“Why not?” Mattheus was astonished.
“We’ve already brought so much harm,” Cindy said softly. “Right now the boy has a home and a family. If we start poking around, who knows what will happen to Bala and Dawl? And if his family is destroyed, who knows what will happen to the boy then?”
Mattheus grew quiet. “I understand how you feel,” he said softly, “but we can’t withhold information like this from the police. That’s obstructing a murder investigation.”
Cindy’s head fell. “You think Dawl had something to do with what Tara’s death?” she said disconsolately.
“It’s a possibility,” Mattheus replied. “You don’t come charging into a family, mess with the balance of relationships, threaten people and walk away untouched.”
*
Mattheus insisted that they go onward to Ryder’s Cove. “There’s something about being in the place she was found that will help us think clearly,” he said.
Cindy walked along beside him sadly, as though she were going to a funeral.
“It’s not so far from here,” Mattheus took her hand and encouraged her to pick up her speed.
Strong breezes from the ocean washed over them as they walked onwards the end of the beach. Once there, they turned down an incline and proceeded through two narrow trails, until they arrived at Ryder’s Cove.
Ryder’s Cove was near the lagoon, a well -known spot for swimming, sightseeing and birding. The Cove was a cave like structure at the edge of the shore. Down a sloping hill, filled with jagged edges and hidden inside a cliff, warm, murky water spun around inside it in a whirl. Most came to take photographs, but didn’t actually swim.
As Cindy and Mattheus got closer, Cindy stopped a moment and held back.
“What?” asked Mattheus.
Cindy felt the heat and humidity grow denser and more cloying as they approached the spot. “Tara and Lynch came here to swim during the afternoon,” Cindy murmured, allowing pictures of what could have happened to roll through her mind.
“That’s right,” Mattheus recalled. “I believe people saw her alive after that.”
“You’re sure about that?” asked Cindy quickly.
Mattheus was startled. “No, not exactly,” he said. “I just assumed her friends saw her. We’ll have to check it out, get the time line down exactly. The medical examiner will also be able to tell us
precisely how long she was in the water and what time she died.”
Cindy nodded. As they moved closer to the opening of the Cove her heart starting pounding. “I can’t take another step closer,” Cindy breathed, her hand on her chest.
“Why not?” asked Mattheus perturbed. This wasn’t like her.
“I don’t feel well. I feel dizzier the closer we get,” Cindy said.
“Take a deep breath,” said Mattheus.
“There’s a strange, fetid smell here,” Cindy uttered, practically gasping. “I feel like I’m choking.”
Mattheus stopped and tried to smell it. “I don’t smell anything unusual,” he said.
“I do,” Cindy couldn’t stand it, turned her head away.
“What are you smelling?” Mattheus was right on it.
“I have no idea,” said Cindy, “but I’m getting out of here.” She turned and lurched back in the direction they’d been coming from.
“Wait a minute, Cindy,” Mattheus ran after her up to a large rock, covered with moss, which was planted under a tree nearby in the sun. “Sit down a minute, on this rock. Just rest here a minute and wait for me.”
Cindy leaned against on the rock, grateful to be supported by it.
“I want to go into the Cove and see it for myself,” Mattheus went on. “I won’t stay long. I’ll be right back.”
Cindy didn’t want him to go but she knew that was foolish. “Okay, but be careful, Mattheus,” she replied, as he turned away.
“I’m always careful,” he called back.
“Don’t stay long,” she called after him.
“Just rest,” his voice echoed in the wind.
*
Cindy lay down on the rock and put her face up into the sun. The rock was warm, slightly moist and soothing and the sun felt deeply comforting. As she lay there waiting for Mattheus, an image of Tara came to her mind. Tara seemed lost, confused, uncertain about where she was, wandering around helplessly.
“Tara,” Cindy whispered to her, “what happened to you? Where are you now? I’m here for you. I still want to help you.”
As Cindy spoke, the image of Tara drifted away and faded from Cindy’s consciousness.
Cindy continued speaking to her anyway. “Did you drown in the Cove, Tara, or were you killed and placed here by someone?”
But the only answer Cindy received to her questions was the sound of soft birds in the distance, chirping and calling to one another naturally, as if all was well in the world.
*
In what seemed like a few minutes Mattheus returned. When Cindy opened her eyes she felt his arm on her shoulder, shaking her.