Death by Invitation Page 3

  Mattheus stopped Cindy instantly, though. “Let’s see what this idiot has in mind,” he said. “Let’s wait to see how it unfolds.”

  “I saw the video on Instagram,” Dale practically growled in Fern’s face.

  “The video of what?” Fern began hyperventilating.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.” His hold on her arms grew stronger.

  “Get away from me, Dale.” She tried to pull back.

  “It’s too late for that, sweetheart,” he said. “We’re getting married in a few weeks, remember? I’m never getting away from you again!”

  Fern stared at him and then her eyes filled with sorrow.

  “I saw exactly what you were up to this afternoon,” he breathed, furious. “Nothing was left to the imagination.”

  “This is a bachelorette party, Dale.” Carrie tried to defuse the rage that was quickly growing.

  “I told Fern I didn’t want her having this damn party,” Dale thundered. “I begged her not to, but did she care how I felt? Did she listen to me? Not for a second. And then she flaunted it right in my face. In front of the whole world!”

  “I didn’t flaunt anything, Dale.” Fern’s fear was intensifying.

  “I saw you dancing with that stripper with my own eyes!” he insisted.

  “We were all dancing with him,” Carrie interjected. “That’s what you do at these parties. You go a little nuts. That’s what we’re here for.”

  “Not in my world, you don’t go nuts,” Dale shot back. “Fern promised me nothing like this would be happening.”

  “Nothing happened,” Fern cried out once again, trying to claim her innocence.

  “Oh no?” Her comment seemed to make him madder. “I saw it with my own eyes! It’s on the net! Everyone’s looking. You enjoy making a fool of me?”

  “Who posted the video?” Fern asked, alarmed.

  “I have no idea,” said Carrie, horrified.

  “That’s what you’re worried about? Who posted the video? You don’t care about what was on it?” Dale was flailing around.

  A crowd gathered around the couple as Cindy and Mattheus joined in, pushing others out of the way. They had to stop things from escalating and Cindy stood as a human barrier between Fern and Dale.

  Fern looked at Cindy, surprised and grateful. Her frightened glance touched Cindy to the core.

  “Who the hell are you?” Dale flung at Cindy, then. “And what business is this of yours?”

  “It’s everyone’s business when a young woman is being treated disrespectfully.” Cindy felt heat rise in her heart.

  Dale’s face blanched. “You think someone like this deserves respect?”

  “Of course I do,” proclaimed Cindy.

  “She doesn’t! And I’m the one who’s been treated disrespectfully!” Dale growled.

  Fern reached out, gave Cindy’s hand a little squeeze. “It’s okay,” she tried to whisper.

  “No, it’s not okay,” Cindy insisted.

  “You can say that again.” Dale took a step closer to Fern. “For all I know you slept with that stripper, too!”

  Fern closed her eyes desperately. “I didn’t sleep with him. I swear to you. But you never believe me, whatever I say,” she whimpered.

  “You slept with him, didn’t you?” Dale suddenly thrust Cindy out of the way, grabbed Fern, and started shaking her, as Mattheus entered forcibly then and pulled them apart.

  “Okay! Enough is enough!” Mattheus yanked Dale backwards to the door, nodding at the bouncer there.

  Dale was taken away and the crowd quickly circled around Fern, as if to hold her up.

  “It’s okay,” Carrie said to the crowd, as she went over and put her arms around Fern. “These things happen, we’ll work it out. Her fiancé just got the wrong idea.”

  Chapter Four

  After Dale was hauled out of the club, things quieted down and the party-goers left to find their fun elsewhere. A pall hung over both the club and evening, though, as the nasty effects of the encounter between Dale and Fern lingered on.

  Cindy and Mattheus decided to end the night early and go back up their room. Tomorrow would be a busy day with the rest of their wedding party arriving. As they walked through the lobby to the elevator, Cindy saw people gathering in small groups. The news had spread like wildfire and they were probably talking about what had just happened.

  “It’s a lovers’ quarrel, let’s leave it alone,” Cindy heard an older man say to a woman beside him. “Those girls were asking for trouble, having a party like that.”

