by Jaden Skye
“Hold on a minute,” a cop tried to stop Cindy as she got closer.
“I’m a detective on the case,” shouted Cindy, pushing the cop back and plunging closer, running up to the very edge of the bridge.
The edge of the bridge was surrounded by cops speaking through megaphones.
“Get down now,” one megaphone called to the desperate woman.
But why would she listen, thought Cindy as she grabbed a megaphone and put it to her lips.
“Alana, this is Cindy,” she called through it. “I’m here and I want to help you.”
It was hard to make out what Alana responded, but if you listened carefully you could.
“I’m innocent,” Alana was wailing. “I didn’t steal drugs, I didn’t kill Tara, I didn’t kill anyone. I’m not a killer. I’m a nurse.”
“She’s claiming she’s innocent,” the cop next to Cindy translated. “She’s been yelling that since we got here.”
“I believe you, Alana,” Cindy called back.
“You don’t believe me,” Alana’ voice grew more desperate. “No one believes me, no one wants to give me a chance.”
“I do,” Cindy begged through the megaphone.
“No, you don’t, you’re against me,” Alana began sobbing. “I’m innocent and no one will listen. I never stole drugs, I didn’t harm Tara or any other patient.”
“Come down, Alana,” a policeman called through another megaphone.
“I believe you, Alana,” Cindy insisted, “I truly believe you.”
“You’re lying again, I can’t trust you.” Alana’s head dropped down as her hair blew wildly in the wind.
“They all claim they’re innocent,” the cop with the megaphone near Cindy stepped closer to her.
“You’re important to us, you have important information,” Cindy’s voice grew deeper through the megaphone as she called.
Suddenly Alana raised her head and stared straight down. “You’re right, I have important information,” she shrieked in the wind at the top of her lungs, “but you’ll never get it. Not now.”
Then she spun around and without warning, flung herself off the bridge into the fierce, merciless currents below.
“Jumped! Jumped! The suspect’s jumped,” the cops announced through their megaphones as they started running together to the water’s edge.
Cindy ran with them, trembling and sobbing as she got to the water and watched the ruthless current carrying Alana with it wherever it liked.
“Suspect down, suspect down,” the megaphones resonated as Mattheus ran up beside Cindy.
“She’s dead, she’s gone,” Cindy was sobbing.
Mattheus put his strong hands on Cindy’s shoulders. “There was nothing we could do, nothing,” Mattheus said softly.
Cindy turned and buried her face in his chest. “The ocean’s taking her away,” sobbed Cindy.
“The ocean knows best,” Mattheus whispered somberly. “Who are we to hold the currents back?”
*
In a few minutes a crew of police jumped into boats and piled out onto the water searching for Alana’s body. Mattheus and Cindy got back into the police car and drove with them to the station. A terrible silence filled the car as they drove.
“I’ve seen it before,” the cop driving finally spoke. “It never makes sense.”
Mattheus held Cindy’s hand more tightly.
“Let’s hope she’s at peace now,” Mattheus said, looking at Cindy sadly.
Impossible, thought Cindy. How can someone be at peace dying that way?
The car drove a little further and parked in front of the station.
“We’ll just stay a little while,” said Mattheus as he helped Cindy out of the car. “Then we’ll go back and unwind.” Despite his trying to stay strong for Cindy, she could see that Mattheus was shaken as well. Cindy was grateful that Mattheus was there, and grateful for his being the person he was. What more could she ask for, especially at a moment like this.
*
The police station was filled with a flurry of cops and reporters all trying to sort things out.
“We hear the administrator of the Ranges Hospital, Konrad Dalskin has been fired as well,” a reporter was shooting questions at one of the policemen.
“Correct,” the officer replied.
“Fired for what?” the reporter probed.
“According to what I’ve heard,” the cop continued, “the hospital administrator’s been implicated in the drug scheme as well.”
