Death by invitation, p.11
Death by Invitation, page 11
This is crazy and you know it,” said Cindy. “They have to check other prints. For starters, have them check Kirk’s fingerprints, immediately. And while you’re at it, see if he has an alibi.”
“Dale’s alibi isn’t so great,” Mattheus countered immediately. “He said he took a room of his own, but no one saw him go in or out of it.”
“We’re not talking about Dale now, we’re talking about Kirk.” Cindy was insistent.
“So, you go get his alibi from him.” Mattheus was put out. “You’ve talked to him already.”
“Yes, but I didn’t get an alibi and I don’t want to. Kirk likes talking to me and I want to keep it that way. You go check him out thoroughly and also his creepy girlfriend Rowe. And check the fingerprints and alibis of the other girls at the party, too.” Cindy was on a roll.
“Who are you thinking of?” Mattheus was startled.
“Check Marge, check Willow, check them all so no one feels singled out,” Cindy said.
“That’s not going to happen, Cindy,” said Mattheus, “and you know it.”
“Before we know it, they’ll all go home.” Cindy was irate. “Is that what the police want? To close the case fast and pin it on Dale?”
“Things are not looking good for Dale,” Mattheus repeated.
“I don’t care how things look.” Cindy stamped her foot on the ground. “There’s not a shred of physical evidence tying Dale to the murder. Give him a break. Check everyone else!” Cindy didn’t know why Mattheus was stalling. It was totally unlike him. Was he under the spell of his friend Stan?
“All right, I’ll go down to the station and put it in order,” Mattheus relented. “Then I’ll make an appointment to talk to Kirk. I’ll be back after that, it won’t take long.”
Cindy felt relieved. “Thanks,” she said.
“You’re right and I know it,” said Mattheus. “One thing we know at least. Most likely, the killer is someone down here right now in our midst.”
*
After Mattheus left, Cindy brooded about what was really going on. It was unlike
Mattheus not to be more proactive. So far, he’d been focusing pretty much on Dale and spending time with Stan. Stan was totally convinced that Dale had committed the crime. Cindy could see how Stan could influence Mattheus, especially as a former mentor.
As she sat there musing, there was a sudden knock on her hotel room door. Cindy jumped up right away, to see who was there.
To Cindy’s complete surprise, her mother stood there, with both uncles at her side.
“Well, what a lovely surprise that you’re here. We’ve tried before and no one’s answered,” her mother said as the three of them, uninvited, wandered into the room.
“Come in,” said Cindy as they were already inside.
“This suite is beautiful,” her mother exclaimed, “magnificent, romantic.”
“Well, it’s the wedding suite, after all,” said Charles, cheerfully. “What could be better?”
Cindy’s mother laughed lightly. “What would be better would be for the actual wedding to take place. That would actually be a miracle, if you asked me.”
Cindy knew her mother never let up. Any chance she got she found something wrong. Nothing ever suited her.
“How’s the case going, Cindy?” asked Charles, trying to distract Cindy.
“It’s tricky,” said Cindy.
“It always is, I imagine,” Ben muttered, “must be confusing too.”
Cindy’s mother walked all over, looking around. “Where’s Mattheus?” she said, disconcerted. “I expected to see him here, too.”
“Mattheus had to run down to the station for a few minutes,” said Cindy. “He’ll be back shortly.”
Her mother turned to her then, exasperated. “How long is this going to go on, Cindy? Tell me, please!”
“How long is the case going to go on?” Cindy was confused momentarily.
“Not the case! The wedding.” Her mother was at her wits’ end. “We didn’t come down here for the case. We came down to see you get married. How much longer do we have to wait?”
“I’m hoping we’ll be able to have the wedding in a few more days,” Cindy replied, uncertainly. “After the guests at the bachelorette party go home.”
“The case will go cold then?” asked Uncle Ben.
“I certainly hope not,” said Cindy, “but the intensity of the investigation will die down.”
