“I’m also sorry for your loss,” Mattheus added. “Don’t think the case doesn’t matter to me.”
“You’re on board then?” Carl asked Mattheus quickly, as his hands clenched at his sides.
“Yes, I’m on board,” Mattheus agreed quietly.
“Thank you,” Carl nodded formally then. “I’m sure that will make a huge difference to Cindy.”
“Yes, it will,” Cindy added promptly, “I need Mattheus. He’s a wonderful detective. I’m not the same person without him.”
A smile played around the corner of Mattheus’s mouth, as Cindy spoke.
*
The four of them had a quick, tense breakfast and then Cindy and Mattheus went straight to the police to let them know they were on board. Before they left, Cindy told Carl and Tyra that she and Mattheus would be talking to them in depth later on, and would keep them informed of their progress.
Carl grabbed Cindy’s hands to thank her once again.
“I don’t know you very well,” he said emotionally, “but my gut tells me, you’re the best.”
“We’re the best,” Cindy smiled, “Mattheus and I, together.”
*
The police station was in a low, clean, building on a wide road. As soon as Cindy and Mattheus entered and said who they were, the front cop at the desk called to the back room. In a few seconds both Rod and Spike ambled down the corridor together.
Rod had a grin on his face and grabbed Mattheus’s hand in a strong shake. “Can’t tell you how good it is to see you again.”
Spike looked both of them over carefully, especially Cindy.
“We’re on board,” said Mattheus directly, taking the lead.
“Great,” Rod said gruffly. “We both knew you guys would jump in. Just a matter of time. Couldn’t be better timing. There’s more to do here than we can manage.”
“What changed your mind?” Spike was curious, more laid back.
“Ask Cindy that,” said Mattheus.
Spike turned to her slowly, a funny smile in his eyes. He probably wasn’t used to working with women detectives, Cindy thought.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Cindy simply.
Spike cocked his head to the side. It wasn’t the answer he’d expected.
“Pay’s pretty good, too, I imagine,” he added, breaking into a small smile.
Mattheus didn’t like that. “They couldn’t pay us enough to do this,” he said. “Cindy feels it’s right, she feels it’s fair.”
Both Rod and Spike stared at both of them.
“Okay,” Mattheus had enough. “Let’s go into your office. Fill us in on what’s to be done next.”
The four of them went into the back office and sat down, while Rod fumbled with papers.
“This is what we got so far,” Rod launched into the case. “We’re interviewing guests at hotel. Most who saw Kate and Clay said the two of them looked happy. No signs of any problems. Most important thing now is to find out who was yelling and knocking on their door. “
“No one on their floor still admits to opening their door and taking a look?” asked Mattheus.
“They all said they were scared,” said Rod. “Most thought it was personal, a fight going on between a couple. People like to stay out of that.”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” said Spike. “People come for a vacation, don’t want to get pulled into someone else’s mess.”
“I sure get that,” Mattheus answered. “What else you got?”
“The girl’s parents and uncle are here,” the police continued.
“Her father too?” Cindy was curious.
“Yeah, the father’s in their room, having a breakdown. We can’t get to see him yet. Seems like the uncle’s the front man.”
“We met him already,” said Mattheus.
“Good,” said Rod. “Talk to him yet?”
“Not yet” Mattheus was taking over. “We just officially got on the case. I don’t know about Cindy, maybe she has?” He threw a quick, side look at her.
“The uncle said he was close to his niece growing up,” Cindy filled in. “Said she was wonderful, happy, a great gal. There was absolutely nothing to indicate suicide.”
“They all say that,” Spike muttered. “Doesn’t mean a damn. People don’t see each other suffering, drugging, drinking, even if they live under the same roof. Just the way no one bothered to open the door when they heard someone yelling and banging.”
“You guys still thinking it’s suicide?” Mattheus asked.
“We’re waiting for the medical examiner’s report. Unless we have something else definite, suicide is where we’re headed,” said Rod. “So far the injuries are consistent with falling out the window, but you never know what the examiner will find. In the meantime, it would help us a lot if you would do a thorough investigation of Clay online and Cindy can investigate Kate. We need possible ghosts in their past, dark spots that haven’t come to light. Look for a reason why someone would want to kill her. So far, there’s none. Clay’s parents should be arriving in a little while. We need you guys to talk to them and also spend more time with Kate’s family.”