Rising Tide Read online

  Just then the girl at the desk called his name. Uh oh, it’s time. Better be sharp.

  He entered the room easily, willing himself to walk slowly and smile as he said, ‘Detective Keary, I’m William Dunlop.’ He didn’t do the Billy routine this time.

  ‘Have a seat,’ Keary said, looking at a file in front of him. ‘I’m sure you’re aware of what happened this morning on Manchebo Beach?’

  ‘Yeah … I am, sir,’ Billy answered, switching to his most sincere voice. ‘Awful, awful thing.’

  ‘You also probably know that the girl was last seen here on Saturday night. We’re talking to anyone who might have seen her.’

  ‘I hadn’t heard that. Wow, that’s tough for the Bluffs. But I’m afraid I can’t really help you. See, I was working set-up here on Friday from nine to seven. It was a pretty long day.’

  ‘Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself, William, or is it Billy?’

  ‘Billy, my friends call me Billy. Well, I was born in the States—’

  ‘Where ’bouts?’

  ‘New York, well, upstate New York, a little town called Athens, right on the Hudson River.’ A dump of a town – three thousand people, a few stores, a couple of restaurants and a shitload of old houses people liked to call historic. Billy hated it. His father worked odd jobs and his mother minded the kids and occasionally cleaned other people’s houses.

  ‘How’d you end up down here?’

  ‘After I graduated from high school I tried college. I was smart enough, but it just wasn’t for me. So I picked up and moved to New York City.’ He should’ve said he’d barely graduated from high school after three suspensions in his senior year. And the college thing? That was his mother’s fantasy. He was smart enough, all right – smart enough to get out of that town as soon as he could.

  ‘I had done a couple of summers as a waiter at home, so I looked for a wait job in the city. I couch-surfed for a while and then got a place in Brooklyn with three other guys.’ Actually, he’d lived pretty rough in the city. He was a busboy and he worked in a coffee shop until a guy he met got him in as relief bartender in a lower eastside dive.

  ‘The girl’s name was Ariana Van Meeterens. Does that name mean anything to you?’

  Whoa, Billy was thrown by the change of subject. It took him a minute to answer. ‘Sorry, no, not a name I recognize. But if she was a guest here I probably—’

  ‘She wasn’t a guest. She was actually working, babysitting.’

  ‘Well, as I said, I wasn’t here on Saturday, just Friday.’

  ‘So, in New York, you’re working in this restaurant – was it a restaurant?’

  ‘No, after that I got a job as a bartender.’ Better stick close to the truth. ‘That’s how I ended up here in Aruba. A friend of mine had a friend who had worked down here tending bar. He told me about it and I was sold. Always hated the winters, the cold and the snow, so I used my savings and headed down.’ Well, he didn’t have any savings, but he beat it out on his last month’s rent and that was enough for a plane ticket.

  ‘How long ago was that?’

  ‘Wow, that’s gotta’ be almost three years ago.’

  ‘And, what have you been doing in Aruba since then?’

  ‘Mostly bartending. I was working down in San Nicolas but I quit a couple of weeks ago. Didn’t like the way my employer treated customers. You know, switching out the booze, no buy backs. That’s why I’ve been picking up some day jobs like I did here at the Bluffs. A friend of mine told me they were doing some day hires and I always loved the Bluffs – it’s a great resort. I make enough to get by and I love the island. I know I can’t do that forever and, sooner or later, I’m going to have to think about the future, but for now …’ Actually, he had been thinking a lot about his future and had made a pretty sweet plan until that stupid bitch had screwed it up.

  ‘And what was your friend’s name?’

  Billy was ready for this. ‘Joey … uh, Joseph Salter.’ Although Joey hadn’t exactly told him about the day job. It was more like Billy had asked him, but who cares.

  Keary picked up a picture and handed it to Billy. ‘Recognize her?’

  Again, the switch. Billy knew this was a tricky moment. He looked down at the picture. She was really something, he thought. Stupid bitch. ‘Man, she’s really pretty,’ he said, not lifting his eyes from the picture as if studying it carefully, and giving himself a minute before he faced the detective. ‘I don’t get it, how could someone do something like that?’

