Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

Mattheus stood up swiftly. “When did Sean tell you that?”


“I had a meeting with him this morning,” said Cindy, “while you were at the jail.”

“And you never told me a thing about it? You set it up behind my back?” Mattheus’s face flushed.

“Hold on a minute,” Cindy held her hand up. “I’m not exactly the enemy here.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the meeting with Sean before you had it?” Mattheus shot back.

“I’m telling you now,” said Cindy, “and besides, so what? I’m down here doing a job the best way I know how. I have a right to meet with anyone I care to.”

That quieted Mattheus for a moment. “There’s something between the two of you,” he muttered then.

“Jesus Christ, Mattheus,” Cindy turned on her heel. “This isn’t a time for you to get crazy and jealous. It won’t work. It’s gonna get in the way. Number one, we’re not together anymore, remember? Number two, I’m working with the police here, you’re not. Number three you have bigger things to worry about than whether or not Sean and I are getting along. Much bigger. Not only is Andrea in trouble, you are too!”

Mattheus fell back down on the couch then, as if the wind had been knocked out of him.

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” he breathed. “I just don’t trust Sean, not for a second.”

“You don’t have to trust him, I have to,” Cindy remarked.

Mattheus looked up then, and as they stared at each other, he calmed down.

“What did Sean say about the underworld here?” Mattheus asked suddenly composed.

“He said it’s one of the most twisted and dangerous underworlds around, drugs, sex, trafficking. And that I shouldn’t go down to their haunts alone.”

“Okay,” Mattheus suddenly stood back up on his feet. “I’ll tackle the underworld down here. I’ll look into who they are, and Cain’s connection to them. You go talk to Andrea’s friends, find out who they are and what she was doing that afternoon.”

“And, what she’s hiding,” Cindy quickly added. “When we find what’s she hiding, we may have the key to who killed her stepfather.”

“I hope so,” said Mattheus.

“And, there’s one more door we have to walk through,” Cindy continued. “Petra’s got a lot of information that will blow the case wide open.”

Mattheus blanched. “You’re right.”

“She’s hiding a lot from us, as well,” Cindy continued.

Mattheus couldn’t help but agree. “And that guy she was with,” he went on. “Who is he?”

“Why is he such a big deal?” Cindy asked. “He could be a friend or neighbor -.”

“No, he’s more than that,” Mattheus insisted. “I could see right away that they’re an item.”

Cindy stopped and stared at Mattheus hard. “And does that bother you?” she asked definitively.

“Of course it does,” Mattheus shot back. “Her husband’s been killed a short while ago and here she is with someone else. For all we know that guy’s involved in the killing. Maybe he’s the one who pushed Andrea to do it?”

“Possible,” Cindy murmured. Then she looked at Mattheus again. “Is that why it bothers you so much?”

Mattheus looked over at the windows then, and through them to the sky. “I’m upset for Andrea,” he said in a throaty tone.

“You’re not upset that Petra’s lost her husband?” Cindy couldn’t stop questioning him.

“No,” Mattheus came back and looked at her directly. “Not a husband like Cain.”

*

After Mattheus left to go to his room, rest, and then dig into the underworld, Cindy went to the phone and immediately called Sean. She needed the names of Andrea’s friends and also wanted facts about the police’s evidence.

Sean picked up immediately. “It was great getting to know you,” he said right away.

“Thanks,” said Cindy. “I really appreciate your help. I need it.”

“Of course,” said Sean warmly. “This is not a job for a woman, alone.”

Normally, Cindy would have reminded him that she was here with Mattheus, but this time was completely different. Mattheus wasn’t really a trusted partner in the case. The police were right, he was way too involved in lots of aspects of it. Cindy wanted Sean to feel as though the two of them were working closely together. He might be more willing to give her the information she needed then, and share details he ordinarily might not have.

“I just spoke with Mattheus,” Cindy said to Sean then, filling him in.

“So did I,” Sean quickly added. “He’s something else.”

Cindy didn’t know what Sean meant by that and didn’t want to ask right now. “He’s determined, to solve the case,” she replied.

“Okay,” said Sean, non-committally.

“It’s too bad he can’t work along with you,” Cindy continued.

“That’s not up to me,” Sean replied.

Even if he’s not working with you guys, he has a right to investigate, and he needs to,”

Cindy continued.