Cindy raised her eyebrows as she listened to this story. She didn’t believe a word of it, but it certainly took the focus off Tara’s death.
“Where is the hospital administrator now?” the reporter pursued.
“Konrad is presently in custody,” the cop went on. “He’s just been informed of the death of Alana and is momentarily out of control.”
“I’ve heard the two of them were in a personal relationship,” the reporter couldn’t stop.
“That’s what we’ve heard, too,” the police confirmed it.
“Will charges be placed against him?” the reporter continued.
“That’s yet to be seen,” the policeman was growing tired of the questions.
“And what about Owen Danden, suspect in his wife’s murder?” the reporter threw the cop a left curve then.
Cindy leaned in closely to hear what he said.
“Charges against Owen Danden are being dropped,” the cop announced briskly. “We have enough on the nurse who jumped now. It’s clear she’s responsible for the death of the comatose patient as well.”
Cindy’s heart started pounding. What was clear about it? This was a trumped up story concocted to close the case and get reporters off their back.
“There’s nothing clear about it,” Cindy said to Mattheus.
“Shhhh,” Mattheus said, “it’s over. Let’s hear what else they have to say.”
The rest of the interview covered basic details. The cop was not at liberty to say when Owen would be released, but it would be very soon, most likely today.
“How does Owen feel about it?” the reporter continued.
“Elated,” the policeman reported, “vindicated. Owen praised the wonderful detective work of C and M Investigations as well.”
Cindy flushed all over when she heard that. What wonderful work was he referring to, their getting Alana killed?
“We’re coming to the finish line,” Mattheus whispered.
But the image of the current racing away with Alana’s body would not leave Cindy’s mind. Had Alana deserved a fate like that? And there was something else Alana had to tell them? What could it have been? Now they would never know.
“Okay, that about sums it up for today,” the cop held his hand up towards reporters. “We’ll have another press conference later on, when we have more information. Right now the headline is that the suspect is dead, Owen is being released and big administrative changes are coming in the hospital administration. All’s well that ends well.”
Ends well? Cindy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could he say this ended well? A young woman was dead, floating in murky waters. The man who loved her had lost everything, his beloved, his job and his grip on life. What exactly had ended well?
“Owen will most likely be released today,” Mattheus leaned closer to Cindy.
“Okay,” Cindy echoed.
“We’ll go see him at the Villa after he’s free,” said Mattheus.
“One thing after another,” Cindy murmured, dreading going back to the Villa, not wanting to see Tara’s family again.
“What are you saying?” asked Mattheus.
“I don’t know exactly, I’m just devastated,” Cindy mumbled.
“Devastation’s part of the job,” Mattheus concurred. “We’ve got to take devastation along with everything else that comes our way.”
Chapter 20
When Cindy and Mattheus entered the Villa, the family was gathered around Owen, hugging him, tal
king, sighing. Despite the awful events there was almost a sense of gaiety in the air. Tara’s brother, Hank, held onto the back of Owen’s jacket and Tara’s mother, Isabelle, clung to him fiercely. It was all she had left of her daughter now.
“Thank God, thank God you’re,” she said as Owen patted her on her back.
“It’s okay now, Isabelle, it’s okay,” Owen said, “we’ll make it through.”
“That horrible woman, that horrible nurse,” Isabelle responded. “I didn’t like her from the minute I saw her. I never trusted her.”
“Alana was a problem from the start,” Owen agreed.
“She flung herself at you, didn’t she, Owen?” Isabelle demanded.
“She was half crazed,” Owen said softly, “lots of the help down here are.”
“I didn’t see anything wrong with that nurse,” Ralph cut in. “You don’t trust anyone, Isabelle,” and he threw Owen a strange, side glance. “What about you, who do you trust, Owen?”
“Owen paid no attention to Ralph’s comment. “I kept urging the police to investigate her,” he went on. “Why did it take so long?”
But Ralph wouldn’t let it go. “What did she do? I never saw her fling herself at you!”