  ‘Did you, by any chance, see her at all on Friday?’

  ‘On Friday?’ Billy repeated, trying to act surprised. ‘Nah. No way, I would have remembered her … Was she here on Friday?’

  Keary didn’t answer that. Instead, he asked Billy to describe the work he had done on Friday. He wanted a lot of details – what time he arrived, where he worked, with whom, what did he do on his breaks, did he work on his own at all, was he down near the bay beach, did he have access to any of the guests’ rooms, what time did he finish, what did he do afterward … Billy was patient, careful. He answered all the questions, even when they were repeated and asked in different ways, even when he felt himself wanting to scream, You stupid bastard, you think I’m brainless. I’m smarter than you, than all of you. It was pretty easy, actually. He could answer everything. Nothing to hide, just that few minutes, three, maybe five, on Friday evening when he’d met up with Ariana on the path. That had been stupid, careless. She’d had that baby with her and the baby had started crying so he’d left pretty quickly. He’d known it was risky, but he had to talk to her, arrange to pick her up at the end of the night, and he was pretty sure no one had seen him. Pretty sure – was that good enough?

  The interview went on for half an hour and Billy felt that he couldn’t take much more. He tried to stay as steady as he could but felt his fingers starting to move almost uncontrollably and he knew he was licking his lips too often. Luckily, it looked like Keary was starting to wind it down.

  ‘Last question: where were you last night?’

  Billy was careful. ‘Let’s see. I went to the beach, stayed pretty late. Went home and crashed for a couple of hours. Too much sun. When I got up I was starving so I headed out to Big Mama’s. Nothing better than their curry grouper.’ OK, stop talking so much, keep it simple. ‘I hung out with friends and then headed over to Charlie’s. I know it can be a little touristy, especially on Saturday nights, but it was late and usually it’s a local crowd by then. Did some shots and then left there, late, probably ’bout two.’

  ‘OK, Billy. Thanks for coming in,’ Keary said. Then, the usual sendoff stuff – we may need to talk with you again; if you think of anything, anything at all, here’s my card. And then, ‘Oh, Billy, can I see your driver’s license?’

  Billy handed it over and Keary made a copy. ‘For our records,’ was all he said as he handed it back.

  Billy walked out as casually as he’d walked in. He would have loved to talk up the girl at the desk but he didn’t dare. Best not to be too memorable around here, just be one more working stiff. As he walked out the door, he heard the girl at the desk say to the redhead, ‘Emily, Annie was wondering if you’d like to stop by the house.’

  He was going to have to do something about her, he thought. But not now. Now he needed something to calm his nerves and those pills in the car weren’t going to do it. He’d head over to the alley near Senor Frogs; he was sure he could score what he needed there.

  SEVENTEEN

  Emily walked up the path to Martin and Annie’s villa. It stood just beyond the main house on the bluff overlooking the ocean. She paused for a minute to appreciate Annie’s gardens, so lush with flowers that they almost looked like a painter’s palette. The house was closely built into the rocks and scrub, so much so that you almost didn’t notice it from the rest of the resort. Emily knew from last year that the views were spectacular and the wide veranda that ran the length of the house managed to catch both sunrise and sunset. />
  She tapped on the front door and heard Annie call from the living room, ‘We’re in here, Emily.’

  The house was as beautiful as she remembered it. Like the rest of the resort, it was almost all white except for the dark wood and splashes of bright tropical color. A series of French doors opened onto the veranda and one could watch the ocean from almost anywhere in the room. The artwork on the walls was local, but different from the works in the guest rooms down below. Here the canvasses were enormous and vibrant, dominating the room. There were just four of them, hung on the wall opposite the French doors.

  Emily had asked Martin about them last year. A very talented young artist was behind them, Martin had told her. Poor, with little formal training, abandoned when he was quite young by a single mother who couldn’t break a devastating drug habit. He had been raised at the Imeldahof’s Children’s Home in Noord. After that he had struggled for a time, lived here and there, got involved in drugs himself. But a friend of Martin and Annie’s had seen some of his small, primitive works and reached out to him. A talented artist herself, she believed that he had a real gift. At her urging, Martin had sponsored him, eventually providing a small living space, which had once been a gardener’s cottage on the property, and helped to promote his work on the island. He gained some success and was seen as one of Aruba’s up-and-coming artists, but his chaotic early life had left his health fragile and he died very young. These were the last four paintings that he did, a gift to Annie and Martin.

