Mattheus and Cindy left the police station together. She got into his car, sat as far away from him as possible, and looked out the window, as he started to drive.
“I’ll take you to the waterfall first,” Mattheus said as he pulled away. “It’s right near the place where Ames’ boat was found.”
“Good,” said Cindy, “I’d like to see it.” Cindy had always loved waterfalls. “The boat was the only piece of evidence?” she went on.
He turned his head and looked at her then, the first time since they’d gotten into the car. “I wouldn’t exactly call it evidence,” he said. “What’s it evidence of? Nothing that would hold up in court. ”
Enough was enough. She took a deep breath. “Listen, I’m not the enemy here,” she said.
Mattheus smiled then, and flipped the radio on. “Sorry.”
A calypso song came on, easing the tension between them. “We’re all frustrated by this. It’s been a hard few weeks,” he said. “And we all knew and loved the guy. He wasn’t a stranger to any of us. ”
“I’m sorry,” said Cindy. “I’m sure it’s been awful.” She remembered the horror of the early days after Clint disappeared.
He turned his attention back to the road that sprawled out in front of them, weaving through trees, around hills, along the water and lagoons.
When they weren’t talking, it was an incredibly peaceful and beautiful drive. Cindy breathed the warm, salty air deeply and closed her eyes for a second to let the soothing air wash over her.
“Ames was a great guy,” Mattheus said then, loosening up a little and breaking the stiffness between them.
“W
as
a great guy. You’re sure he’s dead? ”
“After twenty one days, it’s hard to think anything else,” said Mattheus, unwinding as he spoke. “Listen, we’re all bummed that we haven’t gotten any more leads. Don’t think we haven’t tried. We’ve busted our chops. ”
“I’m sure of it,” Cindy said warmly, looking over, and seeing the upset on his face.
“I have my theories, of course,” he said, as they pulled up to a huge turn in the road, then down a valley to the edge of a gigantic, magnificent waterfall, surrounded by rocks and wild flowers. But then the sound of the roaring water enveloped them completely. It was hard to hear anything they said.
“This is fantastic,” Cindy called out above the roar.
Mattheus laughed. “Thought you’d like it. Visitors are always awed by this spot. ”
“Come on,” he said, “let’s walk around the edge of the fall. We searched this spot for days on end. Lots of people thought that either his body or his things would float up here. It didn’t happen”.
Cindy and Mattheus got out of the car and walked carefully along the rim of the waterfall. The sound of the falls grew louder and deeper as warm, salty water sprayed their faces. They circled along the edge until they found a wooden landing to sit on. Then Mattheus extended his hand for a second to pull Cindy up. She took his hand to help balance her.
Once on the landing, it was quieter and easier to talk.
“It’s really beautiful here,” breathed Cindy.
Mattheus looked down into the falls. “Ames loved it. He came here all the time, even before his first marriage to Elizabeth. ”
Cindy was interested to hear something new. “You knew him a long time?”
“Yeah, very long,” Mattheus said, “since I moved here about eight years ago.”
Cindy felt curious about where Mattheus came from and why he moved down, but didn’t want to get off focus. “Was Ames’s first marriage terrible?” Cindy asked.
Mattheus smiled slowly and threw back his head. “It wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t perfect. It went the way most marriages go, somewhere in between. Times of happiness, times of misery and times of just, plain boredom. ”
Cindy wondered if Mattheus was married, or ever had been. He seemed like a fiercely independent loner, smart, craggy, tough but also, oddly, caring. She could feel his fondness for Ames.
“I’m sorry you lost your friend, “Cindy said.
“Thanks,” said Mattheus, “But Ames wasn’t exactly a friend. I’d say an acquaintance I ran into a lot. He made an impression. Came from a lousy, rotten background and pulled himself up by the bootstraps. ”
Cindy didn’t want to waste any more time. “What do you think happened to him?” she asked pointedly.
Mattheus turned to her swiftly, his clear blue eyes looking directly into hers.
“It’s not exactly the popular viewpoint, but I think he took off with someone else.”
Cindy was shocked. “With who?”
“That, I’m not sure of.”
“Dalia told me the two of them had a great marriage,” Cindy said, her heart beating faster.
