“It means so much to me that you think that,” said Pete quietly. “As soon as I saw you the first day you arrived, I knew you were special.”
“Thank you,” Cindy murmured.
“Frankly, I’ve been surprised and upset that you haven’t been here more with Mattheus all this while. I don’t quite understand it.”
“We divide up our tasks in an investigation,” Cindy covered up quickly. “But I’ve been thinking of all of you every day.”
Pete was so touched by Cindy’s response, he grabbed her hands for a quick moment. The warmth and strength in his touch ran through Cindy’s body like a sudden bolt of energy.
“It’s wonderful knowing you,” Pete continued, “it makes it so much more bearable to talk to you.”
“Thank you,” Cindy responded. “I hope what you feel about Kara is true. I still plan to go down to the drug ring and find out more about Shane. For all we know one case could lead to another.”
“Of course, I understand,” said Pete. “You’re doing what you have to, what you’re meant to do.”
Cindy was bolstered by Pete’s recognition. She was also surprised to realize how much that kind of recognition had been missing from her life for a long while now.
“Go investigate the ring if you have to,” Pete continued, “but please don’t go alone.”
“No, of course not,” said Cindy. “I’m going to ask Mattheus to come along.”
“And if for some reason Mattheus can’t go, ask me. I’d be honored to accompany you anywhere at all.” He smiled at Cindy warmly.
“Thank you,” murmured Cindy.
“I’m not just saying that either, I really mean it,” said Pete, looking at Cindy strangely.
“I appreciate the offer, Pete, I really do,” Cindy replied strongly.
“Please come back to the room and wait with Rowley and me,” Pete suggested then. “I have to get back.”
Cindy felt odd about it. She didn’t want to go back to Rowley’s room and wait for Mattheus to return. She’d learned all she needed and thought it would be better to wait for Mattheus back in their suite.
“It’s been wonderful talking to you, Pete, it really has,” said Cindy, “but it might be jarring for Mattheus to see me in the room.”
“I don’t like that,” Pete insisted. “I’ve sensed it myself, but I want you to know you’re absolutely welcome there.”
“I know you feel that way,” said Cindy.
“But Rod doesn’t?” Pete quickly asked. He was sharp and awake, aware of every nuance.
“I think Rod is more comfortable being alone with Mattheus,” Cindy said.
“Okay, that’s fair enough,” said Pete, irritated, “but how about you? You’re on a case and you need support too.”
“Yes, of course,” Cindy agreed, “and Mattheus and I will go over things in our room later.”
Pete grimaced. “You remind me of myself, Cindy, and it doesn’t feel good.”
“There’s no problem,” Cindy objected, trying to stay professional.
“Are you guys engaged?” Pete took it further.
“We were,” she said and smiled.
“Were?” Pete was startled. “Mattheus told us you’re his fiancée. Did he lie to us?”
“No, he didn’t lie,” Cindy quickly protected him. “As far as he’s concerned we’re still engaged.”
“And how about you?” Pete was startled.
“We were engaged,” Cindy repeated. “We broke things off and then we came down here to patch things together. We wanted to see where our relationship was going, what could be possible, after all.”
“My God.” Pete looked shaken. “You came down here, Kara went missing, you guys got involved, and now your relationship has gotten completely thrown off track!”
“Not quite,” Cindy answered slowly. “That’s what I also thought in the beginning. But by now I see that if something’s truly solid, no matter what happens, it can’t be thrown off track. Hard times only make the relationship stronger. Hard times bring you closer, they don’t tear you apart.”
Pete closed his eyes for a second. When he looked up at Cindy, there were tears in them.
“You’re right, Cindy,” he whispered. “You’re a wise woman, you’re beautiful, you’re brave and strong. You deserve only the best that this world can bring you.”
“Thank you,” Cindy whispered back. “The same is true for you, Pete.”
“Slowly, I’m beginning to realize that,” he murmured. “And believe it or not, you’ve helped me do so.”
“You’ve helped me too, Pete.” Cindy smiled at him before getting up to go back to her room.
CHAPTER 15
Soon after Mattheus returned to Rod’s room, he called Cindy immediately. “I
heard you dropped in while I was gone.” Mattheus sounded jarred.
“I was looking for you, Mattheus,” Cindy responded. “I need to talk to you, it’s
important.”
“Why? What’s up?” he asked.
“I was down at the police station this morning.” Cindy began to fill him in quickly.