*
Cindy and Mattheus drove home in the taxi silently. There was nothing further she wanted to say.
“I didn’t mean to offend or upset you,” Mattheus repeated several times. “You asked me a direct questions and I wanted to give you an honest reply. Is that a crime?”
“It’s not a crime,” Cindy finally answered, “but it doesn’t matter, I’m hurt.”
“I never meant to hurt you, Cindy.” Mattheus seemed on edge.
Cindy wanted to ask Mattheus why he didn’t tell Rod that he loved her and that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. It wasn’t something she should have to ask him. That should have come naturally. Did Mattheus really love her? Did he want to spend his life with her? Right now Cindy wasn’t sure.
“Take some time to unwind,” Mattheus repeated again, as if Cindy was just overwrought and there was no reason for Cindy to be reacting this way.
The taxi arrived and let them out at the hotel. “I’m going straight to Rod’s room,” Mattheus said as they walked to the elevator. “You go take a swim in the pool or go to the spa for a while. “I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be around at dinner time,” Cindy answered briskly. “I’m meeting with Alfred in a little while and I don’t know how long the meeting will last.”
“You’re not only wasting your time with that guy, but he’s driving you crazy,” Mattheus retorted, as the elevator stopped at their floor and Cindy got out alone.
CHAPTER 12
The minute she got into her room, Cindy called Alfred immediately. Thankfully, he picked right up.
“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you,” he said instantly. “Go downstairs to the narrow walking path behind the back garden. There’s a trellis there under a group of palm trees. I’ll be waiting for you there, in the shade.”
“Why all the secrecy?” Cindy asked, feeling as though Alfred were acting as though he were being secretly followed by a band of thieves.
“When you get there, I’ll tell you,” he said in a hushed tone.
“I’ll be right there,” Cindy agreed, partially annoyed to be going along with this. They could just as easily have met right out front, in full sight of everybody. Was Mattheus right? Was Alfred over the edge or truly onto something? Was she completely wasting her time?
*
It was actually difficult to get to the path behind the garden and took more time than Cindy expected. She had to follow a winding road that passed over a curved bridge that crossed a stream. Then she saw the trellis under the palms that Alfred mentioned. When she got closer Cindy saw Alfred there, his arms around himself, rocking back and forth.
“Here I am, Alfred,” Cindy called to him.
“You sure took your time.” He was agitated.
“I left immediately,” quipped Cindy. “This place is hard to find.”
“Precisely.” Alfred suddenly smiled. “That’s why I wanted to come here. It’s not a good idea for anybody to see us together. Certainly not at a time like this.”
Cindy sighed. She didn’t want to go around in circles with all kinds of hidden innuendos.
“Okay, we’re here now, we’re safe, we’re hidden,” she said. “What did you find?”
“I found out more than your sweet Mattheus did, that’s for sure,” Alfred burst out. “Mattheus is taking the easy way out, isn’t he? Just hanging around with Kara’s family, avoiding the meat of the case.”
That wasn’t at all like Mattheus, but Cindy couldn’t help but agree.
“Tell me why Mattheus is acting this way,” Alfred continued. “Is he involved with Kara’s disappearance somehow?”
That was more than Cindy could tolerate. She was appalled. “Are you crazy?”
“Well, if Mattheus is not directly involved, how about his buddy, Rod?” Alfred continued. “Guilt by association?”
“You’re going off the deep end, Alfred,” Cindy insisted. “Rod is Kara’s father. Are you suggesting he harmed his daughter?”
“No, I’m not.” Alfred backed down. “I have no reason to believe that, yet.”
“Yet?” Cindy didn’t know if she should just turn around and walk away.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute.” Alfred reached out for her. “I’m sorry for going too far. I can’t stand Rod and he can’t stand me, but that’s not what I’m here for. That’s not what I have to tell you.”
“What do you have to tell me?” Cindy faced him bluntly.
“I’ve been spending hours and hours online,” Alfred started. “I began with Kara’s Facebook page, then switched to Rowley’s.”
“Okay?” said Cindy. This was more interesting now.
“I found a woman on Rowley’s Facebook page named Diane.” Alfred’s voice grew gravelly. “She’d messaged Kara recently on her Facebook page telling her what a great job Rowley did on her surgery.”