Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

*

Cindy and Mattheus turned the next corner. It was getting late and through the fading light Cindy looked at the thick trees and bushes that lined the streets. They were overgrown and wild looking, as though they hadn’t been tended to for years. It was eerie to walk under them and the odd shadows they cast along the streets.

Cindy and Mattheus walked up a hill and then down a winding, curvy road, to a street lined by simple, flat houses, standing close to each other.

“The second house in the middle of the block is theirs,” Mattheus said, as he led Cindy to the narrow, framed door. A light was on inside, but otherwise the house seemed empty and quiet.

Mattheus knocked once loudly, and then pushed the door open.

“Petra never locks it,” he said as they walked into the foyer.

A sense of oppression overcame Cindy as she walked into the space. The foyer was messy, crowded with shoes and scarves and the feel of death reeked from every corner.

“Petra hasn’t been taking care of things since this happened,” Mattheus continued as they walked through the clutter into the living room. When they entered the room was empty, except for paper plates with old food on it, some paper cups and a few towels strewn around.

As Cindy looked around, a woman’s voice called out from the next room. “Who’s there?”

“It’s Mattheus,” he quickly responded.

“The day’s over, get out of here,” the woman’s voice called back in a low tone.

“Petra always says that,” Mattheus turned to Cindy. “She says it to everyone, then she comes around. She’ll walk out in a little while. No matter what she says I think it’s a good idea for her to meet you. And for you to meet her, too.”

It was more than a good idea, it was crucial. Cindy knew they had to talk, she just hadn’t expected to meet her so quickly. Petra held the keys to a lot of what had happened. It was an important visit and Cindy wished she’d had more time to prepare for it. .

As Mattheus had predicted, a woman now came ambling out into the room. Her long, curly hair was messy, strewn over her face, and she wore loose, cotton pants and an oversized faded shirt with blue peacocks all over it.

The woman stopped when she saw Cindy and stared at her dully.

“Who the hell is this now?” she mumbled, rubbing her hands over her face, looking through half closed eyes.

“Petra,” Mattheus took a few steps forward, “this is my partner, Cindy Blaine.”

Petra stood taller at that and quickly opened her eyes. “Now you got a partner?” she suddenly seemed interested.

“Mattheus and I work together as detectives,” Cindy quickly filled her in. She didn’t want Petra getting any wrong ideas, or Mattheus throwing up smoke screens between them.

Petra took a step closer, and even in the hazy light, Cindy could see that she’d once been a beautiful woman. She probably she still was when she was put together. Right now, though, she seemed so disarrayed, Cindy couldn’t decide if she were on drugs, or just still reeling from shock.

“So, you came all the way down here to meet me?” Petra asked in a slurry tone.

“I came down here to find out who killed your husband,” Cindy replied.

Petra shut her eyes quickly and then opened them in a flash, suddenly looking like a caged tiger. This woman wasn’t on drugs, Cindy decided, just in an altered state of mind.

“So, you’re gonna be the big hero? Petra turned on her. “Think a lot of yourself, don’t you?”

“I’m not a hero, just do my job,” Cindy replied unmoved. She had no intention of buying into Petra’s act or letting her manipulate her.

“What makes you think that you can find out who killed my husband?” Petra seemed undaunted.

“It’s my job” Cindy repeated. “I’ve found out things like this before.”

“Yeah, I heard, you’re famous or something,” Petra sneered. “The police told me.”

None of this was relevant and Cindy wasn’t getting side tracked. “How come you’re not thrilled I’m down here?” Cindy countered. “Don’t you want the killer of your husband to be found? Cindy suddenly felt as though she were putting Petra on warning.

Petra threw back her head and laughed, startling both Cindy and Mattheus.

“I love it how you folks from the States come down into our territory and try to take over, acting like we’re all idiots. You’re so smart, eh? You think you ever can know what’s really happening down on the Islands? Well, you can’t, and you never will.”

“Don’t you want us to know?” Cindy stared in Petra’s eyes, which seemed distressed and sly at the same time.