Death by Divorce (14 page)

“Cindy’s a dear friend of mine,” said Dalia. “I imported her from the U. S. to help me solve the case.”

Dale took a step back. “A detective?” he said.

“You could call me that,” said Cindy.

He seemed both amused and flustered by that idea.

Elizabeth wound her way to his side and put her hand on his arm. “Why, if it isn’t Cindy and Dalia,” she said. “Who in the world would have ever expected you here?”

“You guys met?” asked Dale.

“Briefly,” said Elizabeth. Her huge eyes stared at Cindy, as if warning her to stay away from her man.

A waiter walked by, serving cocktails and little hot dogs. Cindy helped herself to a cocktail and took a long sip.

“I’m here to help find Ames,” Cindy said softly to Dale, and looked up at him as she sipped her drink.

“You may find more than you’re bargaining for,” Elizabeth sniped, “something much more difficult than Ames.”

“Cut it out,” Dale said to her. “Cindy’s here for a serious reason,” and he shook off Elizabeth’s hand.

Cindy appreciated that.

“Well, I’m going to leave you two to talk things over,” Dalia said, backing away. “And maybe you can give them a minute, Elizabeth?”

“I can give anyone anything they want,” Elizabeth had a smile like a razor, showing a row of tiny teeth. Then she turned and left Dale and Cindy to have a few moments to talk.

“Let’s go outside,” he said. “Dalia’s right, there’s a lot we have to say. And it’s better to say it alone. ”

He put his hand on Cindy’s arm and led her through the crowd, which grew more noisy and dense as evening went by.

The outside lounge was at the very back of the restaurant, almost hidden in the dunes. Right now it was relatively empty, and there was a little wicker sofa in the corner they sat on.

Dale sat close to Cindy, as the salt breezes from the ocean washed over them.

“So, tell me all about yourself,” he started.

Cindy leaned over and put her cocktail down on the little table in front of the sofa.

“No, tell me all about yourself,” she countered, “and about Ames.”

Dale was taken aback. “You’re all business?” he said, smiling strangely.

“Time is getting short,” Cindy answered. “Pretty soon this is going to turn into a cold case. Aren’t you worried about your partner? ”

“If you want to know the truth, I’m not,” said Dale. “He’s a powerful guy and a smart one. Ames can take care of himself. ”

“Which means what?” asked Cindy.

“Look, you’re Dalia’s friend, but I’m gonna give it to you straight. Ames was a guy who needed adventure. He couldn’t live without it. Coop this guy up and he’s not gonna make it. ”

“Dalia cooped him up?”

“Marriage cooped him up. It was a trap he couldn’t get out of. It drove him nuts. ”

“So, he just took off and ran away?”

“That’s my guess,” said Dale. “I tried calling him a few times before he went missing and he just didn’t pick up the phone. Probably on the prowl, I thought. ”

“And what about the business?” asked Cindy.

“I took care of it.”

“You gave Ames a lot of money,” Cindy said pointedly.

Dale ran his suntanned hand through his hair. “I gave it to the business. Not a penny went directly to Ames. Dalia was the one who fed him money, who bought his love, for a long, long time. ”

Then he picked up the cocktail glass Cindy had put on the table and brought it to her mouth. “Have a drink,” he whispered. “I’m so happy to meet you.”

Cindy took the glass in her hands and put it back down.

“You’re a beautiful woman,” Dale said.

“Thank you,” said Cindy obliquely.

“There’s a lot here for you on the island,” Dale continued. “You could have a wonderful life.”

Cindy wondered exactly what he was getting at.

“There’s no reason to investigate this further,” Dale said then suddenly. “There’s a lot of dirty underwear floating around, and none of it has to do with Ames’s disappearance. If you ask me, he’ll stay away as long as he wants to, then he’ll come creeping back after everything dies down. He’ll act surprised at all the commotion. When he does return, for example, I wouldn’t want him hearing things about me. ”

Cindy smiled, as if she were going along. “Of course not,” she agreed.

Dale liked that, he moved closer. “Ames and I are best friends.”

“That’s what I heard,” said Cindy. “What is it you don’t want him hearing about you?” and she smiled, coyly.

Dale looked surprised by the question. He focused his glance on her deeply, to see how much she really knew.

“Not about you and Elizabeth?” she said then playfully. “That everyone already knows.”

