by Jaden Skye
Mattheus pulled his daughter to him. “This can’t go on,” he exclaimed. “I won’t allow it.”
Andrea seemed fascinated. “And just what are you going to do?”
“There’s a lot we can do, and we have to,” Mattheus started thinking quickly. “One day this guy could really hurt you. We can’t let it go on.”
“You’re living in dreamland,” Andrea answered, sounding strangely like her mother for a second. “This is how local guys treat women down here. It would take a miracle to stop him.”
“We don’t need a miracle. There are other ways,” Mattheus murmured.
Andrea sat up straighter then. “Oh yeah? Like what? Give me a hint,” she said, oddly excited. “Don’t think I haven’t thought about it myself, over and over.”
Mattheus fell strangely quiet then, thinking about what could be done, as a large bird swept closely overhead, howling into the dark night.
Chapter 5
Even though it was a frosty morning, Cindy and Ann bundled up with scarves and warm jackets and walked along the water at the local beach. It was fun to be here with Ann, feeling the wind on her face, moving briskly. The past few days had been jammed pack and Cindy had enjoyed the activity. As Ann had predicted, the interview at the newspaper was interesting and stimulating. Cindy liked everyone she met there and they were definitely impressed with her. They were offering her a tremendous opportunity to write her own column on crime, track down the people who made a difference and cases that needed attention. It actually sounded so interesting that Cindy had a hard time not just taking it on.
“I just need a few days to think it over,” Cindy had told Al’s friend Hal.
“Sure, you can have a few days,” Hal agreed, “but we want to get going on this as soon as possible. Any questions you have?”
Cindy had asked a few more questions and he answered them fully. She told him she’d get back to him in a couple of days and he seemed satisfied with that.
Ann stopped walking and grabbed Cindy’s hands, “So, let me know,” she finally said, “what are you going to do about the paper? The suspense is terrible. Are you taking the job?”
Cindy laughed at the abrupt way that Ann broached the topic.
“Probably,” Cindy quipped.
“Probably?” Ann’s eyebrows rose. “Well, that’s better than definitely not. I was hoping for a Yes, I’m thrilled.”
Cindy laughed. “Well, I am thrilled to be back here right now. Everything’s about it is great, except for Clint’s family.”
“Forget about Clint’s family,” Ann’s face clenched. “I’m truly sorry I set up the meeting between you and Marge. I’m truly sorry I let her into the house.”
“It’s okay, Ann, it’s not your fault,” Cindy quickly countered. “You meant the best.”
“I did,” said Ann, uneasy.
“You had no way of knowing she was playing you, too. But I warned you about it,” Cindy commented.
“Yes, you did,” Ann said somberly, “and I’m sorry, I really am.”
Ann had arranged for a meeting between Cindy and Marge the day after the welcome home party. Marge had arrived looking lovely and happy, quite different from the way Cindy remembered. Probably because she was now divorced from Ralph, Cindy’s thought initially.”You look great, Marge,” Cindy had offered when Marge walked in.
“So do you,” Marge seemed equally surprised to see how put together Cindy seemed.
“Everyone’s wondered what in the world’s really become of you since Clint died and you’ve stayed down in the Caribbean. We all heard that you had a partner. Pretty quick, if you asked me.”
Ann had come out to the living room then with a tray carrying two cups of coffee and tiny pastries.
Both Cindy and Ann took their cups of coffee and sat down on the sofa.
“Yes, I have been working with a business partner,” Cindy replied formally.
Marge’s eyebrows raised and a little smile crossed her face. “Really, just a business partner? People have said he’s much more than that.”
“What people?” Cindy was irritated. Marge had always thrown daggers at her. Seems it was a family sport.
Now Marge shrugged, “Just people,” she countered. “People who have been following your adventures closely, reading about you in the papers. There’s a bunch of them here in Cove Bay, you know.”
