“Yes, me,” Cindy tried to smile pleasantly, but felt the muscles of her face growing taut.
“Why are you here?” Ronnelle gathered herself together quickly.
“Can I come in?” Cindy asked.
“Why” Ronnelle clearly wasn’t thrilled to see her.
“I have just a few more questions I need to ask,” Cindy said hurriedly, trying to relax her face and not look so grim.
“Just for a few minutes,” Ronnelle moved aside. “I have plans for later and I have to get ready.”
“Of course,” Cindy agreed, as she entered the grand room and then looked around awe struck. There was a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the room, an ivory pillar on each side, and beautifully framed fine art on the walls. “How’d you get a place like this?” Cindy murmured.
“The company pays for it,” Ronnelle grinned lightly. “I never pay for anything, ever. Always had my life set up that way.”
Cindy felt uneasy. What in the world would someone who lived like this have to do with Frank? It didn’t make sense. Cindy walked in and looked further around. The room was filled with plants, fresh flowers, baskets of fruit on different tables.
Ronnelle watched Cindy’s every move. “All this has been provided by the hotel,” she added. “Lovely of them, wouldn’t you say?”
Ronnelle was so smug and entitled, Cindy had to keep herself in check. She suddenly had an intense desire to slap Ronnelle across the face. Ann had never been that way, she’d been grateful for every little thing she got. Was it possible that Frank had paid for this suite, sent these baskets? Cindy couldn’t bear the thought of it.
“How long are you staying here?” Cindy asked slowly.
“As long as I care to,” Ronnelle answered flippantly. “Why?”
Cindy suddenly wanted to tell Ronnelle that she didn’t deserve it, explain to her how Ann had lived. But Ronnelle wasn’t up for a long conversation.
“Okay, get to it,” Ronnelle turned snippy. “What are you here for? What do you want to ask me?”
“Did you know my sister was a wonderful woman?” Cindy started plaintively.
Ronnelle’s eyes narrowed. “This is what you came to tell me?” she repeated more intensely.
“I came to ask how you dared get between a married woman and her husband?” Rage started building in Cindy.
“You’re out of your mind,” Ronnelle stood straighter. “I told you I barely know your sick brother in law. I don’t know what he told you about me, but it’s all a load of junk. There are crazy guys all over the place living off sick fantasy.”
For a moment Cindy grew frightened, wondering if it could be so. Was Frank some kind of psycho who was fantasizing about Ronnelle, dreaming up a relationship? Or had he made up this sordid story to divert suspicion away from him?
“Prove to me that Frank lied!” Cindy shot back
“I’m done with this sick conversation,” Ronnelle threw her hair back over her shoulders. “Get out of here now.”
Cindy thought about apologizing for a moment, backing down, softening her tone. She needed to stay longer and find out more. But it was hard to acquiesce. The thought of this woman stealing away Ann’s husband was infuriating. Mattheus had probably been right again. Cindy should have let him come here, this was too personal, too much to handle.
“I want you out of here this second,” Ronnelle’s voice grew sharper.
“I’m really sorry. I came on too hard. I’m so upset about this,” Cindy said, as her eyes suddenly fell on something shining on the rug. She grew silent and looked more closely - a small, glimmering rhinestone was on the floor. It took her breath away for a second, reminded her of something. Cindy became lost in thought then, couldn’t say another word.
“What are you staring at?” Ronnelle asked, following Cindy’s gaze.
Cindy jumped up and grabbed the rhinestone then, clutching it in her hand. She remembered! This was exactly the same rhinestone as the one she’d found in Ann’s room after she died.
Cindy opened her palm and shoved it in Ronnelle’s face. “What’s this?” she demanded.
Ronnelle looked at it confused. “Must be from my jacket,” she finally guessed, “give it to me.”
Cindy felt her eyes flash wide open. “What jacket? Show it to me!”
Ronnelle looked mildly alarmed by Cindy’s intensity. Her voice rose as she pulled an evening jacket of hers off a nearby chair. It had many little rhinestones like that covering the collar.
This jacket, “she proclaimed.
“My God, my God,” Cindy shouted.
“What, lunatic?” Ronnelle matched her volume.
Cindy grabbed the jacket from her and stared at the collar. Ronnelle must have been wearing this jacket the day she’d killed Ann. A rhinestone from the collar must have dropped off accidentally.
“It’s all over, Ronnelle,” Cindy said darkly then.
Ronnelle looked at her blankly. “Nothing’s over, nothing began,” she muttered.