“What difference would that possibly make to Ames?” said Dale, taken aback.

“Nothing at all, of course,” said Cindy.

Then suddenly she remembered something Dalia had said.

“About you and Dalia?” Cindy asked light heartedly, as if that were common knowledge as well.

Dale’s face tensed up. “There’s nothing to that,” he said in a gruff tone. “Just once or twice. It meant nothing. I don’t know exactly what Dalia told you, but I don’t want anyone making a big deal about it. ”

Cindy tried not to show the shock she felt. “Just part of life down on the island,” she whispered.

“Right,” said Dale, “nothing more, nothing less.”

Just then Cindy looked up and saw Mattheus and Sand on the edge of the lounge, watching the two of them. Cindy was glad to see Mattheus, but apparently he didn’t feel the same. He turned quickly, the moment she looked at him, and got out. Sand stood there alone, watching. Cindy nodded to Sand, acknowledging his presence.

“I guess you know the cops in town,” Dale said, as Sand walked towards them.

Right behind Sand, Cindy saw Elizabeth following, in her tight aqua gown.

Dale stood immediately when Elizabeth came over.

“Hey, come and join us,” he said, looking ill at ease.

“I have something important to talk to you about, Dale,” she said, staring at both him and Cindy with narrow eyes. “Hope you got your questions answered,” she said to Cindy, flippantly.

“All right, let’s go,” he said. Then he turned to Cindy for a moment. “Sorry about that. Hope I was helpful. ”

“Before she could respond, Elizabeth dragged him away.

Cindy got up to leave then, but Sand stood in front of her, blocking her way.

“Those two are an item,” he said. “Stay where you are. I have something important to tell you, too. ” His face had a scowling expression.

Cindy sat back down on the sofa and Sand sat beside her. He started to talk without missing a beat.

“Listen, I want you to leave Mattheus alone.”

Cindy couldn’t have been more taken aback.

“He’s a terrific guy and he doesn’t need some lady coming down here playing with his head.”

“What are you talking about?” Cindy was humiliated.

“Since you got here, the guy’s not himself. And it’s no good. He’s in a rough business and has to do his job. He’s come a long way since I know him, too, since his wife was killed. ”

He’s a great cop. He’s doing it for her. He still hasn’t gotten over her. ”

Cindy was flooded with a mixture of feelings when she heard that. She felt sad for Mattheus and proud of him too, for having gone forward and doing the work he did.

You came down here to help your friend,” Sand continued. “We were pacifying her in the beginning, but this has gotten out of hand. You’re snooping where you don’t belong, creating waves where we need smooth sailing. You got the poor guy worried about you. We come here to investigate, and he sees you smooching with Dale. How do you think that makes him feel? ”

“I wasn’t smooching with anyone,” Cindy was offended. “I was talking to him to find out what I could.”

“Yeah, on the back lounge, drinking, staring into each other’s eyes. Give me a break. ”

“You got it all wrong,” said Cindy.

“I’m telling you to get out of the picture,” said Sand. “Leave my partner alone!”

Sand stood up quickly and walked away. Cindy walked to the edge of the lounge for a moment and then decided to walk out on the beach, along the shore, to get away from all of it and let herself think. She was horrified that Mattheus’s wife had been killed. That explained so much, including why he felt close to Cindy. They’d been through the same thing.

*

It felt wonderful walking along the edge of the beach, barefoot, the soft sand rolling through her toes. Cindy ran everything through her mind: Dale, Elizabeth, Sand and most of all, Mattheus. She had stumbled into a convoluted world, where people were intricately interwoven. Anyone down here could have wanted Ames dead. Anyone could have done something to him. Dale could have gotten rid of him for financial reasons, or because he didn’t want Ames to find out that he’d slept with his wife. Elizabeth could have been furious about her divorce settlement. The drug cartels themselves could have snuffed him out.

Cindy lifted her beautiful gown, splashed her toes in the water, and thought about Clint. How she wished he could be here with her now. She wondered what it would take for her to be really able to let him go?

As she stood still, looking up at the star-studded sky, she heard steps behind her. Cindy had no idea who it could be, and got stiff and filled with dread. She didn’t move a muscle as the footsteps came closer and closer on the sand. Where was there to run?

“What are you doing standing here alone?” Mattheus’s voice rang out on the rolling water.

Cindy swept around. “You scared me to death.”