For a moment Cindy’s heart fluttered in fear. But she quickly regrouped, there was no reason for it. Marge always enjoyed casting innuendos, creating uneasiness.
“Well, people say all kinds of things, don’t they?” Cindy had answered non-commit ally.
“In fact, people have even been wondering why in the world you’ve come back?” Marge looked at her boldly. “You would think this house had too many memories for you.”
Cindy blanched. “This house has good memories for me, Marge,” she’d answered briskly.
“Good?” Marge seemed amazed.
“Clint and I spent wonderful times here before he was killed,” Cindy said softly. “His things are here and it’s good to be back with him.”
“His things are here, but he’s not,” Marge quickly shut down Cindy’s reverie. “And I can’t imagine that you’d ever bring your new partner here either, would you?”
Cindy smelled something coming became alert and quieted down. “What’s on your mind, Marge?” she asked bluntly.
“Well, it’s actually odd that you’ve returned,” Marge started, “because Al and I were going to contact you, anyhow.”
“About what?” asked Cindy, warning bells going off.
“About this house,” Marge was blunt. “We want it back in the family, just like we wanted it before.”
“Want it back?” the words stuck in Cindy’s throat. “You never had it. The house belonged to Clint and me. We found it, we bought it, we lived here and fixed it up.”
“Your name was never on the deed,” Marge retorted. “And you weren’t mentioned in Clint’s will.”
“The house was in Clint’s name. I was his legal wife and now the house automatically belongs to me. He never updated his will. Whoever thought he’d have to?”
“You were his legal wife for about a week,” Marge retorted, her face flushing.
“What are you trying to tell me?” Cindy demanded, standing up and putting her coffee cup down on the table.
Marge hadn’t hesitated a moment. “Sell the house back to the family. We’ll pay you for it. We want to give it to Clint’s son, to come to and visit. It’s only right that he be near us so he’ll get to know his father’s family. He’s all we have left of Clint.”
Cindy was aghast. Where was this coming from? Had Marge been in touch with Heather? Clint had a son with an old girlfriend, Heather, but never knew about the child. Heather had married someone else before the child was born and told her husband the boy belonged to him. Cindy had only found out about all this after Clint had died. Al had known about it though, had he told Marge? Had she known all along, as well?
“Have you been in touch with Heather?” Cindy asked, horrified.
“Yes, I have,” Marge answered, proudly.
“What about Heather’s husband?” Cindy insisted. “Does he want to come here too?”
“They’re divorced now,” Marge replied quickly, “Heather’s a single parent, just like me. Nothing lasts long, does it, Cindy?”
Cindy stared at Marge, wounded. Obviously Marge and Heather had teamed up, become friendly and joined forces against her.
“Heather’s son is my nephew,” Marge insisted. “We want him to be close to us.”
“And what about Heather?” asked Cindy. “She wants to live here now?”
“Not live here, but she’s agreed to visit, spend time down here with the family as much as she can. She likes the idea. And while she’s down here, you better believe, I’m introducing her to every available guy I know.”
Cindy’s head began spinning. She wasn’t ready to give up the house, let go of
her last connection with Clint. The cottage had become a safe haven for her, a place to return to and re-group.
“There are other places nearby the family could purchase,” Cindy replied, “plenty of them.”
“Why should this cottage make such a big difference to you?” Marge became more boisterous. “You have a new boyfriend. Everyone knows it. You can’t bring him here where Clint grew up. Absolutely, no way. If you dare tried, there’s be trouble.”
Cindy was amazed. From the day they’d met her Clint’s entire family had been set on getting rid of her, and it was still going on now. They still blamed her for their son’s death.
Marge stood up and confronted Cindy. “I’m not married to Ralph anymore,” she announced, “but the family has a bunch of good lawyers. “
“Including Al?” Cindy asked.
“What about Al?” Marge got nervous.
Al had to know the family wanted the house, thought Cindy. Is that why he tried to set Cindy up with a job in Manhattan? Was he hoping she’d get an apartment there also, meet new people, get out of Cove Bay and out of their lives?