  Cindy threw a quick glance at Mattheus, to see if he’d heard the comment and what he thought of it.

  Mattheus showed no response at all.

  “Did you hear what that older guy said?” asked Cindy, when they were out of his earshot.

  “What guy?” asked Mattheus, preoccupied.

  “Do you agree that the girls at the bachelorette party were asking for trouble?” Cindy went on, curious about what Mattheus would say.

  Mattheus seemed thrown off guard for a moment, but quickly recouped.

  “Nobody asks for trouble directly,” he replied slowly. “People get carried away, don’t see the big picture. They become hungry for the pleasure of the moment and forget the people around them who are going to get hurt.”

  Cindy was taken with Mattheus’s reply. She loved that he was so thoughtful.

  “The people who get hurt take revenge. It becomes a vicious cycle and sooner or later, things escalate.” Mattheus was on a roll now. “That’s when we get called in. Seems like it’s happening more and more these days.”

  As Mattheus spoke a harsh clap of thunder resounded. Cindy jumped, and then there was another one.

  “Oh God, a storm coming?” asked Cindy, thoroughly surprised.

  “There wasn’t a storm predicted.” Mattheus looked edgy.

  “But it is the beginning of hurricane season,” Cindy breathed. “Remember, I mentioned that when we set the date for the wedding.”

  “It’s just the very beginning of hurricane season,” Mattheus quickly countered. “It’s unusual for a storm to come up this fast. There’s always fair warning.”

  “Not always,” said Cindy as they got to their room and a few more unexpected claps of thunder burst loudly over the hotel.

  *

  Cindy and Mattheus slept through the torrential rains that fell all night long. When they awoke early in the morning, the rains had slowed a bit, but strong winds were still blowing.

  “My God,” said Cindy, sitting up in bed, “it’s bad out there.”

  “Probably the tail end of a storm nearby,” Mattheus muttered, not taking his head off the pillow. “It’ll quiet down soon.”

  “I hope it won’t affect the planes landing.” Cindy got out of bed slowly and went to the patio to look out. The beach below was filled with broken tree branches, driftwood, seashells, and assorted flotsam and jetsam that had been tossed up onto the shore.

  “Rough storm last night,” Cindy called to Mattheus, who soon joined her out on the patio.

  “Looks like it’s quieting down now though,” he replied, putting his arms around her. The telephone in their room began ringing.

  “Who’s calling so early?” Cindy felt ruffled.

  Mattheus went back inside to answer the call.

  Planes wouldn’t be landing with rough winds like this, Cindy realized. The rest of their guests would be delayed. Maybe they were calling to let her know. Strangely enough, Cindy felt relieved at the thought of it. Having her mother, Frank, and her uncles here, along with Lance, was a lot to handle as it was.

  “Cindy.” Mattheus quickly stepped back out onto the patio with her.

  Cindy felt trouble instantly. She sensed it in the tone of his voice. “What?” she asked, frightened.

  “Sit down for a minute,” Mattheus said. “Something’s happened at the hotel.”

  Cindy felt a flash of terror. Had someone in her family been h
urt? Was it the storm last night? Had someone drowned in it?

  “What is it, tell me immediately,” Cindy demanded.

  “Fern’s gone missing,” Mattheus uttered.

  “What?” Cindy couldn’t grasp what she was hearing.

  “No one can seem to find her anywhere on the grounds,” Mattheus continued, nervously.

  Cindy grew cold; all of it also made sense in a gruesome way.

  “Frank was on the phone,” Mattheus went on. “He couldn’t sleep last night and went down for coffee early. That’s when he heard the news. The hotel’s buzzing about it. They’re searching for Fern everywhere, right now as we speak.”

  “Who’s searching?” asked Cindy, carefully.

  “First it was security at the hotel and now police on the island have been called in. I heard that Lance has also jumped in to help.”

  “Good for him,” said Cindy.

  “What do you think?” Mattheus’s voice had a sudden steely tone, as if he was flipping into work mode.

  “I think if Fern had any sense, she ran away,” Cindy replied. “I think she saw who her fiancé was finally. He scared her to death. She skipped out on him, ran for safety.”