“I’m taking you home,” he said, putting his hand on her arm.

“Did you have a good night hanging out there with Dale? Plan to go out on his boat with him? ”He was jealous and peeved.

“This isn’t like you,” Cindy said, “I was investigating. . . ”

“Yeah, yeah,” Mattheus said, “okay, let’s get back to the restaurant now. You’ll wait for me there. I’ll get my car and drive you home. ”

“Mattheus,” Cindy said intensely, “I’m glad to have you drive me home, but I also have to tell you, there’s absolutely nothing going on with me and Dale. Nothing at all. ”

Mattheus paused, backed up and looked at her then with a crinkly smile.

“Sorry about that,” he said, suddenly sheepish. “Guess my nerves are a little on edge these days. So many bases to cover. So many people in town”

*

When they got back to the lounge, everything had changed. Pandemonium had hit the place. People were scurrying around, yelling, calling to each other. Someone was standing alone crying. It was as though doomsday had struck.

“What the hell happened?” said Mattheus, a vein standing out in his neck.

Sand spotted them immediately and came running over.

“Jesus Christ, where were you? I’ve looked everywhere,” he was breathless.

“What’s going on?” said Mattheus.

“You’re ready for it?” Sand’s eyes were flashing.

“What?”

“Ames’s body just washed up onto shore.”

Dalia could not stop pacing in her living room. Her hands were in fists that banged against her legs as she moved.

“Dead, dead,” she kept muttering. “He must have jumped off the boat and drowned himself.”

The phone kept ringing and Cindy had to be the one to answer it.

“Is she doing all right?” It was Nina, alarmed.

“No, she’s not,” said Cindy.

“Should I come right over?”

“Not yet. The police will be here in a few minutes. There’s a procedure we have to follow. ”

The phone rang again. “Just keep her calm,” said Mattheus. “We have to complete identification of the body.”

“Was he in the water the whole time?” asked Cindy.

“The medical examiner will answer everything.”

Cindy begged Dalia to take some valium that she had in the house. Dalia barely heard what she was saying.

The doctor arrived quickly and when Dalia saw him, she started shrieking, “Get out, get out. I’m not taking anything. You’re not drugging me. Who called you anyway? ”

“Cindy did,” a tall, slender man said quietly.

Dalia turned her rage on Cindy then. “You want to see me drugged too? Then I won’t be a problem for you, will I? Then I won’t be a problem for anyone. ”

The doctor turned to Cindy, “She’s in shock,” he said. “They say all kinds of things when they’re in this condition. I’ve seen her this way before. She’ll quiet down eventually. ”

Dalia turned like a lion, “Get out of my house!” she said to the doctor.

I can’t stay if she doesn’t want me here,” he said.

“I realize,” said Cindy.

After the doctor left, Dalia resumed pacing, and Rosa came to the door of the room and then took a few steps into the room.

“They found Mr. Ames dead,” Cindy said to her bluntly.

Rosa’s eyes opened wide. “Where?” she whispered.

It was the first time Cindy had heard her speak.

“His body washed up on the shore, in a cove near Sculpture Park.”

“Was he in the rocks?” Rosa asked.

It was actually shocking to hear Rosa speak. She had a lilting voice.

“He was found partially in a rock crevice, partially in the water.” Cindy’s eyes met hers for a moment.

Rosa’s eyes were filled with alarm.

“Do you want to say anything to Dalia?” Cindy asked.

“No,” Rosa shook her head hard, bit her lip, and rushed out of the room.

The phone rang again. It was Dale.

Mattheus and Sand walked in with two other cops.

“This is no longer a missing person case,” Mattheus announced, “it’s a criminal investigation, now. We have to cord off the house to preserve evidence and go through everything. ”

“You did it already,” said Cindy. “People have been in and out freely for over a month.”

“Procedure,” said Mattheus. “Where’s Dalia?”

Dalia had gone out on the patio, and was pacing out there.

“I called the doctor in, but she wouldn’t see him. She’s called a Memorial for Ames for day after tomorrow. ”

“Look,” Mattheus said confidentially then, “this is where you can be helpful to us. Keep her as calm as you can. Go through the house again for us, see if you come up with anything else. It’s doubtful, but you never know. We need to focus on the fleet and the Captain. There’s big news about to break with that. We’re putting all our attention there. ”