“Just stretching a little, taking a break,” said Cindy.
“Taking a break? We’ve barely started,” Mattheus said.
“I’m restless, Mattheus,” Cindy remarked. “This isn’t the best way to get going. I’d rather talk to people in person now. How about Rowley?”
Just then, as if hearing her wishes, the phone rang, startling both of them. They jumped, as if shocking news about Kara was waiting on the other end.
“I’ll get that,” said Mattheus, racing to pick the phone up.
For a few moments Mattheus was quiet. Then he spoke. “Yup,” he finally said, his voice deflated. “Sure we’ll come down. We’d love to talk to him.”
“Chief Darrin Frank?” asked Cindy.
“You got it,” said Mattheus. “He’s downstairs waiting for us. Otherwise, nothing yet.”
*
Cindy was extremely relieved to get out of the room and mill around with people. As soon as they walked into the lobby, a large, imposing Caribbean police officer approached them immediately.
“Darrin Frank,” Mattheus exclaimed, extending his hand.
“Good to have you guys on board.” Darrin offered a broad smile.
“Mattheus here and my partner, Cindy,” Mattheus said, warming right up to him.
“We’re searching full out,” Darrin said immediately, “no sight of anything yet.” Then he rubbed his large palm over his face. “If you want to come down to the station you can use whatever we have to do your part.”
“I appreciate that,” said Mattheus.
‘If you asked me, this was an accident. Something happened when she was swimming and she’ll probably never be found.”
That was simplest explanation, thought Cindy, and the easiest for the police.
“They were a terrific couple, no shadows that I can see,” Darrin added for good measure.
“Rowley has no ties with the island?” Mattheus asked just to be sure. “He doesn’t work down here at all?”
“Not that I know,” Darrin answered quickly, “but until you check you never can tell. Look, we got local crime down here, like anywhere else. Robbery usually, or a drug deal gone bad. People get drunk and fights break out all the time. So, there’s plenty of cases of assault. Go up a notch and you’ll find white collar crime. People come down here to do offshore banking and get into trouble.”
Darrin spoke authoritatively with a sense of finality in his voice. Right now it seemed to Cindy that he was going through the motions of the search so things would look good to the world.
“If you ask me what happened, I’d bet dollars that this young woman was either high or drunk when she went for the swim,” Darrin continued. “The tides washed in before she knew what was happening and she couldn’t fight her way out. It’s a lousy story, but it makes sense.”
“Cindy and I are looking into her background carefully,” Mattheus said, unwilling to let it be wrapped up so glibly.
“Why? Any reason to believe the husband did something to her?” Darrin seemed mildly curious.
“No, not at all,” said Mattheus, “I just want to see if someone else possibly had something against them.”
Darrin looked skeptical. “If you want to find out more about that, why not go upstairs to the husband’s room? The wife’s family arrived a little while ago, and his are only a few minutes away.”
“Great suggestion,” said Mattheus, “we’re on the way.”
“Well, it’s nice meeting you both,” said Darrin. “Let me know what turns up on your end and I’ll do the same.”
*
The door was open to Rowley’s room when Cindy and Mattheus arrived. Mattheus, nervous, knocked on the door anyway, just to let them know someone was there.
“Come in,” a dim voice called from inside.
Cindy and Mattheus walked into a room that was dark and dismal with the blinds drawn and shut tight. The fear and tension inside was so thick it was hard to breathe. Two policemen sat on chairs in the far end and Rowley stood there with an older couple.
“Mattheus, my God.” The tall, older man who had been standing with Rowley rushed over to Mattheus He had tousled hair, bleary eyes, and looked as if he hadn’t slept a bit all night.
“Rod,” Mattheus breathed, taking him in and giving him a huge hug.
“Where is she? Where is she?” Rod trembled with pain. “How the hell did this happen?”
“We’re gonna find her, Rod.” Mattheus’s voice grew low and collegial. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll bring Kara home.”
“I heard Kara met you and your partner,” Rod mumbled. “I heard you all had breakfast together. She was so happy to meet you, liked you both a lot.”
“That’s right,” said Mattheus, “we liked her, too.”
“How strange is that?” Rod’s eyes kept shifting back and forth. “Nothing about this makes sense. I feel like my daughter’s two steps away and will walk back in any minute.”