Death by Engagement (17 page)

Cindy
was suddenly seized with sadness for Deidre. “I’m sure there’s someone
wonderful waiting for you, too,” Cindy said as rain slashed the roof of the
gazebo.

“I
hope so, too,” Deidre agreed, moving back from the rain. “If the odds go up
that the storm will hit the island, my dad said we’re packing up and going
home. Before that happens, let me give you one more quick suggestion. Spend
more time on Shari’s Facebook page. Scroll down further. Read all her
messages!”

“Why
didn’t you tell me this before, Deidre?” Cindy grew agitated. She’d done a
careful scan of the page and nothing seemed out of order. But, of course,
something could always have slipped by.

“You’re
the detective,” Deidre remarked. “You’re being paid to do this. It’s not my job
to tell you everything! Scroll all the way down, read every single message.
Follow the chains of messages Shari received, you’ll see what I mean.”

“Why
can’t you tell me directly?” Cindy felt irritated.

“Because
you have to see it for yourself,” Deidre remarked.

“You’ll
save us all time if you just tell me,” said Cindy.

“It
won’t take long,” Deidre flung back. “Just go now and check.”

As
soon as Cindy got back to her room, she immediately went back onto Shari’s
Facebook. It was possible there was something she’d previously missed. As she
sat there scrolling and checking things out, Cindy wondered where Mattheus was.
She’d been so engrossed working, he’d completely slipped her mind.

Cindy
quickly sent him a text.
Where are you? What are you doing?

Where
are you?
he quickly texted back.

In
the room, going over Shari’s Facebook page,
Cindy responded.

You
did it already
,
he replied.

I’m
doing it again,
she answered.

I’ll
be up in a few minutes,
Mattheus answered.
Then let’s go to the beach.
You could use a break and the ocean’s wild. It’s always beautiful before a
storm.

Cindy
knew that Mattheus loved walking on the beach when the surf was rough. The
thrill of extreme weather invigorated him.

Love
to,
Cindy responded.
Let me just go over her page first, quickly
.

*

Just
as before, Shari’s Facebook page showed nothing at all unusual. There were lots
of pictures of her family, Doug, friends, and all kinds of chit-chat. As Deidre
suggested, Cindy scrolled down, followed chains of messages, digging deeper.
Suddenly, a message Cindy hadn’t seen before appeared. It was a short note from
someone named Glenna.

Don’t
marry Doug
,
the note declared.
You’re not in shape to do it. You can’t handle a guy like
him.

Cindy
was stunned that something like that would be right out there in full view for
the public.

Shari
had only made a brief response.
Have confidence in me, Glenna. Everyone else
has. Why not you?

Cindy
was taken off guard by the short exchange. Was Glenna suggesting that Doug was
hard to handle? Or was she just pointing to the fact that Shari wasn’t
emotionally ready to make any commitments in her life right then? Whatever it
was, this exchange was startling. It was the first hint of trouble coming.

 Cindy
scrolled further and looked more deeply, but nothing else surfaced that even
remotely suggested difficulty. Most people were thrilled for Shari, thought the
world of Doug, and couldn’t wait to hear about the wedding venue they were
choosing.

Have
you guys set a date yet?
a message underneath asked.

Post
pictures immediately as soon as you choose the venue
, another note
nearby said.

As
Cindy sat gazing at the messages, the door opened and Mattheus walked in.

“Okay,
come on,” he said, coming over and tipping closed the top of her computer.
“Time for a break. Time to enjoy.”

Cindy
ran her hands through her hair. “Good to see you,” she said, standing up and
putting her arms around Mattheus.

“You,
too,” he murmured. “But now let’s really take a break and get to the beach.”

*

 As
Cindy expected, the beach was empty when she and Mattheus arrived. Strong
winds, heavy clouds and rolling surf were keeping others away.

“Looks
like the storm is going to hit,” Cindy commented, looking at the scattered
debris thrown up on the shore by the ocean.

“The
news said there’s a seventy-five percent chance of it,” Mattheus replied, as he
took Cindy’s hand and pulled her down with him to the edge of the ocean. “God,
it’s beautiful here, today,” he went on, taking a deep breath.

