“You feel awful?” Mattheus was mocking him.
“Listen,” Abels crept closer. “I noticed every day I saw him that something was bugging this guy bad. Very bad. One day I said to him, Calm down, dude, what the hell’s bothering you? Someone breathing down your back? He laughed in my face and said it was worse than that. I said, oh yeah, what? He said, I’d never understand and I was lucky I never had any kids. Something in that guy’s family was making him crazy. Big time. I don’t know if that helps you?”
Mattheus took a few steps away, as a slow chill went up his spine. This guy had no way of knowing that Paul had two families, two set of kids.
Mattheus head spun around and around. He had to breathe, step back, take it easy. It was possible this guy didn’t do it. Could be he’d tracked down another guy that amounted to nothing. Mattheus relented,
“You’ll give me the names and addresses of all the people you were with on that day, also the booth you worked in at the carnival?”
“Definitely,” said Salmon.
“In an hour or two we’ll know if you’re lying. If you’re lying, man, it won’t be good for you.”
“I’m not lying,” Salmon said.
Mattheus believed him, and his heart sank into his shoes.
*
By the time Mattheus called Cindy the alibi had already been checked. It was air tight, he told her. Salmon hadn’t killed Paul. He hadn’t been anywhere near the crime scene.
Cindy listened quietly. “This is a bummer,” she said. “The police have already listened to Margot’s tape recording of the lunch. They heard Kendra say she’d detested Paul. She’s just been arrested. But before she went to jail, there was one last thing she did.” Cindy paused, agitated.
“What?” said Mattheus.
“She fired both of us,” said Cindy.
“That was stupid,” said Mattheus. “She needs us more now.”
“She doesn’t think so,” said Cindy.
“Meet me at the hotel,” said Mattheus.
“In an hour,” said Cindy, sounding entirely defeated.
CHAPTER 21
Cindy was thrilled to see Mattheus back at the hotel. He took her hand when she came into the lobby and gave her a little hug.
“Let’s go get a drink before dinner,” he suggested, “you look beautiful.”
That was the last thing Cindy expected.
“Besides, we’ve got a lot to talk about, Mattheus collected himself quickly.
They went into the lounge, sat down, and ordered.
The drinks came and they each took theirs. Mattheus downed his quickly. Cindy looked up at him as he drank. He seemed a little nervous. Maybe because they’d been fired. Nobody likes that.
“She’s not in her right mind,” Cindy said, “that’s why she fired us now.”
“I don’t care about that,” said Mattheus. “People do all kinds of things in desperate moments. And besides, she didn’t participate in her own defense. She lied to you.”
“Did you tell the police that?” asked Cindy horrified.
“No, I didn’t,” said Mattheus. “It must have been the tapes from the lunch that did it for them.”
“I can’t shake the feeling that Kendra didn’t do it,” Cindy continued.
“I don’t disagree,” said Mattheus, “but there’s nowhere else to go. Salmon Abels was Kendra’s best hope, and that went nowhere. There’s nothing left.”
“The case against her is all circumstantial,” Cindy repeated. “They never found a weapon.”
“A road is paved step by step,” Mattheus said. “When all signs point in one direction
Cindy put her hand over his. “Kendra didn’t do it,” she said emphatically.
Mattheus became quiet. “That’s a big statement. You’ve got to prove it.”
“Kendra’s nervous, outspoken, frazzled to the bone,” said Cindy, “she may not always be likeable either, but I’m sure she didn’t know anything about Margot. That’s what they’re all grabbing onto now. The motive was the second wife.”
“Cindy,” Mattheus stopped her. “The police spent more time talking to Heather. She told them that Kendra knew about Margot.”
Cindy was dumbstruck. “She knew? I don’t believe that. Heather has her own agenda. She’s getting something out of this - had to be terrifically jealous of Kendra. Heather’s framing her, left and right.”
Mattheus raised his hand to call the waiter to get another drink.
Cindy drank her drink slowly. It had been getting cooler on the island the past few days and the rum and soda warmed her.
“So, if you don’t think it’s Kendra, what’s your best guess?” Mattheus asked as he waited for his refill. “Heather?”
“I don’t think so,” said Cindy, “she’s just getting a sick pleasure out of watching Kendra squirm. Maybe she thinks Kendra did it, hurt the man she loved. When Heather found out about second wife years ago, she let go of Paul completely. It hurt like hell, but she just dropped him.”
“A strong lady,” said Mattheus, “good judgment.”