“Cindy”—her mother stepped closer to her—“tell me the truth. Is this delay of the wedding something Mattheus is concocting? Is he getting cold feet?”
Cindy was horrified. If anything, she was the one who had had cold feet a little while ago. Thankfully that had passed and she was excited about the wedding now.
“I find it bizarre that Mattheus’s old mentor would just be at this hotel by chance,” her mother barreled on.
Ben interrupted then. “Wait a minute, Mattheus didn’t plan this murder, did he?”
“I’m not suggesting that, Ben,” her mother snapped. “I’m just wondering if the victim’s father could be filling Mattheus’s head with all kinds of fears. I saw the two of them walking outside in passing. The father looks like an unsavory character. He couldn’t be a good influence on anyone.”
Cindy was appalled. What right did her mother have to judge Stan?
“Fern’s father’s in mourning,” Cindy snapped back. “How is he supposed to look? Fancied up? And for your information, Mattheus actually suggested that we get married quickly, to forget about waiting. He suggested we all just go to a justice of the peace right away and get it done!”
“What?” Cindy’s mother was beside herself. “Go to a justice of the peace down here? Forget the wedding? What about the guests who are coming? What about us?”
“The wedding would be the celebration party,” said Cindy, “we’d all have a wonderful time.”
“That’s nuts.” Her mother flared up. “Totally nuts and disrespectful. Why would Mattheus even suggest something like that? I was right all the time and it’s obvious now. Something’s definitely amiss. The more I hear about this, the more frightened I am. It’s off the wall, admit it. I’m not sure you should marry him at all.”
“Nothing is amiss.” Ben tried to calm her mother down. “Things happen at weddings that we could never expect. We would have been included at the justice of the peace. What’s so bad about that?”
“This is over the edge, Ben, face it!” Cindy’s mother demanded. “Mattheus wants to get married secretly when everyone’s coming for the wedding? What’s he hiding from? Tell me.”
“It’s not so over the edge,” Charles joined in then, trying to make light of it. “Mattheus is trying to do what’s right. He’s helping his friend who just lost his daughter. He’s taking good care of Cindy. He just doesn’t want anything to stop them from getting married. It’s a creative idea. Give him a break.”
“How is Mattheus taking good care of Cindy, exactly?” Her mother didn’t seem to agree.
“Cindy and Mattheus are on a mission together,” Charles responded. “How would you like it if Cindy was down here alone, tracking killers?”
The thought of that quieted Cindy’s mother. They all stood there silently for a moment as the door opened and someone walked in. It had to be Mattheus, thought Cindy, wondering how he would deal with her family gathered here.
Chapter Sixteen
Mattheus walked in and stopped in his tracks when he saw the group of them.
“Why so quiet?” he asked, looking around.
No one said a word in response.
“Hey, guys, this is a celebration,” Mattheus continued. “Why do I feel like I’ve walked into a funeral instead?”
“Where’s the celebration, Mattheus?” Cindy’s mother burst out. “When is it happening? Is it even happening at all?”
“Of course it’s happening,” Mattheus said matter-of-factly, “just a little delay. And guess what? I’ve planned something special for the next few days so your time down here won’t be wasted.”
“What did you plan?” Ben seemed uneasy.
“The Carnival’s starting tomorrow.” Mattheus seemed excited. “Tourists and visitors from all over the islands are gathering to be in the parade. There’s excitement about it, the hotel’s filling up with those who’ve come to see it.”
“And what does this have to do with us?” Cindy’s mother seemed unimpressed.
“I’ve planned for a tour guide to take our guests to the Carnival and have them join in.
There will be amazing musical performances, food, dancing.”
Cindy was thrilled to hear this. “How wonderful, Mattheus. What a fabulous idea,” she breathed. “A pre-wedding celebration!”
“I didn’t come down to go to the Carnival, I came down to attend my daughter’s wedding.” Cindy’s mother blanched.
“You’ll have a great time at the Carnival.” Charles seemed to love the idea. “We all will, including Frank and Sandra.”
