by Jaden Skye
“Like who?”
Elizabeth looked at Cindy cryptically. “Why should I spill my guts to Dalia’s friend? Your old school-buddy stole my husband from me. She took my son’s father away. ”
“I heard that Ames was a devoted father,” Cindy interjected, “and that he took very good care of you.”
The music playing in the background got louder as they spoke. It mixed with the sound of the ocean and started to make Cindy’s head swim. She shook herself quickly, to stay sharp and clear.
“Yes, it’s true,” Elizabeth said, “Ames was a good father to Brad. He and I stayed in close touch because of that. If it wasn’t for Brad, I don’t think he would have looked at me twice. He’d had enough, so he threw me away. ”
“What went wrong in your marriage?” asked Cindy.
“You’re pretty bold, you know,” said Elizabeth. “You think I should sit here and tell you what went wrong with me and Ames? Dalia is what went wrong. She went for him like a barracuda the second she laid eyes on him. Ames loved women, he had a wandering eye. On his own, he didn’t do anything unless someone else made a move. If someone else did, he was weak and rotten,” her tone turned contemptuous. “Like every other guy on this island.”
Quite a statement, Cindy thought. “You’ve been dating a lot of them?” Cindy asked.
“Of course. Why shouldn’t I date? I’m a great catch, too, and don’t think they don’t know it. Ames left me very well set. ”
Cindy shivered, suddenly realizing that Elizabeth never once said she missed Ames or was worried about what happened to him.
“Do you miss him?” Cindy asked.
At that she froze up. “That’s a hell of a stupid question,” she said. “Do you miss someone who treated you like dirt?”
The waiter brought their lunches then, soup, salad, and little sandwiches, served on bamboo dishes. Elizabeth dug into her lunch with ferocity, not looking up as she ate.
“You talking to the cops down here, too?” she asked, as she chewed her sandwich.
“I’ve met Mattheus and Sand,” Cindy said.
Elizabeth looked up and winked. “Some hunk, that Mattheus! Don’t get any ideas though— he’s not available. ”
Cindy flinched. Why in the world would Elizabeth think she’d get any ideas about Mattheus? The idea disturbed her. But she couldn’t let personal feelings get in the way. She had to find out what Elizabeth meant.
“Is Mattheus married?” Cindy asked.
Elizabeth smiled. “I don’t know if you really are naïve or it’s just part of your weird cover. You think because a guy’s married it necessarily means he’s unavailable? Think again. Mattheus is not married, he’s just not available. Period. Ames, on the other hand, was available to everyone, although your friend Dalia refuses to believe it. Another idiot. Eat your food, it’s getting cold. You don’t seem the least bit like a detective and this whole lunch is creeping me out. ”
Cindy looked at the food on her plate, but couldn’t eat a bite. Her appetite had completely gone. What was Elizabeth saying? Had she tried to date Mattheus and been rejected? Why wasn’t he available? Cindy wondered about both him and Ames.
“So, Ames went with lots of other women?” Cindy asked bluntly.
“Naturally,” Elizabeth shrugged. “It was common knowledge.”
“But not to Dalia?”
“Dalia lives in a world of her own. Don’t ask me about her— I don’t like her and have almost nothing to do with her, except for my son. She and Ames took him at times. She was nice enough to my son, that’s all I cared about. ”
“So, you and Ames stayed close?”
“I told you, I wouldn’t call it close,” said Elizabeth. “We stayed in touch because of our son. We were civil to each other. He was guilt ridden, so he gave me whatever he had. You know, Dalia was quite rich too, when he married her. She had a big settlement from her last husband. That made a difference to Ames. ”
“He needed her money?”
“I wouldn’t say needed,” said Elizabeth, “but it came in handy, plenty of times. He used it for his business. Those cargo ships take a lot of cash. And he liked the big lifestyle, Yacht Clubs and stuff. I’m sure her settlement helped with that also. He never belonged to a Yacht Club when we were married. Who knows what he really married her for? ”
Cindy tapped her fingers on the table. She felt anxious and unsettled, not knowing how much to believe about the discrepancies between what Elizabeth and Dalia were telling her.
