“When you say past …”
“It could be something that happened when you and Frank were kids, or something more recent, I suppose.”
“Let me think about that for a moment. You know, maybe I will have that gin and tonic a little earlier, just for today.”
“If you tell me how you like it, and where everything is, I’d be happy to make it for you while you think.”
“So long as you make one for yourself.”
“I’d be happy to,” Sam said, and she directed him to the kitchen. He crossed the terrazzo floor of the living room and entered the bright alcove. On top of a spotless countertop was a bottle of Gordon’s gin and a bottle of Publix brand tonic water. He found some nice highball glasses and made two drinks, bringing them back with him to the patio.
“This is a treat,” she said. “Being served my evening cocktail by a man.”
Sam settled back into his chair and took a sip of the drink. He was worried he’d made it too strong, but Cynthia took a sip as well, and declared it very good.
“Any thoughts?” Sam said.
“About the hotel’s history? Two, I suppose. They both happened while I was still living at the Windward so we’re talking ancient history at this point.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m interested.”
“Well, then, the biggest scandal happened when I was eighteen, right before I left for college. This would be the summer of 1961. There were two guests staying with us, a man and a woman, and after what happened I remember everyone talking about how they had never believed they were husband and wife in the first place, even though they’d apparently presented themselves that way. I don’t remember anything about them even though I was occasionally working the front desk back then.” She paused to sip at her drink, taking her time as though she were trying hard to remember. “They were a middle-aged couple, but on the day they were supposed to check out they never came out of their rooms. A cleaning woman let herself in and found them both dead. From what people said at the time it looked as though he’d killed her with a straight razor, then got into the bathtub and slit his own wrists. I remember the police coming and a bunch of journalists. And I remember that everyone had a different opinion about what had happened. It wasn’t clear whether he’d murdered her, then committed suicide, or if it was some kind of suicide pact. I do remember it turned out that they were both married to other people.”
“Do you remember their names?”
“I knew you were going to ask me that, and I’m afraid that I don’t. All I remember is that they checked in under very obvious fake names. Something like John and Jane Smith. But, no, I don’t remember their real names, but I do remember the room number. Twenty-two. It was one of the rooms in the old motel unit that was torn down in the 1970s. And I don’t think that room was ever rented again.”
“And you’re sure it was 1961.”
“Yes, that part I’m sure about because it was the year I left for college.”
“You said there was another incident.”
“This one’s not quite so lurid, and I think I only remember it because I was a kid when it happened.” She took another sip of her drink, her eyes looking upward as though she were gathering her thoughts. “And I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember the name for this one, either, but when I was about twelve or thirteen a girl who was staying at the Windward crawled into one of the crevices along the base of the seawall and drowned when the tide rose.”
“Did you know her?”
“I didn’t. It was Frank who used to get to know all of the kids who came and stayed for the summer. I spent my time reading in my room. Oh, how funny, I was just going to say that you should ask Frank about the little girl, but of course you can’t do that.”
“No,” Sam said, and paused as Cynthia shifted in her chair. After a moment, Sam said, “When you say the seawall …”
“The jetty on Kennewick Beach.”
“Where Frank died …”
“Yes, of course. I hadn’t made that connection, but, yes. He must have died right near where that girl died all those years ago. It was terrible, of course. Much worse, somehow, than the couple dying in the room. Because it was a young girl, and an accident. Nowadays, if it happened, they’d probably put a chain-link fence all around the jetty, and warnings everywhere. But back then … I suppose that life just went on.”