sounded so important.”
“It is important,” Cindy said. “Everything is important,” and she tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulders, as if ready to take on the world. “It just takes one detail to break everything open.”
The space inside the villa was enormous, with winding hallways, adjoining rooms, outside and inside porches, beautiful art work, standing sculptures, framed mirrors, plants everywhere and exotic rugs. The main living room was huge and open, with all glass walls looking over the incredibly languorous waters and sand. It was almost more than Cindy could take in. She felt as if she were at an incredibly elegant, exclusive hotel.
“Ames had this place designed when he was engaged to his first wife, Elizabeth,” Dalia said, as she led Cindy through the rooms and halls. “They lived here for six years together. This is where his son Brad was born. ”
“It must have been hard for her to leave this place when they separated,” Cindy said.
“I guess so,” Dalia didn’t seem too concerned. “She has everything she needs, though. Ames takes wonderful care of her and his son. He set them both up in their own villa, a few miles away. It could be much worse, believe me. ”
Cindy sensed irritation on Dalia’s part.
“You don’t like her?” asked Cindy.
“That’s irrelevant,” said Dalia. “I’m good to her. Ames is good to her. I never get in the way of their relationship or their family. I’m a good person, Cindy, you know that. ”
“Yes, I do,” Cindy said.