Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

“I don’t for sure,” Petra’s head shook. “But they’ll talk to someone, they’ll talk to me.”


“Why should they talk to you, Petra?” Cindy felt enraged. “Do you know something I don’t about them?”

“Jesus, you bitch, I’m her mother, after all,” Petra eye’s flashed with anger.

“Are you really?” Cindy flung back at her.

Petra flinched at the barb and the atmosphere grew thick with pain. Mattheus tried to calm it.

“Wait a minute, you two,” he stepped between Petra and Cindy. “You’re both on the same side. There’s no reason for this animosity.”

“Your Cindy hates my guts,” Petra proclaimed. “You told me so yourself. You said she thought I was a terrible mother, that I let Cain beat Andrea.”

“Did you?” Cindy swerved away from Mattheus and looked Petra right in the eye.

“Women get beaten down here all the time,” Petra was practically frothing at the mouth. “All the time. If I got between them when he beat her, I might even end up dead. It’s happened to others before.”

“So, why did you marry a monster like that?” Cindy shot back at her.

“He wasn’t like that when I met him,” Petra said in a suddenly shaky tone. “He was good to me, he was good to Andrea. And he was strong. I thought he would protect us.”

“How about your other husbands?” Cindy would not be mollified.

“They haven’t been killed, it’s Cain we’re talking about,” Mattheus broke in then.

“But they beat Andrea, too!” Cindy’s voice got high.

“That has nothing to do with the case now,” insisted Mattheus.

“And what about the guy who went with you to visit Andrea in jail?” Cindy continued like a steam engine, barreling along. “Was he the one who gave her a good beating in jail?”

At that Mattheus finally looked shocked. “What the hell are you talking about?” he said.

“Oh, you hadn’t heard?” Cindy stepped back, “someone came and beat Andrea up in jail.”

Mattheus got dead quiet. “Is that true, Petra?” he asked.

“I heard some rumor like that,” said Petra, off handedly. “How does Cindy know about it?”

“I heard it from the police,” said Cindy.

“From who, Sean?” Mattheus became incensed.

“Who’s Sean?” asked Petra, fascinated.

“A policeman on the force who’s got a thing for Cindy,” murmured Mattheus.

A big smile broke out on Petra’s face then. “So the little lady isn’t as pure as she looks,” she said gleefully.

“Sean’s the point man assigned to this case,” Cindy replied methodically. “He gave me the news and we have to explore it. You know more about Andrea’s life than I do. Could the beater have been one of Andrea’s Johns?”

“One of who?” Mattheus grew pale.

“Your daughter dealt drugs and was into prostitution,” Cindy reported factually, as if she were giving him the time of day.

“Go to hell,” Mattheus practically spit at Cindy.

“Hate me all you want,” said Cindy. “The facts are the facts.”

“I don’t believe them,” Mattheus’s voice grew louder.

“So ask Andrea’s precious mother,” said Cindy.

Mattheus turned to Petra, his eyes flaming. “Is this true, Petra?” he thundered. “Was Andrea into drugs and prostitution?”

“Yes, it’s true,” Petra replied boldly, suppressing a little smirk that rose at the edge of her mouth.

“It is?” Mattheus seemed to be reeling.

“You think I had such an easy time with the slut?” Petra continued.

Mattheus looked as if he were going to faint. “The slut?”

“The beating happened after you and your friend visited Andrea,” Cindy swung the conversation back to Petra. “Did your friend beat her the way the rest of your husband’s did?”

The horror of Cindy’s question seemed to revive Mattheus. He shot to attention as if he’d had an electric shock.

“Who was that guy with you when you visited Andrea?” Mattheus suddenly asked.

“He’s an old friend from the neighborhood,” Petra replied. “I’ve known him for years. He doesn’t mean a thing, just a neighbor.”

“Why was he with you when you came to visit Andrea?” Mattheus kept it up.

“Heck, I needed support,” said Petra. “Give me a break, I’m not the bad guy here. I’m the victim, remember?”

“Some victim,” breathed Cindy, as she stared at Petra heartlessly.

“Who beat Andrea?” Mattheus kept focused on Petra.

“I have no idea, honey,” she said. “Andrea had a way of getting herself beaten. She had a life of her own and some real creeps in it.”

“A life filled with Johns?” Mattheus asked, alarmed.

“Yeah, some Johns, and also kids she hung out with.”

“Kids she dealt drugs with?” Mattheus went on. “Is that why they were afraid to talk to Cindy?”

“It’s not easy down here, Mattheus,” Petra took a step closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

He took if off immediately. “Who else did Andrea hang out with?”