Dear Kate,
Do not come back to see me again. Do not bring Carl or Mattheus. I, too, am grieving and must recover. There is no respect here for me, no one cares about what I’m going through. Kate warned me about Carl and now I see how right she was. He’s cold hearted and nasty. If Kate knew you, she would have warned me about you too. She’d stay, stay away from all of them, Clay. They’re all predators, looking for a kill. I’ve written poems about predators that have been published. I can spot a predator whenever I see one. And now I see one. A woman like you, with many men, must not come back to see me.
Cindy shivered. She read the note a few times. It was disturbing and bizarre. She had to show it to Mattheus, it had to be explored.
Cindy quickly took her phone to call Mattheus. His answering service took her message.
Then she quickly called Carl. “I got a strange, upsetting note from Clay,” Cindy said to Carl immediately.
“What kind of note?”Carl’s voice sounded strained and nervous.
Cindy wanted to have Carl come over and read it for himself, but what if Mattheus suddenly returned?
“Clay’s warning me not to come and see him again,” said Cindy. “And he said you mustn’t go either.”
“I mustn’t?” said Carl. “Well, now I’m going to make a point of making another visit. The airport won’t be open for another two days, so, I have time. I’ve already checked on him and found out that when he’s not in the hotel he goes roaming somewhere. I’m going to find out exactly where. He’ll go there and I’ll surprise him.”
“Why are you going? For spite?” asked Cindy.
“I’m going because this guy puts my teeth on edge,” said Carl. “I want to find out more about him for myself.”
Cindy liked the idea, and she liked Carl’s defiance, his determination to see things through and unwillingness to take things on face value.
“Okay,” said Cindy, “I’m going back onto Kate’s Facebook Page to check things further now. Let me see what else has popped up.”
“Clay doesn’t have a Facebook page,” said Carl. “Now that says something, doesn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” said Cindy. “Some people are private. Let me see what else I can find on Kate’s Page.”
*
Kate went straight to the computer on the patio, sat down and quickly went onto Kate’s Facebook Page. It was now filled with messages of sorrow, horror and condolence. People were posting constantly, as if she were still alive.
Kate, Kate, how did this happen? We love you. We’re praying for you.
Kate, we’ll never forget you.
I don’t believe you’re gone, Kate. I refuse to believe it. I’ll miss you forever.
Someone had posted pictures of Kate as a little girl, and then all through her years growing up. There were many photos of her there with Sean, at all different important occasions. They actually looked lovely and happy together. Cindy wondered who posted it all? Maybe a combination of her friends and family? The photos were compelling and moving. Cindy stared at them, tracing the journey of a young woman to the day she met her fiancée, and the fateful week-end she became engaged.
Now, in what looked like a memorial for her, there were also posted little messages that Kate had written to others in the past. They were simple, engaging and playful, describing her day lightly.
Sean and I had the most wonderful time roller blading, she wrote. The day was perfect.
Here are some pictures of Sean and me apple picking. What a beautiful day.
It was both heartwarming and unnerving to hear Kate describe her days in her own voice.
Cindy decided to scroll down once again and look at the messages Kate had posted announcing her engagement that fateful night.
Happy, thrilled, excited, she wrote.
Cindy carefully scanned every single message in response.
Someone, hearing about the engagement, had sent her a quick reply.
Be careful, Kate, the message said.
Kate answered just as quickly. Don’t worry, there are no predators on this island. Everything is safe and fine.
Cindy felt a chill go through her back as she read that one. Predators was not a word Kate had used anywhere else, or would have used, thought Cindy. It didn’t fit her. It was Clay’s word, not hers. Cindy sat there staring at the message. Why would Kate even think of a predator? And how wrong, she’d been about it.
As Cindy sat there staring at the computer, the room to the door opened and she heard Mattheus walk in.
“What are you doing?” he called, walking out onto the patio casually, as if nothing out of the ordinary between them had happened.
“I’m going through Kate’s Facebook page,” said Cindy.
“You did that already,” Mattheus replied.
“I’m doing it again,” said Cindy, defiantly.
“Find anything new? “asked Mattheus.
“First read that note Clay sent me that’s on the table outside,” said Cindy. “After that, I’ll tell you what I found.”