  Mattheus was silent a moment. “Unlikely,” he then said.

  Cindy looked over at him. “Why?” she asked. “Makes perfect sense to me.”

  “All her friends are down here supporting her,” Mattheus remarked. “Most likely she’d seek solace with them. Her creepy fiancé’s the one who would be getting out of town.”

  “This isn’t a guy who runs away,” Cindy retorted. “No way he would leave her here alone.”

  “Right now, the girls are gathered in her room, hysterical,” said Mattheus. “Fern would have told one of them if she decided to take off.”

  Just then the phone rang again. Mattheus rushed in for it.

  “It’s Lance,” he called out to Cindy, who still stood on the patio as the wind blew fitfully in her face. Had Fern taken off? Or had she left her room and been tossed around in the storm? Had she gotten lost maybe? Or had she come to harm?

  In a few minutes, Mattheus walked somberly back out onto the patio, stood behind Cindy, and pressed his face up against her hair.

  “It doesn’t look good,” he whispered, nervously. “They found all her things left in her room. If she left, she didn’t take anything with her.”

  Cindy shivered.

  “Now they’re scanning the hotel grounds, inch by inch. The hotel’s in lockdown. No one’s allowed in or out.”

  “My God,” whispered Cindy.

  “Nothing to worry about,” Mattheus reassured her. “Lance said they expect the case will be open and closed, over before we know it. Her idiot fiancé, Dale, has been taken in for questioning, after carrying on like that. Either he spills the beans and leads the cops to her remains, or else!”

  “Stupid of him to carry on in public,” Cindy couldn’t help respond.

  Mattheus shook his head. “He’s a rotten, nasty, paranoid guy and things probably just got out of control. It happens all the time.”

  Cindy took a step away, closer to the railing of their patio.

  “One more thing,” Mattheus added. “Lance has been doing research and found out that Fern’s father is Stan Lollins.”

  “So?” Cindy turned back around.

  “I knew the name was familiar,” continued Mattheus. “Believe it or not, I know Stan well. Right now he runs one of the biggest security companies around. But for years he was a detective. He actually was my first mentor, taught me most of what I know.”

  “That’s crazy,” said Cindy.

  “I know,” said Mattheus. “Lance said that Stan’s on his way down. God help the person who hurt his daughter! He’ll have him torn limb to limb.”

  Chapter Five

  Before long the search went into high gear. The hotel was cordoned off as a crime scene, with everyone kept in place. Police sprawled out all over, and volunteers spanned the area, searching for a sign of the beautiful bachelorette. In the meantime reporters and paparazzi lined up outside the hotel, waiting for any scrap of news.

  By the time Fern’s father, Stan Lollins, arrived, the police had been searching for several hours and the chief of police, Ted Rawson, had set up the Crime Center in the hotel. In fact, Ted Rawson knew of Stan’s work as a detective and looked forward to meeting him.

  Ted Rawson was a big, shrewd Caribbean cop with a fat belly and squinty eyes. Nothing got past him and cases like this irritated him. He had no problem saying that to the press. Rich kids from the States came down to St. Thomas and partied without limits, until they couldn’t see straight. Then, naturally, something lousy happened, and his police force took the brunt of it. Mostly, he was the one looking bad and left picking up the pieces.

  Ted had taken over a hospitality suite at the hotel to set up the Crime Center. Guests were asked to come in to report whatever they might have seen, even though it might seem insignificant. Then they themselves were questioned about their activities. Ted decided to man the Center himself for a while to get the feel of what he was up against now. Actually, he enjoyed talking to guests, getting clues from all possible directions.

  Normally Cindy and Mattheus would have immediately introduced themselves and joined in the search. But with their wedding coming up so soon they decided to back off. It was enough of a problem for them right now that their guests wouldn’t be allowed into the hotel until work on the case had gone further.

  “This is terrible!” said Cindy, when she’d heard about it.

  “It’s okay,” Mattheus assured her. “The hotel is a crime scene now. It won’t last long. The hotel can’t stay on lockdown forever. The police must know something. If you ask me, this case will be over before it starts.”