  Annie looked better than she had earlier. She sat on the couch, Sarah on one side of her and Alex on the other. Martin and Jon stood talking quietly near the door to the veranda.

  ‘How are you, Annie?’ Emily asked with concern.

  ‘I’m better. I spoke with Kat a while ago. She sounds terrible, but is no longer angry with Thomas and me. They’re so shattered and the afternoon has been horrific, questioning everything, questioning themselves. Could someone Ariana knew have done this? Was there something they should have done? Something they should have known? Something they missed?’ Her voice shook a little. ‘But they both realize that their help is needed if the police are going to find whoever did this. Their older girls are both home, distraught, of course. They were very close. It’s … it’s heartbreaking.’

  ‘I’m sure they’re all devastated.’

  ‘Kat said Thomas was on his way over there, so I thought you might want to join us here for dinner.’

  ‘Thank you, Annie, but I’m fine really. If all of you want to be alone, I—’

  ‘No, no, it’s better to have some company. We can’t really face going down below, although I feel terrible abandoning all our guests. But not tonight; I can’t face it tonight. Tomorrow, perhaps.’ For a moment, Annie turned and looked out at the water. Alex reached out and took her mother’s hand. ‘I invited Peggy to join us, and Maggie. I’m sure Peggy doesn’t want to talk to anyone and now that everyone knows, well, there are always a few who would bother her.’ She shook her head and looked intensely at Emily. ‘Maybe it’s natural, but I find it so intolerable. What’s wrong with people, being drawn to something as tragic as this, like it’s a reality show.’

  ‘It’s hard to understand, but I’ve seen it before,’ Emily said, remembering the times in her old job when she would be dealing with some dreadful event – a young man threatening suicide on a bridge, a young woman attacked in a building stairwell, a child shot on the playground in the midst of a gang war. People crowding around, gawking, holding up cell phones to snap a picture.

  ‘Martin’s sister Alice will join us and … well … possibly his sister-in-law.’

  ‘I’ve met both of them,’ Emily said. ‘Alice seems lovely.’

  In no time, the living room was busy. Alice had just finished her interview and seemed spent. ‘Aunt Alice,’ Alex said, getting up from the couch. ‘Come sit here next to Mom.’

  Martin was at Alice’s side right away. ‘Alice, have this,’ he said, handing her a glass of white wine.

  ‘A man after my own heart.’ Alice took a long gulp. ‘How are you, Annie?’

  ‘Better, thanks, Alice, although heartsick. How’d your interview go?’

  ‘Short. I hadn’t seen Ariana at all. Didn’t even realize she was here until Kat told me at the wedding. How is she … and Christiaan?’

  ‘They’re devastated, how else could they be? The girls are home, thank God. I spoke to Kat a short while ago. The police are there now. It’s been a grueling day. I told her I would come by in the morning.’

  ‘Where’s Christopher?’ Alice asked, looking around the room. Christopher was Annie’s younger brother. An art collector and dealer, he lived in Paris with his partner, Henri. Emily had met him at the wedding – tall and slim, like Annie, and the same salt and pepper hair, although his had decidedly more pepper. He was strikingly good looking, as was his partner. She and Thomas had a long conversation with them about the Paris art scene, something Emily knew little about, but to her surprise, a subject Thomas had a real interest in.

  ‘He’ll be up shortly. He had some calls to make. You know, with the time difference, it’s midday in Paris and work—’

  ‘Oh, you don’t have to tell me; Joe’s been on his cell phone all day. I know they say that these devices make our lives easier, more connected, but I don’t know. It seems you just can never really get away.’

  Joe, Alice’s husband, followed her into the room. ‘What can I get you, Joe?’

  ‘I’d love a Scotch, Martin. Any kind and—’

  ‘I know,’ Martin said, holding up his fingers, ‘with just two ice cubes.’