“If you don’t let us purchase this place from you at a price we decide on, we’ll go to court and take it away,” Marge said roughly.
“Thanks for the head’s up, Marge,” Cindy said slowly. “But I’m not ready to let it go.”
“Who cares whether or not you’re ready?” Marge’s lips pursed tight. “Clint had a family who wasn’t ready to lose him, either. How about thinking of us once in a while?”It seemed that none of them would rest until they’d gotten rid of Cindy, never had to see her again.
Cindy turned her back as Marge jumped up, raced to the foyer, grabbed her coat and let herself promptly out of the door.
*
The waves kept lapping up onto the shore as Cindy and Ann resumed walking. Cindy had been so lost in the memory of what had happened between her and Marge that she hadn’t been listening to Ann’s chatter.
“Cindy, are you listening to me?” Ann was talking loudly now over the waves, trying to get Cindy’s attention.
“Actually, I was just thinking of what had happened between me and Marge,” Cindy responded.
“Well, forget it, already. Clint’s family are nuts,” Ann proclaimed. They always have been, and they can’t affect you anymore.”
Cindy wasn’t so sure about that.
“You’re here to start a new life,” Ann insisted. “Did you see how many people came to the party to welcome you home?”
There was a group who welcomed her home and a group who wanted her out of here as well, thought Cindy as her cell phone started chiming, announcing a call.
Cindy picked it up, curious to see who was calling and wanting to take a break from her conversation with Ann.
“Hello,” Cindy answered.
A man’s, low, garbled voice responded on the other end, “Cindy?”
Cindy had no idea who it was. “Yes, who is this?”
“Cindy, Cindy, oh my God,” the voice became louder.
Cindy’s blood ran cold. “Mattheus?”
“I’m in bad trouble,” he was having difficulty speaking now.
“What is it? What happened?” Cindy’s heart started pounding.
“Andrea’s stepfather has just been found murdered, laying in a pool of blood.”
Cindy felt nauseous.
Mattheus said something else but Cindy couldn’t make it out. His voice was going in and out, filled with horror.
“What did you say? I can’t hear you,” Cindy exclaimed.
“Andrea was found right next to his body,” Mattheus managed, “covered with her stepfather’s blood.”
“Wait a minute, she killed her father?” Cindy froze.
“It looks like it from the sight of things. The police immediately arrested her. She denies having anything to do with it, though. Said she came there and found him dead.”
“My God,” Cindy uttered.
“No one believes her,” Mattheus continued frantically. “Everyone knows that the two of them fought all the time. He beat the life out of her, Cindy.”
Cindy had trouble breathing. “I’m so sorry, Mattheus.”
“I need your help badly,” Mattheus pleaded. “Everything needs to be investigated. This guy was an ex con. He was a brute. He also beat Andrea’s mother.”
“Sounds like someone felt he deserved to die,” Cindy responded.
“He did deserve to die,” Mattheus insisted.
“Don’t say that to anyone, Mattheus,” Cindy breathed.
“The guy was a low life, the scum of the world,” Mattheus continued heatedly.
“Mattheus, be quiet,” Cindy demanded. “The police won’t let you help with the case if you mouth off like this.”
“They won’t let me anyway,” Mattheus said plaintively. “They said I’m too close to the suspect, to Andrea. I’ve got too much at stake.”
“You have a right to investigate, Mattheus,” Cindy insisted. “It’s your job.”
“They also heard that I was threatening the jerk, the day before he died.” Mattheus continued.
“You were threatening him?” Cindy felt frightened.
“Damn it, Cindy,” Mattheus countered, “I just told him to back off the women, or I’d take care of him.”
“Jesus,” said Cindy, “for all you know you can become a suspect now, too.”
“I already am,” Mattheus answered, in a garbled tone.
“You are what? A suspect?” Cindy felt alarmed.