“Your friend Dalia is odd,” said Elizabeth. “Everyone on the island knows that. She’s beautiful, but odd too. She only sees what she wants to - especially about Ames. That could have gotten pretty nerve wracking for him, too. Maybe that’s why he took up with others. ” Then she finished every last bite, left on her plate, practically licking the crumbs clean.
Cindy could see she was almost finished talking. She wanted to get one last question in before Elizabeth shut down.
“Who was Ames seeing before he disappeared?” Cindy managed to ask.
“Go talk to Dalia’s precious assistant Nina and find out for yourself.”
“Nina knows?” Cindy was flabbergasted.
Elizabeth seemed to enjoy Cindy’s consternation. “You’re pretty stupid for a detective,” she said. “It figures that Dalia would bring someone like you down.”
Cindy felt the blood rush to her face. Elizabeth probably enjoyed goading everyone, bringing out the worst in them.
Cindy took a long sip of her drink then.
Elizabeth leaned closer. “I didn’t say that Nina knows who Ames was sleeping with. I’m saying he was sleeping with her. ”
Cindy felt the drink burn in her throat. Nina? Dalia’s best friend.
“Nina and Ames shacked up late at night all the time, right in the gallery,” Elizabeth said. “Ames was like that. He liked them young and he liked his love a little bit weird. ”
“How do you know?” Cindy stiffened and looked at her from a distance, trying to sift out truth from fantasies and lies.
“I know a lot more than you give me credit for,” Elizabeth quipped. “Everyone thinks I’m some kind of decadent broad, indulging myself night and day. That’s the rap about me. But I have my ways of finding out stuff, and honey, you’ll wise up soon, spending time on this island. And you’ll see that everyone is wrong. ”
CHAPTER 7
Cindy felt shaken during the cab ride home to Dalia’s place. Elizabeth was a tough customer. She had a lot at stake in the situation and Cindy wouldn’t put it past her to play with her mind, make up lies, lead her down useless trails. When the cab pulled up to the door, Dalia was outside, waiting for her.
As Cindy got out of the cab, Dalia rushed over to her, anxious.
“She’s something isn’t she?” said Dalia. “You stayed longer than I thought you would.”
“Yes,” Cindy said, “quite an afternoon.”
They walked together into the house.
“Did rotten Elizabeth say something nasty about me or Nina? It’s par for the course. Don’t believe it. She jealous of everything about me, has to take everything down. ”
They went into the living room and Cindy sat across from Dalia on the lovely, printed upholstered loveseats that were in a corner, under trellised windows.
There was no way she could let her Dalia down, especially after the doubt that had been planted in her mind about Ames. How awful it would be if it were true. The idea of mentioning it to Dalia was painful to Cindy.
Cindy sipped her coffee slowly. “Do you really love living here?” she said.
“Of course I love it,” said Dalia, “I told you that. From the minute I got here. Have you ever been to a more beautiful place? ”
Cindy had to admit that she hadn’t.
“Once you get used to living here, no other place in the world will do.”
“You’re right, it’s beautiful,” Cindy repeated. “More beautiful than I could have ever imagined.” But deep d
own, she was beginning to sense the other side of the island, the shadiness of the people and the lives they lived. There was heartlessness about it.
“Don’t let that bitch sour you on the island,” Dalia said. “Tell me what she told you.” And she crossed her arms and leaned back, focusing intently on what Cindy said.
Cindy knew it was part of the arrangement that she would report to Dalia whatever she learned from each interview. But right now, she didn’t want to. There was no reason to stir the flames and upset Dalia even more. There was no way she was going to tell her what Elizabeth had said about Ames.
“She talked about what a good father Ames is,” Cindy started, “and about her marriage to him.”
“What did she say?” Elizabeth grew more nervous.