“Please do not include Sandra in our plans, Charles.” Her mother’s voice rose. “Do you have to rub this in?”
“Who’s Sandra?” asked Cindy, forgetting for a moment.
“She’s one of the fantastic girls at this bachelorette party who seems to have latched onto Ann’s husband, Frank,” her mother replied.
“Whoa, wait a minute, Ann is gone,” Mattheus broke in. “Frank was her husband. She’s not here anymore.”
“Can’t help but agree,” Charles chimed in.
“Say what you like.” Cindy’s mother was bitter. “It’s a disgrace for Frank to carry on with this young woman under our eyes.”
“Frank deserves a chance for happiness, doesn’t he?” Cindy stepped forward. “Ann’s been gone awhile. He’s respected her memory.”
“How would Ann feel about this?” her mother demanded.
“Ann would be happy about it,” said Cindy, remembering her wonderful sister who only wanted the best for everyone.
“Happy?” her mother sneered.
“Mom,” Cindy interrupted her, “it has to be lonely to be at a wedding without anyone at your side.”
“But look who he’s choosing. She’s not worthy of Ann. This girl’s tawdry and much, much younger than him.” Cindy’s mother flared up. “What she sees in him, I can’t imagine.”
“Ann wouldn’t judge anyone,” Cindy reminded her mother.
“Frank’s having a passing fling, and I, for one, don’t like watching it,” her mother insisted. “It makes everything cheap.”
“We don’t know that it’s a passing fling,” said Charles. “Frank’s happy. I haven’t seen him so happy for a long time.”
“Well, I’m not happy,” Cindy’s mother proclaimed. “Not about anything!” Then she turned fiercely and fled from of the room.
Cindy’s uncles, Charles and Ben, left to go find her mother and Cindy was relieved to be alone with Mattheus again.
“Your mother’s a handful,” Mattheus remarked. “There’s nothing I can do that will ever please her, is there?”
“Not you or anyone,” said Cindy. “But don’t worry, we won’t see her often.”
Mattheus grimaced. “I didn’t mean it that way. After all, she is your mother. I’ll be good to her, no matter what. She did do one thing right that was terribly important!”
“What?” asked Cindy, curious.
“She gave birth to you,” said Mattheus, smiling. “Best thing she ever did in her whole life.”
Cindy smiled, touched. “Maybe my mother doesn’t appreciate it, but I’m so glad you scheduled the guide for the Carnival,” she said. “While they’re waiting for our wedding, the guests will now have a wonderful time.”
“Thank you,” said Mattheus, “it’s a relief.”
“I told my family the wedding should be in a little while,” Cindy went on. “I figured the guests at the bachelorette party will be allowed to go home soon.”
“Very soon,” said Mattheus carefully.
“Oh my,” said Cindy. Time was running out; they hadn’t solved anything.
“No worries,” said Mattheus. “I have an appointment to speak to both Kirk and his girlfriend in a few minutes. I’ll put the pressure on. After that, I’m talking to Willow. I’ll scare her a little, see what else comes up.”
“What happens after the guests go home, Mattheus?” Cindy felt alarmed. “Will the case go cold?”
“It’s possible,” said Mattheus. “That happens to lots of cases down here.”
“We can’t let that happen, though.” Cindy was fired up once again. “Every murderer leaves something behind. There’s a trail of this killer and we have to find it. Has Fern’s room been checked thoroughly?”
“It has,” said Mattheus. “And Lance has been working along with the police, talking to the guests at the hotel. So far they’ve come up with nothing. Lance actually wants to speak to you, though.”
“To me? About what?” Cindy was surprised.
“I don’t know. I told him to come up and join us in a few minutes,” Mattheus said. “Thank goodness your mother left before he arrived.”
*
In about ten minutes Lance knocked on their door and Mattheus immediately let him in. As always Lance seemed in an upbeat mood, wearing a lively, tropical printed shirt and khakis.
“Good to see you, Cindy,” he started.
“Thanks so much for all your help,” Mattheus said.
