“No, it isn’t you,” Cindy was stung. “And, Mattheus and I are doing the job. We’re exploring every possibility.”
“Then explore Kate’s family. Give them the once over. They’re a bunch of creeps,” said Sean.
“I’ll definitely look into it further,” said Cindy.
Sean stepped back for a second and looked at her appreciatively. “You don’t seem like a girl who’s a detective,” he said then in a small voice.
Cindy’s heart clenched and went out to him. Of course it was possible that everything he said was true, that Kate’s death had been a suicide, or that someone else had done her in. And it was also clear that Sean was suffering as much or more than any of them.
Cindy thought of the note from Kate she still had in her pocket, and pulled it out quickly.
“Here, take a look at this,” she said to Sean.
Sean stepped back and didn’t take it. “What’s this? Another trap?”
“It’s a note Kate wrote to you before she died,” said Cindy, “the police found it and gave it to us.”
Sean’s eyes opened wide and he shook his head, disbelieving.
“Take it, read it,” said Cindy.
Sean slowly took the note in his hands. As he started to read, his face crumpled and his body suddenly shook with sobs.
“Oh my God, my God, Kate,” he cried as he held the note close to him, “I love you, too. I always have. Oh my God, what’s happened to you?”
“Did she kill herself? Is it possible?” Cindy whispered.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Sean’s sobs deepened. “Her whole family hates me, except for her father. Talk to him too and see what he has to say.”
CHAPTER 13
After speaking to Sean Cindy wanted to go immediately and talk to Kate’s father. She knew that Mattheus had to stay with Sean until the police arrived to take him in for questioning. She could go talk to Cindy’s father alone. It would be better that way, anyway.
“This does it,” Mattheus whispered to Cindy, as Sean went back to the punching bags.
“We got our guy. He’s ready to bust. He himself admitted he was yelling at the door. And there’s plenty of motive.”
“Don’t be so sure about it, don’t be so quick,” Cindy retorted. There was something about Sean that touched her. She wasn’t at all sure he was the one. “There’s absolutely no physical evidence.”
“People have been convicted on a lot less than we have,” said Mattheus. “I’ve got to wait here with him until the police arrive. We can unwind a little after this.”
“While you’re waiting with Sean, I’m going to talk to Kate’s father,” said Cindy.
Mattheus seemed surprised. Not much had been said about him. “Fine, and after you talk to him, and the police take Sean in, you and I can take some time. How about a hike through Arikok National Park?”
A hike sounded good to Cindy. “Great, we’ll chill a bit and talk things over.”
“Chill a lot,” smiled Mattheus. “This is it, I feel it. The pressure’s off now.”
The pressure off? Cindy didn’t like that Mattheus had come to such a quick conclusion. Was he just throwing the case to the wind because he’d found one suspect? That wasn’t like him.
“I’m not so sure at all,” she said.
“Not so sure about what?” asked Mattheus, unnerved. “Not sure you want to take time with me?”
Cindy was startled. “I’m not so sure we should take the pressure off,” she answered quietly, “or that Sean’s our man.”
Mattheus shook his head in disagreement. “So far, everything points to him,” he said.”I know I need to investigate him further, and I will. Go talk to Kate’s father and afterwards, we’ll meet and go for a hike at the Arikok National Park.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all planned out,” said Cindy.
“Well, shouldn’t I have?” Mattheus sounded snippy. “Did you think this case was going to go on forever, that we wouldn’t get our time?”
“I haven’t thought about it that way,” said Cindy.
“Cindy,” Mattheus walked over and took her hands, “we’ve got our man, he’s a sleaze and I’m personally seeing to it that the case closes up.”
Cindy looked at him somewhat alarmed. She wasn’t sure what brought this on. Obviously Sean stirred Mattheus up. Was it because Sean had brought another woman along to confront Kate? Was it because he was still with Riva at the hotel? Cindy wondered what made Mattheus dislike him so intensely.
“We’ll go for a hike and figure things out,” said Mattheus. “Balance is where it’s at.”
“Of course that’s true,” said Cindy.
“I’m glad we’re finally on the same page” said Mattheus. “So, after you talk to Kate’s father are we on for a hike at Arikok National Park?”
“We’re on,” said Cindy, though at the moment, the last thing she felt like doing was going on a hike in the National Park with Mattheus. She knew she needed to confront him about his reaction to Sean, but this wasn’t the time for it.
“Great,” said Mattheus, turning back to Sean. “I’ll see you after the police take this scumbag in and after your interview with Kate’s dad.”