“It’s true, they did,” said Mattheus. “He cared for Dalia very much, she’s beautiful and magnetic. But that doesn’t mean someone else couldn’t creep into the picture as well. It happens all the time. ”
That thought filled Cindy with sadness for Dalia.
“Do you have any ideas about who it could be?” Cindy tried her best to sound matter of fact about it.
“I have some ideas,” he said, “but I’m not sure.” Mattheus rubbed his hand over the wooden bark they were sitting on. He saw that his statement had upset Cindy.
“This is a rough business you’re drifting into,” he said bluntly. “It isn’t pretty, it isn’t happy. You see things about people you wished you never saw. Happily married guys go off with other women all the time. Especially down here, where there’s a huge selection, beautiful women of all countries, races, classes. Any guy can have his pick. ”
Cindy swallowed sharply and wondered if Mattheus lived his life that way, too. He seemed so comfortable with the idea of it.
“That’s unfortunate,” Cindy replied sharply.
Mattheus laughed out loud, “Unfortunate? Some guys would say the opposite. ”
“And what would you say?” Cindy asked, pointedly, looking right at him.
“I’d say it’s each man for himself. Up to him. I don’t sit here in judgment. That’s not my job. ”
Cindy felt momentarily stung. “I don’t sit in judgment, either,” she retorted.
Mattheus cocked his head to the side and grinned. “Now, why do I think that’s not necessarily true?” he said. “Could it be because your lovely face is flushing beet red?”
Cindy felt her face flush even more.
Mattheus leaned a little closer. “Listen, I don’t want to upset you or anything,” he said.
“Who said I’m upset?” said Cindy. “Seems like you take a lot for granted.”
“Okay, okay,” he said. “So, what’s next on your plan?”
“After I meet with you, there’s a lot of people I need to interview.”
He smiled and his nose crinkled. Cindy suddenly saw what he must have looked like as a little boy, playful, mischievous.
“I’ll give you a tip,” he suddenly offered. “Interview his first wife, Elizabeth next.”
Cindy was grateful, and also surprised. “Any special reason?”
“She was close to Ames right up to the end. She’s a complicated lady. ”
“Well, thanks,” said Cindy.
“And after you speak to her, come back and talk to me. I’ll help you sort it through. ”
Cindy had no idea what it was that softened him up, or made him change his mind.
“I appreciate that,” she said.
“Nothing personal,” he said. “This place is tricky. It can turn dangerous in a second. We don’t need anyone else turning up dead. ”
Elizabeth didn’t sound thrilled to hear from Cindy. But she wasn’t being difficult either. She told Cindy to meet her at the spa at Magniffe Hotel early in the afternoon.
“Just come,” said Elizabeth briskly. “The hotel’s at the southernmost tip of the island. When you get to the hotel have them page me. They know me well. I’ll be there all day and you can ask me any questions you have. ” Then she hung up.
At least she didn’t say no, thought Cindy.
When Cindy mentioned to Dalia that she was going to see Elizabeth the next day, Dalia frowned.
“Where are you going to meet her, at the spa?” Dalia asked.
“How did you know?”
“Elizabeth’s main occupation is indulging herself,” Dalia said. “She’s always getting massages, soaking in the hot tubs, lying in the sun. All she cares about is herself. Ames’s son Brad’s is left at home, being raised by the help. It bothers Ames a lot. ”
That was the first time Cindy heard about anything that bothered Ames. “What does he do about it?” she asked.
“What can he do? Nothing,” said Dalia. “Just gives her more and more money whenever she pulls a trip on him.”
“Guilt money?” asked Cindy.
Dalia stopped what she was doing and looked pained.
“What’s there for him to feel guilty about? He gave her everything, held nothing back. She had it better than most married women. Me, I work,” said Dalia proudly. “When you get back from talking to Elizabeth, I’ll take you to my gallery. It’s thriving. I put hours in, find the best artists, make space for local handcrafts, have the best sculpture collection in town. People love it there, they respect me. ”
“That’s wonderful,” said Cindy, eager to see the gallery.
“You don’t see me running to spas all the time,” Dalia said, edgy. “Ames would never love me as much as he does, if I did. He respects my drive and success. That’s another thing I adore about him. My other husbands needed to squash me, control my every move. ”
Cindy remembered how Dalia used to say that about the guys she dated in high school, too - how they wanted to squash and possess her - the very same thing. Fortunately, Cindy had never experienced that with a man. Clint, especially, encouraged and inspired her. And she had inspired him. They’d shared their dreams with each other and helped find ways to make those dreams come true. But their dream of a long life together had been swiftly taken from them. There was no way Cindy could ever help with that again.
