always heard Mr. Ames and the Captain on the phone together. They were hardly ever out of touch. If there was trouble brewing, the Captain would know it. ”
Cindy’s mind reeled. She wondered just how many people were involved in his life, and just how deep this web would spin.
CHAPTER 9
Cindy had to remember she was down here for a purpose. She couldn’t allow her ever-changing feelings about what was happening to get in the way of what had to be done. These interviews had to be sorted out. She had to uncover conflicts, contradictions, fantasies, lies, and that one hidden detail which would break it all open. It was hidden there, waiting for her, she felt it.
As she heard more and more about him, her impression of Ames kept changing. Clearly, he was a man with many sides, including a strong taste for women. Had he left of his own will? Was he swept away by someone new? Had he decided to run off and be with her? Had the two of them had packed up and disappeared?
Cindy wouldn’t put it past him. He seemed to feel entitled to have anyone he wanted. And he was great at keeping it all from his wife.
Cindy wasn’t ruling anything out. Perhaps somebody was holding him? Or he died accidentally? It was also possible that he was the victim of a murderer. Anything could have happened, and Cindy couldn’t help shaking the feeling that Ames’s fate had been much darker than anyone thought. There was no specific reason she felt that way, either. Just something she sensed that wouldn’t go away.
Before Cindy took the next step and met the Captain, she had a desire to check in with the police again. She wanted to bounce her findings off them, see if they could confirm the information, or had anything to add. It would be grounding to hear their responses to what she’d discovered.
Cindy knew that she’d agreed to tell Dalia about each appointment she set up and what came of it. That was becoming harder and harder, though, as she learned more about Ames’s behavior. Fortunately, after Cindy’s meeting with Nina, Dalia hadn’t asked much.
Cindy didn’t want to mention to Dalia that she planned to speak to the police again now.
She made arrangements on her own for Mattheus to pick her up from Dalia’s house.
In a short while Mattheus drove up to the house in a police car.
Cindy rushed out the door to greet him in a bright yellow sundress, sandals with her hair loose and blowing in the wind. She was glad he was coming to pick her up and forgot about changing into a professional outfit.
Mattheus’s eyes opened wide when he saw her. He quickly got out of the car and opened the door on the other side.
Cindy got in and as they drove away from the house, into town, she felt her body relaxing.
“I’m taking you to La Conch,” he said, “an outdoor café. From the looks of you, seems like it’s awhile since you’ve had a relaxing meal. ”
Cindy lifted her hand to her hair, as if she might seem in disarray.
Mattheus laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with the way you look,” he said. “In fact, you look wonderful, like a different person in a simple dress. Much better than before, dressed for business, with your hair all tied up. ”
Cindy blushed. She didn’t like him crossing the line, but wasn’t going to say anything about it. From what she was discovering, this entire island said and did whatever they felt like.
“Sorry if I offended you,” Mattheus said, looking at her and half grinning. “It’s been a long while since I’ve seen a lady blush.”
Cindy blushed more deeply then, and he broke into a winning smile. She just turned her head and looked out the window until they arrived at La Conch.
*
He parked and led her into a lovely small, street side café. A warm, heavy, smiling man came over to greet him with a big grin.
“What can I do for you this beautiful morning?” she said.
“A table for two in a quiet spot,” said Mattheus.
The man looked over at Cindy approvingly and
Cindy’s mind reeled. She wondered just how many people were involved in his life, and just how deep this web would spin.
CHAPTER 9
Cindy had to remember she was down here for a purpose. She couldn’t allow her ever-changing feelings about what was happening to get in the way of what had to be done. These interviews had to be sorted out. She had to uncover conflicts, contradictions, fantasies, lies, and that one hidden detail which would break it all open. It was hidden there, waiting for her, she felt it.
As she heard more and more about him, her impression of Ames kept changing. Clearly, he was a man with many sides, including a strong taste for women. Had he left of his own will? Was he swept away by someone new? Had he decided to run off and be with her? Had the two of them had packed up and disappeared?
Cindy wouldn’t put it past him. He seemed to feel entitled to have anyone he wanted. And he was great at keeping it all from his wife.
Cindy wasn’t ruling anything out. Perhaps somebody was holding him? Or he died accidentally? It was also possible that he was the victim of a murderer. Anything could have happened, and Cindy couldn’t help shaking the feeling that Ames’s fate had been much darker than anyone thought. There was no specific reason she felt that way, either. Just something she sensed that wouldn’t go away.
Before Cindy took the next step and met the Captain, she had a desire to check in with the police again. She wanted to bounce her findings off them, see if they could confirm the information, or had anything to add. It would be grounding to hear their responses to what she’d discovered.
Cindy knew that she’d agreed to tell Dalia about each appointment she set up and what came of it. That was becoming harder and harder, though, as she learned more about Ames’s behavior. Fortunately, after Cindy’s meeting with Nina, Dalia hadn’t asked much.
Cindy didn’t want to mention to Dalia that she planned to speak to the police again now.
She made arrangements on her own for Mattheus to pick her up from Dalia’s house.
In a short while Mattheus drove up to the house in a police car.
Cindy rushed out the door to greet him in a bright yellow sundress, sandals with her hair loose and blowing in the wind. She was glad he was coming to pick her up and forgot about changing into a professional outfit.
Mattheus’s eyes opened wide when he saw her. He quickly got out of the car and opened the door on the other side.
Cindy got in and as they drove away from the house, into town, she felt her body relaxing.
“I’m taking you to La Conch,” he said, “an outdoor café. From the looks of you, seems like it’s awhile since you’ve had a relaxing meal. ”
Cindy lifted her hand to her hair, as if she might seem in disarray.
Mattheus laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with the way you look,” he said. “In fact, you look wonderful, like a different person in a simple dress. Much better than before, dressed for business, with your hair all tied up. ”
Cindy blushed. She didn’t like him crossing the line, but wasn’t going to say anything about it. From what she was discovering, this entire island said and did whatever they felt like.
“Sorry if I offended you,” Mattheus said, looking at her and half grinning. “It’s been a long while since I’ve seen a lady blush.”
Cindy blushed more deeply then, and he broke into a winning smile. She just turned her head and looked out the window until they arrived at La Conch.
*
He parked and led her into a lovely small, street side café. A warm, heavy, smiling man came over to greet him with a big grin.
“What can I do for you this beautiful morning?” she said.
“A table for two in a quiet spot,” said Mattheus.
The man looked over at Cindy approvingly and
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