“Hey, it’s my pleasure,” said Lance. “It’s an honor to help you guys. Can’t wait for the wedding, too. More of your guests are starting to arrive now.”
“I know,” said Mattheus, throwing Cindy a quick glance.
“Crazy stuff happens at weddings all the time,” said Lance. “It’s okay that it’s a little delayed. People understand.”
Cindy was grateful to hear that.
“In fact, it’s great for me.” Lance grinned. “It gave me a chance to meet Kimberly.”
Mattheus looked startled. “One of the gals at the party?”
“Not just one of the gals, the best, the most beautiful. She’s an angel,” Lance went on.
Cindy and Mattheus smiled at each other.
“I know a terrible, terrible thing happened down here,” Lance spoke quickly. “But something wonderful happened too.”
“You and Kimberly?” asked Cindy, delighted.
“In every bad thing you can also find something good happening,” Lance whispered. “I’ve seen it again and again.”
Cindy also knew that was true. “And how about Frank and Sandra?” she couldn’t help ask.
“You mean the older guy?” said Lance.
“My brother-in-law,” said Cindy.
“He’s great, he’s happy. He found someone, too.” Lance’s voice got a little louder. “Every time you see them, they’re holding hands.”
So many feelings tossed about in Cindy now. Wherever she looked there were new beginnings happening. Along with missing her sister, she was happy for Frank. How ironic that he met someone at her wedding. Cindy only wished she could help Fern’s family, too, see the case come to a conclusion. It would make Cindy feel better before she herself walked down the aisle, starting her own new chapter.
“Listen,” Lance broke into Cindy’s reverie then. “I found out something I want to tell you about. I’m not really sure it’s anything, though.”
“Let’s have it,” said Mattheus, eagerly.
“It may or may not be something important. I don’t want to get your hopes up,” Lance went on.
“Tell me.” Cindy became excited.
“You know the cops and I have been talking to the guests at the hotel,” Lance continued. “Most say they saw nothing and have nothing to add to what we already know.”
“Most?” asked Cindy.
“Yeah,” said Lance, “but there’s this strange old lady who has a room on Fern’s floor. She told me she saw something that night, but only wants to speak about it to a woman. I tried to get her to say more, but she’s adamant.”
“Could be a little senile?” said Mattheus.
“It’s possible,” said Lance. “I know it’s peculiar, but I wondered if Cindy could talk to her, anyway?”
“Absolutely,” said Cindy.
“Great,” said Lance. “I don’t want to send you on a wild goose chase, but there’s definitely something on this woman’s mind.”
“What’s her room number?” asked Cindy, excited. “I’ll call immediately and go for a talk.”
Chapter Seventeen
Cindy called on the hotel phone and the old woman picked up and told her to come and talk to her immediately.
As Lance had mentioned her room was a couple of doors down from Fern’s. When Cindy stepped out of the elevator onto the floor a heavy pall still hung over the hallway. Most of the guests who’d been there during the murder had vacated their rooms, which still seemed empty. This older woman was determined to stay on in her room, as she had planned, though.
The very second Cindy knocked on the door, a short, slightly bent woman flung it open.
“Come in, come in, I’ve been waiting for you,” she said. Dressed in a sun dress, she was tan, with curly white hair and piercing blue eyes. “It’s about time we talked.” She waved Cindy in.
Cindy entered the impeccable room where everything was in its perfect place. A small ivory statue of the Virgin Mary stood on the table near her bed.
“I’ve been praying for that girl, yes I have,” said the old woman, noticing Cindy looking at it.
“It’s terrible what happened,” Cindy murmured.
“Yes, it certainly is,” said the older woman. “If that young woman been brought up the right way she could have had a beautiful life. She could have had a husband and children running around her and have lived to watch them grow up strong.” The old woman was definitely shaken to the core.
“That’s why I do this work,” Cindy murmured, “to help people like her and their families.”
The old woman stared at Cindy sharply. “But how exactly do you help them? By the time you’re on the scene they’re already dead.”
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