Cindy
enjoyed the thrill of it, too. “It really is,” she agreed, disturbed that there
was such a high possibility of the storm hitting.

“I’d
better get back to the scene of the crime right away, before heavy rains wash
remaining evidence away,” she murmured, looking around.

“You’ve
been there already.” Mattheus snapped to attention.

“But
I’m in a different frame of mind now,” Cindy responded. “And I’ve gathered lots
more information since I was there before.”

Mattheus
grew silent. “How much remaining evidence could there be left there by now?” he
asked in a strained tone.

“You
never know, and there are also a few other possibilities there I want to
check,” Cindy said as the moisture in the air grew thicker. “I’m just going for
a little while.”

“No,”
Mattheus retorted, digging his feet into the sand. “After our time on the
beach, you’re coming back to the hotel with me.”

Cindy
was annoyed by his obstinacy. “This is an important stop for me before we go
home,” Cindy replied.

“Really?”
Mattheus’s voice got louder. “Do you really need to go to the scene of the
crime, or do you just want to get away from me?”

“Mattheus,
don’t start that again now!” Cindy was tired of it. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s
wrong with me? Is there something wrong with enjoying uncomplicated time on the
beach with your fiancée before you pack up and leave?” asked Mattheus as the
wind blew harder at them.

Cindy
flinched. What was he talking about? Was Mattheus thinking they were going to
pack up and leave today?

“You’re
not planning to leave right away, are you?” Cindy asked lightly.

“Actually,
I am,” he replied. “It’s good to get out before the storm actually hits.”

That
didn’t sound like Mattheus, either. Cindy couldn’t remember when he’d run away
from a storm.

“What
about finding our wedding venue?” Cindy asked, quickly hoping to find a way to
turn the conversation around.

“Good
question.” Mattheus stopped walking and rubbed his toes into the moist sand.
“What about it?” He turned and looked at Cindy searingly. “Is a wedding venue
even something you’re interested in at all?”

Cindy
stopped as well. “Of course I am, why would you say that?”

“Because
I haven’t heard a word about it from you,” Mattheus continued. “I’ve been
waiting for you to mention our wedding even once, and you haven’t. All I’ve
heard are more and more details about the case.”

Cindy
looked away, out over the ocean to the horizon which was barely visible now.
“I’ve been preoccupied,” she said softly, realizing it.

“I’d
say that’s putting it mildly,” said Mattheus.

“I’m
sorry,” Cindy said, “I really am sorry. I’ve been overwhelmed.”

Mattheus
stopped and looked at her clearly. “Look, you need to finish up now because the
storm’s coming and Shari and Doug’s families are both going to pack up and
leave anyway before it hits.”

“Really?
You’re positive?” Cindy was startled.

“It
makes sense, doesn’t it?” Mattheus asked.

“Yes,
of course,” Cindy conceded, “but there’s one more person on her way down here
now who I have to talk to, a woman named Cayenne.”

“I
couldn’t care less what her name is.” Mattheus’s jaw began to clench.

“She’s
Doug’s former girlfriend, the one he was with before he and Shari got back
together again,” Cindy filled him in.

“So
what? So this lady’s coming down to comfort her ex-boyfriend and get back with
him!” Mattheus was upset. “What business is it of ours?”

“Shari’s
sister told me it was important to hear what Cayenne has to say,” Cindy quickly
responded.

“Everything’s
important, isn’t it?” Mattheus went on then. “Every last thing but me.”

“You’re
the most important of all,” Cindy breathed quickly.

“If
you feel that way, show it to me. Do one thing I want,” he replied.

“What
exactly do you want?” Cindy asked. “For us to pack up and leave when I’m close
to finding out if a killer is on the loose? Is that really all right with you?”

“There’s
not one bit of evidence that a killer’s on the loose.” Mattheus looked frozen.
“Not one bit at all. This is the father’s fantasy and he’s pulled you into it.
Can’t you see that?”

Cindy
had no sense of having been pulled into anyone’s fantasy. She’d been checking
things out methodically for herself. Each time she spoke to someone else, her
level of doubt that it was a suicide grew higher.

“It’s
not a fantasy, Mattheus,” Cindy defended herself. “There’s a whole chain of
information I’ve received that’s caused me to be doubtful.”