Owen smiled sadly then. “Alana was preoccupied most of the time and eager for the case to be over. Once she even said to me, this can’t go on forever. It’s not fair to your wife, stringing her out like this between life and death.”
“She had her right to believe that,” Ralph barked.
“She was unprofessional,” Owen insisted.
“So, why did you keep her on then?” Ralph’s face grew red.
Owen brushed his hands through his well-coiffed hair. “It wasn’t as if we had so many other choices,” he mumbled. “My entire attention had to go to Tara, not to finding new nurses or aides.”
“And why are you so upset about it, Ralph?” Isabelle jumped in. “You agreed that Tara would be better off gone than in a coma for such a long time.”
“Yes, I thought so,” Ralph replied. “But that was our decision to make, not some nurse.”
“Who said Alana made the decision?” Jenna, Tara’s sister, joined the conversation swiftly. “Who knows who egged Alana on?”
“That’s what I think,” Owen shot back. “If you ask me, it looks more and more like the hospital was involved. But Alana was part it anyway, no question about it.”
“The hospital wasn’t involved,” a raspy voice uttered as Loretta suddenly entered the room.
Cindy was stunned to see her, thought she had left Jamaica ago. Loretta still stood apart from the family, glaring at everyone.
“Come in Loretta,” Ralph tried to welcome her.
Loretta would have none of it though. “I’m in,” she quipped nastily, “I don’t have to be invited. I belong here, too. After all, it’s my mother who’s just been killed.”
A strange silence filled the room as Loretta walked in further and sidled over to Cindy and Mattheus.
“I’m sure Cindy and Mattheus know more about the case than anyone here,” Loretta continued. “Why don’t we take some time to hear from them? I’m curious if they think that Alana did it?” Then Loretta turned to Cindy, challenging her.
“I don’t know who did it,” said Cindy, honestly.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Owen was miffed. “Face it, Alana wouldn’t have jumped off the bridge if she wasn’t escaping a fate much worse than being arrested. She was in big trouble and she knew it. Life in jail probably.”
“We don’t know why she jumped,” Cindy repeated. “There’s no specific evidence.”
“Well, Cindy’s not the judge and jury in this case anyway,” Owen declared. “She’s a hired hand, a freelance detective.”
“What do you think, Loretta?” Mattheus asked, trying to deflect Owen’s burst of anger and turning towards the young woman who looked just as gaunt as she had before.
Loretta wouldn’t answer though, just stared with malice at Owen.
“How about it?” Mattheus repeated, more emphatically.
“I think my mother didn’t plan to die,” Loretta replied.
“No one plans to die,” Ralph made a sour face. “That’s a stupid thing to say.”
“Some people plan to die,” quipped Loretta, “Alana did. She went right to the bridge, had a destination.”
“Are you trying to tell us something, Loretta? Are you warning us of something?” Isabelle addressed her granddaughter nervously.
At that Loretta smiled openly. “You think I’m planning to jump? I’m not. You won’t get rid of me that easily. You don’t understand me and never will. Whatever I say, you think the worst. I’ve accepted that, Isabelle.”
“Don’t call me Isabelle,” her grandmother flushed.
“Answer your grandmother with respect, young lady,” Ralph became irate.
Owen walked over to Loretta, clearly wanting to defuse the situation.
“There’s no reason to be so bitter forever,” Owen said quietly. “I’m sure your mother would have wanted me to give you a decent inheritance dear, and I plan to.”
Loretta’s face became gnarled. “I wouldn’t take a penny from any of you,” she shot back. “That’s not what I’m here for.”
“What are you here for?” Ralph’s voice got louder.
“To get justice for my mother,” Loretta’s voice rose.
“The person who killed your mother has lost her own life,” Isabelle interceded. “Justice has been served.”
“It’s been served, Loretta,” Owen insisted, “let it go.”
Loretta spun around then, slunk to the back of the room, and planted herself down on a round, swivel chair. Then she started drumming her fingers along the edges of it.