  Peggy and Maggie arrived next. Emily was surprised at how tired and drawn Peggy looked. ‘I’m afraid no nap for either of us,’ she said as she sat, Maggie on her knee. ‘She’s usually a great napper but she just couldn’t settle down.’ Maggie pulled at Peggy’s short brown curls, giggling as she watched them spring back.

  ‘Why don’t I take her for a little while?’ Alex said, reaching down to pick her up. ‘I haven’t seen her in weeks. We’ll head into the den to play. You relax for a bit, have a glass of wine.’

  Emily wandered into the den after them. In the corner the TV played silently. She watched as the images flashed across the screen. The memorial on the beach had grown massive − flowers and notes, stuffed animals, snapshots, candles. The TV cameras scanned back and forth, zeroing in on particularly poignant scenes – a young man attaching a picture of Ariana sailing to a wreath of flowers, his mother standing behind him; two girls crying as they left a note and a pink teddy bear; a pinwheel twirling slowly in the breeze; a sign, We’ll never forget you. Emily was glad she couldn’t hear the reporter’s voice.

  Dinner was a quiet affair, at least until Martin’s sister-in-law, Joanne, arrived. ‘Martin, Annie,’ she exclaimed as she entered the front door. ‘This has been the worst experience. Martin, how could you do this? Sitting around with all those people waiting for that policeman. And then, all those questions. I just cannot understand it.’

  ‘The police had to interview everyone, Joanne. I’m sorry if it disturbed you,’ Martin said solicitously, but the look on Annie’s face conveyed a very different message.

  ‘Well, of course it was disturbing. The whole thing was disturbing and you know with my blood pressure, well, this—’

  ‘Joanne, why don’t you come and sit down?’ Martin pulled out a chair at the end of the table, far away from Annie and, unfortunately for Alice, right next to her.

  ‘Yes, Joanne, come and sit with me. You can tell me all about it,’ Alice said with a roll of her eyes that Joanne didn’t even notice.

  But Joanne was not content sharing with just Alice and, as soon as she sat down, she commanded the attention of the whole table. ‘I told that young man everything I knew. I saw that girl yesterday – no, Friday – and I’m sure I saw someone with her. Not that baby.’ Joanne had not even noticed that Maggie was seated in a high chair near the other end of the table. ‘How could I ha
ve missed them? The baby was crying. I thought you didn’t allow young children at the Bluffs, Martin?’

  ‘Aunt Joanne,’ Sarah interrupted, an edge to her voice, ‘Peggy,’ she pointed down the table, ‘is a good friend from New York. You must remember; she was at the wedding. And Maggie,’ she pointed again, ‘is her daughter.’

  ‘Oh, yes, yes, that’s the baby,’ Joanne said with a short wave of her hand. Emily was amazed at how Joanne kept going, totally unaware of the expressions on the faces of those around the table. My God, she’s clueless, Emily thought.

  ‘Well, I’m sure that there was someone with her. It was almost dark, but I think it was a young man.’

  ‘Did you recognize him, Joanne?’ Annie said, now totally absorbed in what Joanne was saying. ‘Do you know what he looked like? Could you recognize him again?’

  ‘Oh, Annie, you know my eyes. Just a couple of months ago Doctor Greenberg wanted to do surgery. I just couldn’t face it. Do you know that they do that operation with your eyes open? I thought about it. I imagine it would be a great help, and Doctor Greenberg said—’

  ‘Joanne, please,’ Martin interrupted her. ‘This could be terribly important. Could you give the police a description?’

  ‘I was just trying to explain, Martin,’ Joanne said with a huff. ‘About my eyes and what Doctor Green—’

  ‘Enough with your eyes, Joanne,’ Alice said, banging her hand on the table. ‘Could you just answer Martin’s question? Could you give the police a description?’

  ‘Well, no, of course not,’ Joanne said, obviously annoyed about the lack of interest in her eyes. ‘Oh, but that didn’t stop them from asking a million questions. Where were they? Were they near any of the guest rooms, the ones at the end of the bay beach?’

  ‘Did you happen to notice what the young man was wearing?’ Peggy asked.