“She said it was good, that they’d been happy.”
“Of course she would say that. What do you expect? She covers her trail wherever she goes. ” Dalia’s lips were pressed together. “Tell me more.”
Cindy took a deep breath. “She’s dating.”
Dalia made an odd sound. “That’s no news,” she said, “except I’m not exactly sure I would call it dating: She’s a nympho, everyone in town knows that.”
Cindy was taken aback. “Really?”
“It’s popular knowledge. Tries to get her hands on every guy in town. ”
That would explain what she’d said about Mattheus, Cindy thought.
“Yes,” Cindy said, “she mentioned Mattheus wasn’t available.”
At that Dalia grinned. “She probably tried to get him to bed, too. He’s got better sense than that. He’s a decent guy. People here respect him. He keeps to himself. He has character. ”
Cindy was glad to finally hear that someone was decent.
“Tell me more,” Dalia probed.
Cindy wondered exactly what she was digging for.
“Did she talk about her finances now?” Dalia finally asked.
“She said Ames left her well set,” said Cindy. “There’s no financial motive there. And she also said that you were quite rich, that you’d given Ames quite a bit of money yourself. ”
Dalia turned pale at that. “How did she know that?”
“Seems like Ames told her?” Cindy said.
Dalia stood up abruptly, upset. Obviously, she had not known that Ames told Elizabeth that.
“That was private,” Dalia said then, in a piercing voice, her back to Cindy. “I had no idea Ames told her that.”
“Maybe someone else did?” said Cindy.
“No, Ames was the only one who knew.” Then she stomped her foot on the floor. “How dare he tell her that?”
Cindy swallowed hard. That was the least of it, she thought. How would Dalia handle the rest of the stuff Elizabeth had said about him? It would crush her.
Cindy suddenly remembered back to the days in high school when Dalia would go over her situation with guys, devastated, asking Cindy over and over why things had gone wrong? What happened? Cindy never had an answer then, and wondered if she’d be able to have one now.
“I’d love to see your gallery now,” Cindy said then, wanting to cheer Dalia up. She knew Dalia had been excited to show it to her, and it would also serve Cindy’s purpose of getting to see Nina.
“Did Elizabeth say something nasty about that, also?” Dalia asked, turning around.
“No, she didn’t,” said Cindy. “Remember you said you’d take me there and show it to me, after I met her?”
“Of course I remember,” Dalia said then, a surge or pride returning to her at the thought of it. “Come on, let’s go.”
CHAPTER 8
The art gallery was located on one of the main streets in town, down the road from a large hotel. There was a totally different feeling here than Cindy had experienced elsewhere on the island. It was bustling. The street was colorful, filled with people, local shops, the smell of delicious food wafting from street side cafes, music and the sounds of people having a good time.
As the afternoon had grown later, the heat of the sun had begun to fade and a refreshing breeze drifted over Cindy and Dalia.
“This is one of my favorite spots in the world,” Dalia said as they approached the gallery. “Not only my gallery, but the street. I love the commotion. ”
Cindy smiled. She was glad to see Dalia in good spirits.
They crossed the street and went into the gallery, which was in a low, wood slatted building. The door had bells on it that rang as they opened it and walked in. Incredible paintings, in intense colors filled the walls, dazzling the eyes as soon as you entered.
“Wow,” said Cindy. “What a collection.”
Dalia smiled broadly. “I represent the best artists around. And some from other islands, too. This place is well known. It’s been written up. The paintings sell for lots of money. ”
“I’m honored to be here,” said Cindy.
“Let me show you around,” Dalia continued.
Down at the end of the main gallery were other large rooms. Some had more paintings on the walls, others had shelves with pottery, a big section for sculpture, and another section for handmade objects the locals produced. It was an incredible experience being here, filled with the fullness of life and its expression.
Dalia then took her to the back of gallery.