  Cindy was rankled at the thought of it. “A wonderful young woman’s gone missing! They have to take all the time they need.”

  “How do you know she was so wonderful?” Mattheus exclaimed.

  Cindy thought of the few moments she’d shared with Fern the past evening. She’d seemed sensitive and full of life.

  “The word is that Fern loved the ocean,” Mattheus continued. “They’re checking for her down at the beach right now. She could have run there after her fight with Dale, jumped in for a moonlight swim, and gotten pulled out in an undertow.”

  “Possible,” said Cindy, remembering how she’d thought the same thing when Clint had gone missing.

  “Yeah,” Mattheus agreed, unconvinced. “Right now, of course, everything is possible. Unlikely though, I’d say.”

  Cindy knew Mattheus was thinking about the huge public fight Fern had with Dale the night before. What were the chances she’d run to the beach alone after something like that? It seemed more likely that they’d gone back to her room later on to work things out. His anger could have escalated. Dale didn’t look like a guy who’d calm down so fast. Had they come to blows? Did he kill her inadvertently? That scenario was most likely, probably the one everyone was hanging on.

  “I’m hoping Fern’s going to turn up before we know it,” said Mattheus.

  “Maybe?” Cindy was hesitant.

  “If she doesn’t,” Mattheus went on, “it’s obvious that her fiancé was involved.”

  Cindy had to concede that it looked bad for Dale. He certainly had motive and opportunity. And most likely, whatever else he needed as well.

  “Believe me, one way or another, our wedding won’t be affected.” Mattheus wanted to soothe Cindy’s mind. “The airports are closed right now anyway. By the time they open, things will be back to normal.”

  Cindy didn’t know why she didn’t believe that things were on their way back to normal. Something about the way the wind kept blowing outside relentlessly.

  “One thing I have to do, though, is say hello to Fern’s father, Stan,” Mattheus continued. “I heard he’s arrived at the hotel now.”

  That was understandable. “Of course,” Cindy agreed, “that’s the least
we can do. Do you want me to come with you?”

  “Not this time,” said Mattheus. “Stan’s in such a rough situation and I haven’t seen him for so long. I know he’d appreciate seeing me alone.”

  “Go ahead,” agreed Cindy.

  “I’ll only be gone a few minutes,” said Mattheus.

  “Take your time, no pressure,” said Cindy, knowing full well it would be more than a few minutes. A dragnet in the search for Fern was forming. These things always took time. But for now Cindy almost looked forward to having some time in the room to herself.

  *

  Mattheus took the elevator two floors down and walked to Stan’s room slowly. Memories of his early days as a detective rose up, as Mattheus remembered how much help Stan had been. It had been at least six or seven years since he’d last seen him. Would it be too much of a shock for Stan to see Mattheus now during a crisis like this?

  Mattheus knocked on Stan’s door guardedly, and was surprised when it opened fast.

  “Yeah? What is it?” Stan stood there, rumpled, eyes swollen and face drawn tight.

  “Stan,” Mattheus started, “remember me?”

  “My God!” Stan looked confused. “It’s been years. What the hell are you doing here, Mattheus?”

  Mattheus wished he could have seen Stan again under different circumstances.

  “I’m here at the hotel for my wedding,” Mattheus replied. “Can I come in?”

  “Come in, come in.” Stan was totally flustered. “Your wedding? To who?”

  Mattheus walked into the room, which was a mess with Stan’s things sprawled all over the floor and across the small sofa that stood next to the window.

  “Where’s Carole?” Mattheus asked, looking around. He remembered that Stan’s wife, Carole, had always kept things in order for him.

  “She’s with her second husband in Spain right now,” Stan remarked caustically.

  “I’m so sorry,” said Mattheus, surprised to hear the news.

  “It’s better this way,” Stan interrupted. “Carole doesn’t know about Fern yet. In fact, let’s hope there’s nothing for her to find out. Fern’s a little like her father, a wild one, you know.” He ran his hand through his rumpled hair. “She’s got a short trigger, is impulsive. It doesn’t surprise me that she ran away.”