Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

“You remember me, Andrea?” Cindy asked, as Sean had her sit down opposite Cindy.

“Of course I do,” Andrea practically snarled. “You think I have amnesia? I told my dad to leave you home.”

“And he did,” Cindy replied. “He came down here to be with you without me.”

“So why are you here now?” Andrea looked bitter, as she sat down and rocked back and forth in her chair.

“I came down to help,” said Cindy, less intimidated, as she got used to Andrea’s demeanor.

“Oh yeah, I bet. You think I’m dumb? You think I was born in a rabbit’s horn?” Andrea replied. “Why would you do want to help? One reason only - to get my dad away from me. To bring him back home with you.”

“Not at all,” Cindy replied evenly, showing no reaction to Andrea’s accusations. “I came down because your father asked me to. He wanted help getting you out of jail. I came down because he cares so much about you.”

Andrea stopped rocking and looked up at Cindy directly for the first time.





“He cares about me? You got to be kidding! He’s got you believing that too?”

“He cares about you, Andrea,” Cindy said staunchly. “What happened in the past was when he was young. He’s a different person now.”

“And how would you know that? You can’t say he’s different, because you didn’t know him then.”

Andrea was definitely determined to squash everything Cindy had to say. Then, to Cindy’s amazement, Sean leaned forward and reached out for Cindy’s hands. Cindy looked at him confused, but he winked. Then she remembered, it was part of the plan they’d constructed. They would get Andrea to think that Sean was the person Cindy cared for now. That would make Cindy seem like less of an enemy, and perhaps Andrea could open up.Cindy gave Sean her hands and smiled at him warmly. It felt soothing to have her hands in his.

Andrea watched what was happening, astonished.

“Cindy and I are now working together,” Sean said to Andrea in a soft voice, then.

Andrea had no idea what to make of it.

“We just received more news, too, Andrea,” Cindy then continued. “The results of the medical examiner are in. Cain died earlier in the day, when you said you weren’t even there.”

“I wasn’t,” Andrea loudly exclaimed.

“And we also found two pair of fingerprints on the knife,” Sean joined in. “One was yours and another belonged to someone else.”

Andrea stood up a second and then quickly sat down.

“Who was the other person there, Andrea?” Cindy quickly asked.

“What the hell are you getting at?” Andrea’s seemed confused.

“We need to investigate your alibi thoroughly,” Cindy replied quickly. “We need details. Why were your fingerprints found on the knife?”

Andrea snapped to attention for a second and spoke loudly, “I told them already. When I got there I found Cain dead, lying in a pool of blood. I leaned over and tried to do CPR, so I got his blood all over me. When I couldn’t get him back, I looked around and saw the knife. I picked it up and held it for a second. I wasn’t thinking, I was terrified, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t kill him, I swear I didn’t. I could never kill anyone.”

For a swift flash Cindy completely believed Andrea. “My God, how awful,” Cindy breathed.

Stunned that someone took her seriously, Andrea looked at Cindy dazed. “It was awful, it was horrible, horrible,” then she covered her face with her hands. “I told the police that already, but no one believed me. No one cared. No one checked on the alibi.”

“Sean told me they checked it,” said Cindy softly.

“Don’t believe it,” Andrea moved closer to Cindy then, conspiratorially. “They’re liars. They want to blame me.”

Sean stood up slowly at that point. “Listen,” he said, “I think it’s best for the two of you to talk alone. Andrea will probably feel more comfortable with that.”

Andrea flashed a look of fear at him. “When have you guys ever cared about how I was feeling?”

Sean did not respond, but moved back from the table, then turned and walked out of the room.

“Don’t believe him,” Andrea said swiftly to Cindy. “Don’t let him sweet talk you. He’s one of the cops, acting nice for his own reasons. But it’s all an act. I know how these guys operate. Nobody wanted to hear about my alibi.”

“Well, I want to hear it,” Cindy said quickly. “I really do, Andrea.”

Andrea pushed her hair back from her face then. “I was with friends all afternoon,” she repeated hollowly.

“That’s great,” said Cindy, “where were you?”

“What difference does that make?” Andrea pulled back.

“It makes a difference,” said Cindy, “because we have to get your friends to say they saw you. We need eye witnesses.”

“The police won’t believe my witnesses either,” Andrea quickly replied. “They’ll find something wrong with each one of them.”