“Smart,” said Mattheus smiling. “She needs protection.”
“At first Brayton balked,” said Cindy, “but that was the only way Kendra would agree. In fact, the details of the lunch are being set up right now.”
Mattheus thought about whether or not he should tell Cindy that Margot would be wearing a tape. He decided he had to. They were a team.
“Margot will be wearing a tape,” said Mattheus then.
Cindy’s eyes opened wide.
“Brayton is convinced Kendra knows stuff she’s not saying. You can’t tell Kendra about this though. The truth is the truth, let it all come out.”
“Do you think I would undermine the investigation?” Cindy seemed offended.
“I wasn’t saying that. I just wanted to say, let it all rip.”
“I want to find the real killer as much as Brayton,” Cindy said, unabashed. “I didn’t come down here to assist a cover up.”
Mattheus was pleased that he and Cindy were on the same page about so many things. She was one special woman, for sure. And, of course, being a detective was different when someone close to you had been killed. After that, each case you handled was an echo of what happened. Your craving for justice couldn’t be squelched.
“I’m proud of you, Cindy,” Mattheus said then.
She was silent a moment. “For what?” she said.
“For who you are.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“I never expected all of this in one woman,” he said.
CHAPTER 19
Cindy and Kendra walked to the lunch together. It was to be held at a lovely restaurant across from the main pier in town. A table had been reserved in the rear, overlooking a boat slip that was at the end of the dock.
Kendra, dressed a white linen suit, with her hair brushed back tight, had a formidable air about her. Her jaw was set and she said little. Cindy wore a simple lime green dress and pearl earrings.
“I’ve been thinking about why the police want Margot and I to meet so badly,” Kendra said, finally. “Obviously, they’re going to question her about everything I say. And question me about her. It’s an old trick, isn’t it, turning one against the other? They must be hoping that in the heat of the moment one of us will slip up.”
“Or that one of you will lie,” said Cindy. “That wouldn’t look good, would it?”
Kendra said nothing then, just fell silent.
“Are you curious to meet her?” Cindy then asked to break the silence between them.
Kendra smirked, “not really. “I’m only doing this in the hopes it will help clear me. Who knows? She may be involved with the murder herself. Nothing would surprise me.”
Cindy took a deep breath. She felt uncomfortable accompanying Margot to the lunch.
“I’m sure she’s dying to meet me,” Kendra went on bitterly. “But I have no self left to meet. They’ve taken it from me. This is the last straw. And, the truth is, there’s no reason I should validate whatever happened between those two and call it a marriage.”
“It was a marriage,” said Cindy. “She has the same marriage license you do.”
“But to a different man, Gregg Kowan. It had to be a fraud.”
“Paul operated with two identities,” Cindy said, “and who knows how many more?”
“Whose side are you on?” Kendra snapped back.
“It’s not a matter of sides,” said Cindy. “Your husband has been killed. So has hers. It’s the same person. The more we know about went on in his life the better chance we have of finding the killer. It’s as simple as that.”
“Nothing simple about it,” Kendra was exasperated.
Cindy couldn’t understand why she didn’t feel more sympathy for Kendra, why few people did. Maybe because she seemed so unmoved about what happened to Paul. Cindy hadn’t heard her express sorrow about his death once since she’d met her. But, she’d been pounced on from day one, suspicions about her had never let up. She had every right to be brittle and mad.
“The police haven’t grilled Margot the way they did me, “Kendra went on. “That pisses me off.”
“How do you know they haven’t?” said Cindy.
“It’s obvious. They think I found out about the other wife, and took my revenge. But maybe she found out about me? Why isn’t that equally possible? Why isn’t she shaking in her boots?”
“Maybe she is,” said Cindy.
“You haven’t been grilling her either, have you?” Kendra turned to Cindy, swiftly. “Why not?”
Cindy paused a moment to consider that question. There was truth to what Kendra said. Cindy felt no desire to question Margot further. Margot had seemed so devastated when she’d found out about Paul that Cindy didn’t doubt her. She didn’t like her much, but she didn’t doubt her either. It was interesting where suspicion landed and the reasons for it, Cindy thought.
“So give me a clue as to why I’m the bad one?” said Kendra, fitfully.
Cindy turned and faced her as they were about to enter the restaurant.