“Damn right she’s back,” said Flan. “We have our little spats and she gets over them. It’s as simple as that. That’s what couples do, they fight, they make up. The Shelter gives her a little breathing room to come to her senses.”
Despite herself, Cindy felt afraid of telling him she’d actually spoken to Katrina. This guy’s energy left no room for equivocation. She had no idea what he’d do to her then.
“And by the way,” Flan continued, “Katrina knew all about Shelly and me. She knows about all of them,” he relaxed a little then. “She’s used to it, it’s no big deal. A guy needs what he needs and takes what he takes. But, Katrina’s my wife and no one else. Shelly knew that, too. They all do.”
“Did that upset Shelly? Did she make a fuss about it? Get on your case?” Cindy couldn’t imagine how Shelly could have gone along with this, except for his sensual, animal energy.
“You know you look a lot like Shelly,” he laughed then, reaching out and stroking Cindy’s hair.
Cindy flinched.
“Don’t run away, it’s cute,” he said then. “Both of you are gorgeous. Shelly was great in the beginning too. We were good for each other, but then she became to be too much! Exhausting, over the top. I could see how rough she could have been on her husband. How about you? You doing Mattheus, too?”
Cindy felt nauseous, thinking of Mattheus sleeping with Shelly and thinking of herself caught up with all of them.
“Where were you when Shelly was murdered?” Cindy demanded swiftly.
Flan stopped in his tracks and stared at her.
“What the hell did you just ask me?” The question really took him aback.
“Where were you when Shelly was killed?” Cindy was fed up with him.
“That’s a hell of a presumptuous question!” his eyes flared.
“No one else has asked you?” asked Cindy.
“Why should they?” his eyes narrowed into slits.
“Well, I need to know,” Cindy wasn’t backing down.
The ocean water lapped against the boat loudly then and a few sea gulls, howling, flew by.
“Honey, you don’t need anything, except what I want to give. Get it?”
Cindy looked around suddenly realizing that the two of them were alone on the deck.
“It’s a routine question,” said Cindy firmly.
“There’s nothing routine about it to me,” his voice got deeper. “You’re suggesting that I’m a suspect. Who the hell invited you on my boat anyway?”
“Why is it a problem letting me know where you were?” Cindy wouldn’t be intimidated. She didn’t like it, wouldn’t take it.
“It’s a problem for me being pushed around by a damn, stupid woman, that’s what!” he threatened. “If I were you, I’d shut up.” His hands turned into fists, and he bit his lower lip.
“I have no intention of shutting up,” Cindy said, standing taller and looking straight at him. “I’m doing my job. You tell me where you were!”
Amazed, Flan reached out and grabbed her shoulders.
“You go to hell, little bitch,” he said, “no broad talks to me like that.”
Cindy tried to pull back. He wouldn’t let her.
“Now you tell me you’re sorry, nice and slow,” he said, his face up against hers, his hands digging into her shoulders.
Cindy tossed her head. “I’m not sorry for anything.”
He drew back his hand and suddenly slapped her hard on the face. Cindy was stunned. It burned like hell. She struggled harder to get out of his grasp.
“You see this ocean, it would just take me a minute to flip you into it, and nobody would know where you were, nobody would care! One of my sharks would eat you for dinner. Then he’d get indigestion.” And he slapped her again.
Cindy shouted in pain. “Get the hell away from me!”
“You shut up, or I’ll dump you in the water! You’re asking for it.”
Cindy shouted louder then and suddenly heard sounds of footsteps rushing up to the deck. She squirmed around and to her tremendous relief, saw Mattheus.
Mattheus raced up and yanked Cindy out of Flan’s arms. The he flipped Flan from behind and threw him down onto the ground, stamped his foot on him and held him there, as he dialed for police.
“The police know we’re here, they’re waiting to hear,” Mattheus muttered.
Flan struggled to get up, but Mattheus knew how to keep him locked down.
“Who the hell are you? Mattheus?” Flan mumbled, his face squashed down onto the ground.
“Damn right,” said Mattheus.
“Yeah, well, I did your wife,” Flan gurgled. “She loved it too. Boy, did she love it. Said you were the pits!”
Cindy saw Mattheus face grow red and ferocious. She put her hand on his shoulders to calm him.
“Don’t take the bait, don’t take it,” Cindy whispered to him.
“I’m going rip this guy limb from limb,” Mattheus muttered.
“Not now,” said Cindy, “calm down. You were here all the time, you were watching me?”
“Hell, yes,” said Mattheus. “Think I’d let you see this scum bag alone?”
*