“Do you want me to drive you to the spa, or do you want to take a taxi?” Dalia asked, jittery.
“A taxi is perfect, “Cindy said. There was no reason Dalia should have to deal with the possibility of running into Elizabeth, especially now.
*
Magniffe Hotel, located on the secluded Pink Gin Beach, was set in an enclave of tropical gardens, surrounded by sea on three sides. Famous for providing a holiday of rejuvenation, it emphasized in all its brochures that pleasure was the way to achieve body and mind harmony.
As Cindy drove up, she was struck by the resort’s extraordinary beauty, with three pools, a nine hole golf course, and an architectural design that was breathtaking. Elizabeth said Cindy could find her at the s Spa. This was a strange place to look for clues to a missing person, Cindy thought, nestled among such opulence, luxury and sensual delights.
As soon as Cindy entered the hotel, she was greeted warmly. They paged Elizabeth, and had a smiling employee lead her directly to the spa.
The spa was luxurious, soothing and inviting, decorated with a Spanish influence. Cindy was taken to a private room where Elizabeth was stretched out on a table, surrounded by an Oriental screen, vases of fresh flowers, and a pungent aroma wafting through the air. She was lying face down on a massage table, hot stones lining her back. Next to her table was a bronze antique chair.
“Sit down,” Elizabeth murmured, when Cindy walked in. She kept her face buried downwards on the table as she spoke, not even lifting it a little bit.
“Thanks for seeing me,” Cindy said, sitting beside her. Cindy felt like she was intruding upon sacred time. “I’d be glad to wait until your treatment is over,” Cindy said. “My treatment is never over,” Elizabeth muttered. “And I don’t like being rushed. I’m not even sure what you’re doing down here on the island? Someone said you’re one of Dalia’s old friends. ”
“Yes, I am,” said Cindy.
“How can you be objective, then? I’d say off the bat that there was a conflict of interest here. ”
Clearly, Elizabeth was looking for a fight, but Cindy wouldn’t take the bait. There was no reason to; it would be counter-productive. Instead, she simply sat beside Elizabeth quietly, waiting for her to calm down. It had to be rough on her, too. After all, she and Ames had been married and they had a son.
Neither Elizabeth nor Cindy said anything for a while.
“Maybe you’re right,” Elizabeth said, finally. “Let me finish this treatment and then I’ll meet you outside. We can go to Oscar’s and talk. You’ll like it there. It’s right on the beach. ”
“Sounds perfect,” said Cindy, getting up and stepping outside.
It felt good to be away from Elizabeth, even for a few minutes. Cindy sat in a lovely waiting alcove, filled with plants and magazines.
In a little while, Elizabeth walked outside and joined her. She looked crisp and well oiled, in shorts and a silk blue shirt. Her dark hair was loose around her shoulders and big sunglasses covered her eyes. She had carved features and was thin, taut and groomed.
Cindy stood up when she walked into the waiting room, and extended her hand.
Elizabeth did not take it. “Let’s go,” she said quickly. “I want to get this over with.”
*
Diamond Beach Bar in the hotel was right on the water, and lively, with live jazz in the background and the sound of soft waves lapping at the shore. Elizabeth was obviously well known here, and as soon as they walked in, they were given a front table, practically on the sand.
“It’s gorgeous,” said Cindy, looking around
“Everything here is gorgeous,” Elizabeth replied, “you’ll get used to it soon and won’t even notice. It becomes just a matter of course. ” Then she picked up a menu and looked it over briefly. “Decide what you want. It’s on me. ”
“Thanks,” said Cindy.
“Nothing to thank me for,” Elizabeth shrugged. After the two of them had ordered, Elizabeth leaned back in her chair and took off her glasses. She had large, dark eyes that looked somewhat haunted.
“Okay, so what do you want from me?” Elizabeth asked. “Everybody wants something.”
“I’m trying to get a new point of view about the case,” Cindy said slowly. “I’m sure you’ve already been interviewed a lot.”
“A lot,” said Elizabeth, “and it all amounted to nothing.”