Margot arrived. “Well, here you are,” she said to Cindy. “My goodness. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Cindy’s heart began beating strongly. “I’m so sorry,” she said, “it’s so beautiful here. I couldn’t resist stopping in and sitting down for a moment.”
Margot looked at her strangely. “I find that odd, very odd.”
“I’m terribly sorry,” said Cindy.
“How long do you plan to stay?” Margot continued, “and what are you saying to my son?”
Margot was right not to go along, thought Cindy. She wasn’t being straight forward. There was no reason to play these games with her, either.
“Listen,” said Cindy, “when I called my partner, he asked me to stay here until he arrived.”
Margot looked outraged. “I beg your pardon?” she said. Then she turned to Graham. “Graham, go to your room. There’s absolutely no reason why you should be involved in this.”
“I want to be here,” he started.
“No, it isn’t okay. Go to your room.” Her voice took on a shrill, demanding edge that could not be easily turned down.
“Don’t push me away,” he said, nervous.
“I’m not pushing you anywhere, I’m just telling you to go.”
Graham turned and walked away, throwing Cindy a long look over his shoulder.
“You have a wonderful son,” said Cindy.
“It’s irrelevant,” said Margot. “You’re not here on a personal visit. Who’s your partner and what’s going on?”
“My partner and I are private detectives,” said Cindy.
Margot’s hands tied into tight little fists. “And what has that got to do with me?”
Mattheus had told Cindy not to say anything until he arrived. He should be here any moment, Cindy figured. She’d pave the way for Margot slowly, start to prepare her for what lay ahead.
“You know there was a murder on the main island. My partner and I were called down to investigate it,” Cindy began.
Margot’s irritation seemed to grow. “So?” she said.
“Heather May told me I’d find out all I needed to know about the case right here.”
“You’re repeating yourself,” Margot rubbed her foot on the ground, almost as if she were stamping out a bug that was annoying her. “We already said that was ridiculous.”
“I didn’t believe Heather either in the beginning,” said Cindy. “But now I realize it was true.” Just at that moment, Graham came running back to the arbor, his face white. “Police cars are pulling up to the house, mom,” he called loudly.
“What?” Margot gasped.
“Come and see for yourself.”
Margot turned and fled with Graham to the front of the house. Mattheus had arrived - he’d probably brought back up with him. This was a huge break in the case. It couldn’t be kept under wraps long.
Cindy walked slowly back to the living room, dreading what was to come. By the time she arrived, Mattheus and three cops were surrounding the photos of Paul. Brayton was there, along with Nojo and another cop Cindy didn’t recognize, who was taking pictures of everything. Margot stood near the sofa, terrified. Graham was nowhere to be seen – she’d probably sent him to his room again.
“Please sit down, Miss,” Brayton said to Margot.
“Not Miss,” said Margot icily. “Mrs. Gregory Kowan.”
Mattheus came over and stood beside Cindy. “Great work,” he whispered in her ear.
It felt good to hear that and to have him here.
Brayton held the photo of Paul in his hands.
“This intrusion is unacceptable,” said Margot, “I’m going to call my husband right now.” Her body began to tremble.
Brayton took pity on her for a second. “It won’t be necessary,” he said in a softer tone. “Just sit down a minute. We need to talk to you.”
Margot obeyed automatically and sat on the edge of the sofa, upright.
“Listen, we don’t mean to frighten you,” Brayton went on. “But the guy in this picture is someone we’re familiar with.”“
“You’re familiar with my husband?” Margot’s eyes flitted back and forth between everybody, unable to comprehend.
“You haven’t seen the papers recently?” Brayton went on.
“What papers?” Margot asked breathless. “I read our local papers. What have your papers got to do with anything? Has something happened to Gregg?”
“We know your husband by a different name.”
Brayton was doing a fine job, thought Cindy. Nojo stood behind him for support, his face impassive, taking it all in.
“What name do you know my husband by?” Margot’s voice started to teeter.
Brayton kept going evenly. “We know him as Paul Robbins, a well-known criminal defense attorney.”
Deep confusion spread over Margot’s eyes. “Who?”
“Paul Robbins was murdered about two weeks ago.”
Margot stood up swiftly. “But Gregg Kowan was not.”
“They’re one and the same,” said Brayton.