Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

The second Cindy got out of the house, before she even hailed a cab to the jail, she called Sean, on his emergency phone number.

“What’s wrong?” he answered instantly.

“It’s not an emergency,” Cindy started, “but I need your help.”

“You’ve got it, always,” Sean breathed into the phone.

“I’m taking a cab to the jail now to speak to Andrea. I want you to come with me,” Cindy said in a husky tone.

“Why now? What’s up?” Sean was right on it.

“I’ll tell you when I see you,” said Cindy.

“That’s a deal,” Sean replied.

*

Sean was waiting in front of the jail when Cindy’s cab pulled up and ran to the door to open it.

“What happened?” he asked urgently.

Cindy took a deep breath. She was partially sorry that she’d called him on his emergency number, but also glad that he’d responded so quickly and was here with her now.

“I had a terrible meeting with Petra,” she said, “that woman freaks me out.”

“That’s it?” Sean sounded let down.

“Petra said maybe Andrea was better off in jail,” Cindy continued, “she said that maybe she was safer there.”

“Maybe she is,” Sean echoed.

“What are you talking about? That’s crazy,” Cindy was amazed by his response.

“I just meant that Andrea needs time to cool off,” Sean continued, “she can be volatile, says one thing and then contradict herself a minute later.”

“You think Andrea did it, don’t you?” Cindy turned to him pointedly. Petra wasn’t even dimly on Sean’s radar, and Cindy wondered why.

Sean looked away. “I’m not sure who did it,” he said slowly, “there’s a good chance that Andrea did, but I have something to tell you, too. The medical examiner’s report just came in. “

“Oh my God,” said Cindy, “when?”

“About an hour ago,” Sean continued. It showed from the autopsy that the time of death was most likely a few hours before Andrea was caught on the scene. Her fingerprints are on the knife, but there are someone else’s fingerprints there, too. They’re trying to find out who. So far, they don’t match anyone in the files.”

“That’s huge,” said Cindy.

“It’s something,” Sean had to agree, “but it’s inconclusive, doesn’t prove anything. Andrea’s alibi is vague, hasn’t been corroborated. And the fact that there are other fingerprints on the knife just suggested she may have had someone with her to help with the killing.”

“Have you guys checked her alibi?” Cindy quickly asked.

“We’ve asked around,” Sean answered, vaguely.

“I need to speak to Andrea myself, right now” Cindy went on. “Actually, I called to take you up on your offer to come with me when I meet her.”

“Of course,” Sean nodded his head. “It’s a good idea for you to speak to her. I imagine she’ll like you once she gives you a chance. And you’ll get the bigger picture when you have a chance to talk to her, as well.”

“Thank you, Sean,” Cindy said, relieved, putting her hand on his arm.

Sean took her hand into his then, quickly. “Any way I can help you, I always will,” he replied, quietly.

Cindy took a deep breath. On the one hand it felt wonderful having him beside her, offering support. On the other hand, she felt as if she barely knew him at all. Her thoughts drifted to finding Mattheus at Petra’s house and how painful that had been. She hadn’t said a thing about it to Sean, because he disliked Mattheus enough as it was. If he found out that Cindy found him at Petra’s it could certainly add to his suspicion that Mattheus had motivation for getting rid of Cain.

“Let’s go into the jail now,” Sean gave Cindy’s hand a little pull. “I told the guys on the force you were coming, and I guessed you wanted to see Andrea, too. It’s all arranged.”

*

Sean let Cindy’s hand go as they walked down the narrow hallway to Andrea’s holding cell.

“You wait here,” Sean stopped at the waiting section, “and I’ll go in and bring Andrea out.”

“Is she expecting me?” Cindy was surprised as she took a seat at the narrow table.

“I informed her that she might have a visitor soon,” Sean replied, as he left to get her.

*

The waiting space was small and stuffy, and the old fan that whirred above, made a low, creaky sound. The fact that Cain had died earlier in the day, before they found Andrea there, at a time she claimed to be with others, certainly made it even more important to investigate her alibi. And what about the other pair of fingerprints on the knife? Once they found who they belonged to, the case would really open up.

In a few minutes Sean walked out with Andrea beside him. Dressed in loose overalls and an old T shirt, her hair sprawled around her face, she looked somewhat frightening.

“Her?” Andrea barked, the minute she saw Cindy.