“Listen, I can’t keep talking now,” Mattheus’s voice grew shaky, “I beg you, just come down and help.”
*
“I don’t believe you’re actually going there again with all that’s happening here,” Ann was totally beside herself.
“I don’t have a choice,” Cindy insisted. “Mattheus is in grave trouble.”
“So what? He got himself into it. It’s his life, it’s his trouble, “Ann was fuming.
“It’s not only his trouble, it’s his daughter,” Cindy interrupted. “She’s been arrested for murder.”
Ann stopped and stood her ground. “And what has that got to do with you? Absolutely nothing. Someone’s being arrested for murder every day.”
“I was the one who urged Mattheus to go find his daughter,” Cindy finally said, quietly. “In fact, I insisted. He didn’t want to. If I hadn’t urged he never would have met her, wouldn’t be in this lousy mess.”
“Now you’re blaming yourself for this, too?” Ann looked devastated.
“Ann, this was the man I was about to get engaged to. He saved me from so many close calls.” Cindy couldn’t help coming to his defense.
“This was the man who tossed you aside, who chose to be with a daughter who couldn’t stand you. Remember that?”
But, at this moment of danger, all of those considerations disappeared.Lives were at stake.
“You’re in love with Mattheus? You’re still in love?” Ann’s face grew brittle.
“No,” Cindy responded quickly. “I’m not in love with Mattheus anymore, but I also can’t let him drown. He could be a suspect in the case himself. I have to go down as a professional, and help him sort this out.”
“Well, I’m sure Marge will be happy to hear that,” Ann quipped sarcastically. “Finally, you’re back out of town.”
“I don’t know if she’ll be so happy about it,” Cindy countered. “I may be leaving for now, but you can tell her, I’m definitely not selling the house.”
Chapter 6
Cindy couldn’t believe she was actually headed back down to the Caribbean. She was both relieved and nervous as she stood waiting to board the plane. Ann had refused to take her to the airport.She didn’t want to hear a thing about Mattheus’s predicament, couldn’t care less.
“If they throw him in jail it might well be the best thing for all concerned,” Ann had said flippantly.
That was too much for Cindy. “He’s in grave trouble now and he doesn�
�t deserve it,” she replied. “Our relationship is one thing and his trying to save his daughter something else.”
Ann had made a sour face. “There’s always a reason for everything, isn’t there? Since you were little you always managed to come up with a smart answer.”
There was no talking to Ann now and Cindy knew well enough to back away. “I’m not going forever,” she said over her shoulder, as she walked to the bedroom to pack.
“Go for as long as you like, but don’t tell me when you’re returning,” Ann called back.
“I’m done playing this game with you.”
Cindy had closed the door between them then. She knew she’d disappointed Ann, and was truly sorry about that, but Mattheus was in dire trouble. That was something entirely
different. Cindy also knew that Ann couldn’t possibly understand what dire trouble was like. Living safely and comfortably in a long term marriage, Ann never had to face real danger herself. She’d always had solid anchors around her, and tried to be an anchor to others as well. But the situations that Cindy and Mattheus had lived through, had nothing to do with occupying a safe or predictable world. Life could be snuffed out in a moment. Lies and backyard deals could throw an innocent person into jail, with no one caring what happened to them. The person could rot in jail forever, unheard from again. The laws and protections Ann lived by, were unknown in many places in the world.
The line to board the plane was starting to move. Cindy promised herself this trip would be a professional one, only. She was going as a detective, and nothing more.
*
Although Cindy hadn’t told Mattheus exactly what plane she’d be on, he was waiting at the airport when she arrived. The moment he saw her, he ran to her with open arms.
“Cindy, how fabulous to see you,” he said breathlessly.
Cindy took a step away. “I’m only here to help,” she said in a professional tone.
Mattheus stopped in his tracks. “You’re not happy to see me?”
“Mattheus, I came down as a detective, to help. I’m horrified by your situation. That’s it, nothing more.”