Death by Betrayal (Caribbean Murder #10)
Jaden Skye
Chapter 1
Cindy boarded the plane home from Anguilla alone. She didn’t want Sean accompanying her back now, it was too much. Someday, maybe? She also realized that Mattheus had to remain in the Caribbean with his daughter and her mother to keep them safe. How long would that last? No one knew. The time had come to make important decisions and Cindy wanted to make them alone. She was through with being influenced by circumstances or passing emotions.
Dressed casually in khaki slacks and an azure blue sweater, her long, auburn hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, Cindy stepped onto the plane. She walked down the aisle, found her seat and then she placed her old familiar carryon bag in the overhead compartment. It was hard to believe this moment had actually come. She and Mattheus were actually separated. He would be staying with Andrea, his daughter and Petra, the mother and former girlfriend. Even though Mattheus had said Petra was just a friend now, the three of them were still a family. And where did Cindy fit in? She really wasn’t sure. How in the world would she explain this turn of events to her sister, Ann? Ann would be waiting for Cindy in the airport as usual to pick her up. Undoubtedly, Ann would barrage Cindy with questions about her relationship with Mattheus right away.
Cindy took her seat at the window, put her head back and closed her eyes. A thousand thoughts toppled over one another, each demanding attention. This visit back to the States was going to be different from the others. Cindy’s life had come to a shifting point. This was a definite juncture in the road and Cindy wasn’t sure which direction to take. Should she hit the pause button on her work as a detective and take the cushy job waiting for her as a crime reporter on a top paper in New York? It was an amazing opportunity and Cindy realized it. Yet, calls to solve murder cases kept coming in, and each call stirred her, made her feel alive. By now Cindy knew the Caribbean like the back of her hand. She had developed rare skills in sniffing out killers wherever they hid. When she was on a case she felt was needed and wanted. She was able to get justice in cases that would otherwise go cold and protect innocent people who’d been falsely accused. That made her feel wonderful. But could she take on these cases alone? Would she and Mattheus ever work together as a team again? These questions hung in the air like smoke.
Cindy’s thoughts were rudely interrupted as the flight attendant began announcing instructions for takeoff. Cindy pulled the seat belt on around her and smiled. She was ready for takeoff, ready to go home. She definitely needed something new.
*
The flight went easily and to her surprise, Cindy slept lightly through the trip. There would be plenty of time for thrashing things out when she got home. She wanted to feel fresh and rested when she landed. It was important to start off on the right foot.
As they’d arranged, Ann was right there at the airport waiting when Cindy walked off the plane. As they ran to each other and embraced Cindy wondered how she would ever have gotten along all these years without her wonderful sister. It made such a difference to be welcomed home, to know there was somebody waiting for her who really cared.
“I can’t thank you enough for being here,” Cindy said to Ann as they started walking towards baggage claim. “You’re always here for me, don’t miss a thing. You’re an angel, Ann.”
Ann grimaced slightly, “Hardly an angel,” she replied. Then she sighed and looked at Cindy out of the corner of her eye. “What choice do I have, anyway? You’re my little sister, you’re important to me.”
Cindy knew it was so.
“I’m hoping that maybe this time you’ll stay for a while,” Ann continued, “that we won’t have to keep meeting at airports like this.”
Cindy smiled. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, looking over at Ann. Ann looked more tired than usual, as if she’d been under a strain. “I’m afraid I’ve become a bit of a burden.”
“Of course you haven’t,” Ann replied quickly. “I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that this visit is a bit different. Believe it or not, I have to go back to the airport tonight. I’m leaving on the seven p.m. plane for Bermuda.”
Cindy was surprised. Ann hadn’t mentioned a thing about trip before. “Really?” Cindy said, “how come?”
Ann shrugged lightly, “Frank and I are taking a much needed vacation. He’s been promising me one forever, as you know. This one was actually planned very recently. It’s a spur of the moment thing.”
“Lovely,” said Cindy. Spur of the moment vacations were not like Ann, but it was a good thing, thought Cindy. Everyone needed their time in the sun.
*