“The kitchen’s back here. We serve tea regularly, and at openings, cheese, crackers, fruit, cookies. This room next to the kitchen is a bedroom. Sometimes Nina sleeps here at night. She works such long hours at times, it’s convenient. ”
Just then, a young, beautiful, curvy woman, dressed in a tight dress, with creamy sand colored skin, giant eyes and full lips, stepped over to her and extended her hand.
“Cindy, this is Nina,” said Dalia.
“Hi, Nina,” Cindy said brightly. She was doing her best not to think of what Elizabeth had told her about her and Ames. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard wonderful things about you from Dalia. ”
Nina smiled brightly, showing a set of pearl white teeth. She was beautiful and she knew it. She had no trouble claiming it either, or being who she was.
“Thank you so much,” said Nina. “Dalia is the best. She always says wonderful things about me. ”
Dalia smiled graciously. “Let’s make some tea for my friend,” she said to Nina.
The three of them walked to the kitchen and sat on little stools, while Nina brewed tea.
“So, do you spend very long hours here? “Cindy asked Nina lightly.
“Very Nina smiled. “But I love every one of them. The work here is beautiful and I meet amazing people. ”
“Nina is originally from another island, close,” Dalia said. “This has been a fantastic opportunity for her. And for me, as well. ”
“How fortunate for you both,” Cindy smiled.
“Do you have your own place as well?” Cindy asked.
“Of course I do,” said Nina, “about fifteen minutes away. And, sometimes I stay here, too. If it’s very late and I’m tired. ”
“The place stays open very late?” Cindy asked.
“No,” said Nina. “I stay late sometimes when there’s lots of paperwork to do.”
Dalia looked at Nina proudly, as if she were a daughter. “Nina’s such a hard worker,” Dalia said.
The tea in the pot boiled lightly and Nina got up and served them.
As Cindy sipped the tea there were endless questions she wanted to ask her. It didn’t seem hard to talk to her either; Nina seemed like an open book.
“I’ll leave you here to talk for a bit.” Dalia said, “I have a few things to do in town.”
Then she got up and went to the door.
“Tell my friend everything you can think of, Nina,” Dalia said over her shoulder, as she was leaving.
When Dalia left, Nina ran her hands through her hair, her bright smile fading.
“It’s a terrible time for all of us. I try to be cheerful for her. She’s a wonderful person, gives me everything — work
, money, a business. She treats me like a daughter. ”
“I noticed that,” said Cindy. “Can you tell me more about what’s been going on down here? Anything you can think of. ”
Nina seemed happy and relieved to talk.
“Dalia’s better now that you’re here,” she started. “But right after it happened, it was terrible. She was so depressed the first few weeks after Mr. Ames disappeared, I thought she would kill herself. ”
That frightened Cindy. “Why? What did she say? ”
“It’s not what she said,” said Nina. “She couldn’t get up out of bed, didn’t come into the gallery. When she finally did, she’d wander around like a ghost. I told her things would get better, but it didn’t look like she believed me. I never saw her so helpless before. ”
Cindy remembered those early days, how helpless she felt in the face of such a shock.
“Did she actually say she wanted to kill herself?” Cindy probed. She could understand having feelings like that, when everything seemed so desolate.
“She told me your husband went missing too.”
A pang of memory hit her hard again, then. Cindy remembered the long trip home on the plane without Clint. Even though they brought the body back, Cindy felt his spirit was still on the island. .
“Did it take a long time for him to come home?” Nina asked unsuspectingly.
“He didn’t come home,” Cindy said slowly.
“Oh I’m so sorry.”
“He was murdered down on the island.”
“My God,” Nina said.
“That’s always a possibility here, too,” said Cindy.
Nina shivered. “I can’t let myself think that way,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. I wouldn’t be able to work during the day. ”
“Were you and Ames close?” It was hard for Cindy getting the words out.
“Of course,” said Nina, innocently, “very good friends. I do my best to be friends with everyone. ”
“Nina,” Cindy put her hand out then, stopping her banter. This was important and she needed to impress that upon Nina. “Listen, carefully.”