“Well,” Mattheus took charge then, speaking to the entire group, “Cindy and I just wanted to make a final call to wish the family and Owen well.”
Owen came up and put his arm around Mattheus. “You two did a great job,” he repeated, “I’ll be eternally grateful to both of you. You kept the pressure up, smoked out the culprits.”
Mattheus nodded at him. “Thank you.”
“What’s next for the two of you?” Owen asked pleasantly then.
“Cindy and I will be leaving for the airport first thing tomorrow,” said Mattheus. “I’m glad this worked out well for you, Owen.”
“It has, thanks again,” Owen replied.
It worked out well? Owen’s comment bothered Cindy. How could it have worked out well when his wife had died? Didn’t he realize that he was returning home without her?
After a few more pleasantries, Cindy and Mattheus walked to the door and Loretta immediately dashed up behind them.
“Give me your number, please,” Loretta said to Cindy. “This minute.”
“Of course,” said Cindy, nervously. “Would you like to talk now, before we go to the hotel?”
“No, later’s better,” said Loretta. “I want to talk when we can be alone.”
*
A heavy silence fell between Cindy and Mattheus as they got into a taxi to go back to the hotel and make arrangements to leave Jamaica.
“If you want to know the truth,” Mattheus finally admitted as the taxi pulled away, “I can’t wait to get out of here and for us to finally be alone.”
Cindy nodded, distracted.
“I’ll make reservations on the first plane out of here. We can head wherever you like,” Mattheus went on.
That sounded tempting, “a little vacation?” Cindy asked, halfheartedly.
“Precisely,” Mattheus replied, delighted.
Cindy wished she could have felt delighted as well, but something was nagging at her, wouldn’t let go.
“Okay, what’s wrong? Let’s have it,” said Mattheus, picking up her mood. There was nothing Cindy could hide from him, ever.
“Let’s stay here a few days more,” Cindy suggested.
“Why?” Mattheus bristled, “the case is over. It’s wra
pped up.”
“And what if it isn’t?” asked Cindy.
“What are you talking about?” Mattheus was uneasy. “Case closed. Wrapped up.”
“I’m not ready to leave,” Cindy insisted. “Something’s unfinished, it’s bothering me.”
“Cindy,” Mattheus took her shoulders and pulled her to him. “That’s just your nature. You always feel there’s one last thing you’ve left undone. But this is it. We’re finished. They’ve released our client. I’m calling for airline tickets the second we return.”
“No, not yet, I can’t do it,” cried Cindy.
“If you want we can even go back to the States for a while,” Mattheus pleaded. “We can visit the cottage you have in Oyster Bay. I’ve always wanted to see it.”
The idea was certainly tempting to Cindy, but she couldn’t leave now even if she wanted to.
“We’ll definitely go there, but not now,” she said.
“What’s left to do here? There’s nothing to investigate,” Mattheus sounded exasperated.
Just then, thankfully, Cindy’s phone rang. She picked it up and it was Loretta.
“You guys planning to leave?” Loretta asked, frantically.
“In a little while, Loretta,” Cindy breathed.
“Don’t go yet, please. Wait for me, I have to talk to you,” Loretta pleaded.
“I’ll definitely wait,” Cindy answered promptly. “When can we meet?”
“How about in an hour at the park down the road from your hotel?” Loretta said before she hung up the phone.
“It was Loretta, she wants to talk to me,” Cindy was excited.
“Okay,” said Mattheus gathering his patience. “You go talk to Loretta in the park, when you come back I’ll order the airplane tickets. Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes, it does,” breathed Cindy.
“You’re teaching me how to be a patient man, Cindy,” Mattheus exclaimed. “If I didn’t love you so much, it would drive me crazy.”
“Don’t let it drive you crazy,” smiled Cindy. “Just become more and more patient and keep loving me.”
“That’s a deal,” said Mattheus, “I definitely will.”