Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

Sean looked over at Cindy quickly and their eyes met in a flash. His eyes were interested, kind and yet, totally uncompromising. He seemed to want to assess how much Cindy knew about what had gone on.

Cindy quickly returned to the comment August had made. “How has Mattheus’s behavior been questionable?” she asked, feeling as though she were a mother talking to a teacher at school about an unruly son.

“Mattheus was heard threatening the victim a day before he died,” Sean filled Cindy in.

“The guy was abusing my daughter,” Mattheus retorted, “and also abusing the mother.”

August made a sour face. “The mother, Petra, was married to the victim. He had a right to say to her whatever he wanted.”

To Cindy’s surprise August spoke of the victim with a touch of fondness. It made Cindy wonder if the two of them knew each other, or if they’d been friends.

“I wasn’t threatening the guy,” Mattheus jumped back in. “I was just warning him not to push my daughter around. He’d grabbed her elbow and swung her hard.”

Cindy gave Mattheus a quick look out of the corner of her eye, warning him to shut up. Nothing he said would do him any good.

“Andrea also happens to be Cain’s stepdaughter,” August sounded disgruntled. “Someone’s got to discipline these lousy kids. How do you know what she was up to? How much do you really know about her at all?”

That quieted Mattheus down. “Not much,” he agreed solemnly, “but no one deserves to get pushed around.”

“So, what brings you down here, now?” August leaned forward. “That’s something we’re also looking into.”

“Mattheus came down to see his daughter because of me,” Cindy spoke up definitively. “He and I were about to get engaged and I didn’t want this hanging over our heads. First I wanted him to find his daughter, meet her, and get things straightened out. Who knew what would have happened if she turned up one day and we were married and had a family of our own?” Cindy felt she owed them a swift and honest explanation. It was easy to get lost in a maze of suspicions and she needed to clear the air right away.

Both August and Sean listened to her intently.

“So, you’re the one who wanted him to meet her?” August’s eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me that basically, he didn’t give a damn?”

“I’m not saying anything of the kind,” Cindy was exasperated. “Of course Mattheus cared.”

“Prove it to me,” August demanded.

“Mattheus searched for Andrea and found her,” Cindy shot back. “Once he met her, he even ended our relationship in a second so he could be a dad to her.”

All the men in the room grew silent and Sean took a deep breath.

“What do you mean ended your relationship?” August asked stiffly. “You’re right here.”

“When Andrea met me she didn’t want anything to do with me,” said Cindy. “She didn’t want anyone getting in the way between her and her dad. She needed him though, and asked him to come and visit. On one condition only - he had to leave me behind.”

“And he agreed?” Sean asked, fascinated.

“In a second,” Cindy responded, once again meeting Sean’s eyes.

“I wasn’t leaving forever,” Mattheus jumped into the fray, “just for however long needed to get to know her.”

“But who knew how long that would be?” Cindy continued briskly. “And, Mattheus did it without a second of consultation with me. There was no hesitation, no decision. That’s how much he cared.” Cindy stared at Sean, who was transfixed by her now.

“That must have hurt like hell,” Sean commented.

“Yes, it did,” Cindy replied.

“So, what are you doing down here now?” August leaned in closer.

“I came down on a professional basis to help by old partner out,” Cindy responded. “I’m not going to let him get waylaid by rumors and suspicion. I live for the truth, I find it at all costs and then and let the truth speak for itself.”

August took a deep breath and shook his head slowly. “Honey, you’re really something. Now I see why they wrote all these articles about you. Mattheus was one lucky guy to have had a partner like you.”

Mattheus looked out of the window, distressed as August spoke. “I still am one lucky guy,” he responded.

August turned back to him in a flash. “Not as lucky as you think. Your daughter’s in big trouble, and for all we know, you may be too.”

Sean walked over and put his hand on August’s shoulder. “Let’s take it slow before we jump to conclusions. One step at a time.”

August nodded, he seemed to really like Sean. “Okay, my boy, you take over here. Do what you can with these two.”

Sean reached into his pocket then, and gave Cindy his card. “You can reach me at this number,” he said. “We need to stay in touch.”

Cindy was grateful to have a link to the police. And she was particularly pleased to be able to work with someone from her own country, like Sean.

“Thanks so much,” she answered.

“First settle in,” Sean continued, “then give me a call.”

Mattheus looked out of the window during the exchange, the muscle in his jaw clenched.





Chapter 7