“Hurry up now,” Holly reminded her, as Cindy ducked and walked through the low entranceway into Santos’s room.
“You’re here from the police?” was the first thing Cindy heard as she entered the room, which was so dark it was hard to make out who was in it.
Cindy wanted to play along, but she also knew that if Santos found out that she was tricking him all bets would be off.
“Cindy Blaine from C and M Investigations,” she said frankly.
At first there was a heavy silence. Then Santos piped up, “What in hell are you talking about?”
“I got your name from Abe at the department.” Cindy started talking quickly. “I’m a private detective. I need your help.”
“Need my help with what?” Santos sounded as if this was the last thing in the world he expected.
Cindy saw a figure get up out of the shadows and walk toward her. The figure was a short but stalwart Caribbean man in his mid-fifties, who moved like a little volcano.
“I’m here with my partner, Mattheus,” Cindy continued as he came closer. “We’re investigating the disappearance of Kara Flynn, the bride who went missing on her honeymoon.” Cindy decided to play it straight. It was the only way to go with someone like him.
First Santos looked relieved, then he laughed. “You’re so pretty,” he said, taking his time to look Cindy over. “Very pretty, why are you dressed like that?”
Cindy looked down at her slacks briefly. “Can you help me out?” she asked, paying no attention to his comment.
Santos laughed once again, harder. “This is so silly, it’s cheering me up. I’m glad you came to see Santos.”
“What’s silly about it?” asked Cindy.
“How do you expect me to help you? And why are you coming to me?” Santos went on quickly. “Do you know how scared people are to come to Santos?”
Thankfully, Cindy didn’t.
Obviously, he’d taken a liking to her though, and laughed again. “Why did you really come to see me?” he asked, this time curious.
Cindy had no choice but to be straightforward. “We have no leads at all in Kara’s disappearance and then this other young woman, Shane, turned up dead on the beach.”
Santos stopped smiling and looked at Cindy, his small eyes narrowing.
“You came for Kara or for the other one?” he asked, his voice thickening.
“I heard the other one, Shane, was a regular down here at the casino,” said Cindy, taking the opportunity to include her.
“Yeah, she was.” Santos nodded slowly. “She was a good girl, too, didn’t do anything wrong.”
“They found lots of drugs in her body,” Cindy continued.
Santos took a heavy step forward. “Of course.” His voice grew even thicker. “What do you think people look for down here? The drugs aren’t what killed her though, are they?”
Cindy was at a loss. “Not directly, maybe,” she said finally. “But I’m looking for a connection to what happened to her and Kara.”
Santos now leaned against the edge of the desk he’d been sitting behind.
“And why exactly are you looking for that?” he asked, clearly finding Cindy interesting.
“Just looking,” said Cindy, suddenly gazing into his eyes and feeling indescribably sad. She knew he could give her something that would help, but she had no real idea what could be in it for him or what he might want in return.
“You know, you’re a beautiful woman, Cindy.” Santos rubbed his chin, changing the topic. “Why are you doing something like this?”
Cindy was surprised by his comment. “Why do I work as a detective?”
Santos nodded, seeming almost fatherly for a moment.
“I like it,” said Cindy.
“That’s a good reason,” he answered. “And where’s this partner you mentioned before?”
Cindy felt at a sudden loss.
“You shouldn’t have come down here to see me without your partner,” Santos said, sounding oddly concerned about Cindy.
“I’m just hoping you’ll tell me something, anything that will help me understand things better,” Cindy replied.
“The best thing I could tell you,” Santos went on, “is not to come to places like this alone.”
Once again Cindy had the odd sensation that he was looking after her. “I need more than that,” she replied. “Please give me a lead.”
Santos let out a long sigh. “Like what?” He seemed fascinated.
“Do you know anything at all about Kara or Rowley?” Cindy started.
“I know everything about everyone who comes down to the island.” Santos grinned, displaying an uneven row of short teeth. “Whatever goes on, I know about it.”
“Did Kara or Rowley use drugs?” she asked quickly.
Santos laughed. “Of course they did, why wouldn’t they?” he spoke languidly.
“Both of them?” Cindy felt distressed. Rowley had told the police they didn’t.
“What are you asking me, Cindy?” Santos pressed.
“Are you aware of who sold drugs to them?” Cindy dug in.
“I’m aware of everything,” Santos drawled. “Do you actually expect me to tell you who?”