“I thought he wasn’t a suspect. I thought he could go home,” said Cindy.
“Yeah, that’s why we’re checking, because he’s leaving soon,” said Mattheus. “Believe me, there’s nothing going on with him. He’s gets emails from Riva telling him she’s sorry for his loss. The guy needs a little comfort and connection, so he emails her back. Nothing out of the order. Could be Riva feels responsible for what happened, after all, she’s been hanging out with Sean. She probably knows much more than she’s letting on.”
“Conjecture,” said Cindy.
“You refuse to agree with me about anything,” Mattheus became solemn, “you refuse to take in the facts. I’m wondering why? What’s behind this, anyway? Are you playing for time because you don’t want the case end and us to be together?”
Cindy picked up her wine glass and drank it all down. Mattheus felt overwhelming.
“You’ve turned all your suspiciousness onto me, again,” said Cindy plainly. “It exhausting.”
Mattheus stood up at the bar. “Because you won’t answer my questions. Come clean, Cindy, what’s going on?”
“I’m tired of being suspected for every little thing,” said Cindy. “It wears on me like a pound of rocks. It doesn’t work, it’s painful.”
“Well, I’m sorry to have turned into a pound of rocks in your life,” said Mattheus, leaving his drink half unfinished, turning and leaving the bar.
CHAPTER 20
Despite the overcast sky and blustery weather Cindy decided to leave the hotel and walk along the shore to the natural volcanic pool about a mile away. It was a beautiful site that she had wanted to spend time at since she got here.
As soon as she stepped out of the hotel, warm, thick, salty winds blew at her, tossing her hair onto her face. It actually felt good to walk through the tail end of the storm, amidst the shells and driftwood that had been brushed up onto shore. The wild, windswept feel of the place oddly soothed her.
Cindy walked slowly, enjoying the feel of her feet on the sand and breathed deeply. Clay and his family would be probably leaving in a couple of days, as soon as the airport was ready. The case was going nowhere fast and Cindy felt sad about it. She felt badly for Kate’s family as well, particularly Carl. At first he’d seemed like a mountain of strength, and now he seemed more desperate for a way to make sense of things. Cindy found Carl interesting. He had many unexpected and interesting qualities.
The wind blew up as she walked and it was awhile before Cindy realized that someone was walking behind her, getting closer with each step.
“Cindy,” a male voice said behind her.
Cindy spun around.
“God, I didn’t mean to scare you,” said Carl, his hair blown about by the wind.
“You did though,” said Cindy laughing.
“I called to you while I was behind you,” he spoke quickly. “You didn’t hear me?”
“The surf must have drowned it out,” said Cindy.
Carl took a step closer and to Cindy’s surprise, it felt good and comforting to have him there with her.
“I’m on my way to the volcanic preserve,” said Cindy as the foam from the waves blew in their faces.
“May I join you?” asked Carl loudly, over the waves.
“Looks like you already have,” said Cindy, and they both smiled.
“Good, let’s go then,” he put his hand gently in the crevice of her back, turning Cindy back in the direction she was walking in.
“You’re an incredibly brave young woman,” Carl said as they started walking again.
That surprised Cindy, “Why?”
“You don’t see it,” he said, “you don’t see anything about yourself,” and he put his whole arm closer around her.
“Carl, I’m with Mattheus,” Cindy said then, edging away.
“Then where is he, at a moment like this?” asked Carl.
“At a moment like what?”
“At a moment of danger and loneliness,” Carl replied spontaneously.
“What’s the danger?” Cindy was confused.
“We just had a disturbing interview with Clay,” Carl continued. “We just found out that Sean didn’t give the bracelet to Riva. Things are stirring, unknown forces working.”‘
“It’s always that way in my line of work,” said Cindy quietly.
“Mattheus should be at your side,” Carl was emphatic.
Cindy was stung. “We like time alone,” she answered defensively, “we need it. Especially when working on cases.”
“Is this work you plan to do forever?” Carl asked, his brow curling. “Don’t you want to settle down and have a family one day?”
Cindy was silent. Of course that had been something she’d wanted all her life, something she’d hoped for and planned.
“Maybe?” she said.
“Maybe?” Carl was taken aback. “Why only maybe?”
Cindy felt as though Carl was turning into an Uncle to her now, looking after her the way he’d looked after Kate her whole life long. And, to her surprise, Cindy liked it.