“Okay,
I believe that,” Mattheus grumbled. “But circumstantial evidence can take
months and months to bring to fruition.”

“Besides,
we have to stay longer, anyway, to find a wedding venue.” Cindy tried to be
lighthearted and playful. It didn’t work.

 Mattheus
spun around, away from Cindy, and looked out at the furthest part of the sky.

“Are
we ready to take a wedding venue?” His voice quivered. “We can’t seem to even
agree on small things.”

“Mattheus”—Cindy
put her hands on his shoulders—“what are you saying? You’re blowing this all up
out of proportion.”

Mattheus
wouldn’t answer and Cindy finally turned away from him as well. As she looked
back on the sand, to her surprise, Cindy suddenly saw a lone figure walking
toward them.

“Oh
my God, someone’s coming,” Cindy exclaimed.

“Who?”
Mattheus turned to look abruptly.

As
the figure in the distance grew closer, Cindy saw a beautiful young woman in
her late twenties, with long red hair tossed by the wind. She was walking
purposively toward Cindy and Mattheus.

“Who
is it?” asked Cindy.

“Beats
me,” said Mattheus.

“Cindy
and Mattheus?” The young woman picked up her speed and drew close to them.

“Cayenne?”
Cindy asked, suddenly flashing on who it could be.

 “Yes,
that’s right.” The young woman seemed pleased to be recognized. “I heard you
two were still down in Aruba.”

“Yes,
we are.” Cindy tried to speak to her, but Cayenne’s gaze was completely
fastened on Mattheus.

 “How
can we help you?” Mattheus responded.

“I
need to talk to you,” Cayenne replied, taking a step toward him, bypassing
Cindy.

“Talk
to me about what?” Mattheus voice grew concerned.

“I’m
Doug’s ex-girlfriend,” Cayenne started, as light rain began to fall. “Oh my
God, the storm’s starting.”

“Not
yet,” Cindy interrupted. “Just light rain at the moment. “

Cayenne
held out her two hands. “Light rain isn’t good either,” she said, reminding
Cindy of a frightened child.

“Can
we talk to you in a little while back at the hotel? “ Cindy intervened. “I have
to go to the crime scene before the rain gets heavier.”

Cayenne
briefly turned her gaze to Cindy, then back to Mattheus once again.

 “Is
that all right with you, Mattheus?” she asked.

Mattheus
smiled. “Yes, it’s fine with me, and thanks for asking. Thanks for caring about
what I want.”

Cayenne
slowly smiled. “But of course,” she murmured.

“Let’s
go back now then,” said Mattheus, walking over to Cayenne. “When Cindy returns
from the crime scene, you two can continue the conversation.”

Cayenne
seemed relieved. “Good, and for now I’ll go back with you.”

“That
works,” said Mattheus, throwing Cindy a brief glance, “unless of course Cindy
wants to join us and give up returning to the crime scene again and again?”

Cindy’s
heart began pounding. Was Mattheus threatening her, insulting her? Whatever it
was, she didn’t like it.

“No,
I’ll go on my own,” Cindy said in a breathy tone. “You two go back to the
hotel, and I’ll meet you there shortly.”

Mattheus
nodded and put his hand on Cayenne’s back then to guide her across the quickly
shifting sand that was blowing up over all of them now.

Cindy
stood there watching until they disappeared from view. The crime scene was not
far from the beach; Mattheus could have come there with her. He was giving her
a clear message though that, for him, the investigation was over. He was dead
set on leaving Aruba now, with or without a venue to marry in. Was this a
juncture in the road for them, too? Was Mattheus saying their engagement was
over? Cindy didn’t know what to think. She did know, though, that the rain was
going to fall more heavily soon and she had to get to the crime scene before
that happened.

*

Cindy
put up her hand to protect her eyes from the swirling sand and walked
determinedly to the edge of the beach, then up a hill and further on to the top
of the precipice Shari had fallen to her death from. As she walked Cindy
cleared her mind of all the trouble of the day, so she could be clear and able
to register anything that was there waiting for her. It would have been
unconscionable not to return one more time, Cindy thought, as she climbed the
precipice. The crime scene always had a voice of its own and spoke loudly when
the time was ready.