Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

“Not as simple as it looks. These guys have rings, are backed by big money, they know how to maneuver.”


The car turned up through a street that looked dirty and hidden. “We’re getting closer to Pedro’s place now,” Sean commented.

“Why are we going there?” Cindy was taken aback, suddenly feeling endangered.

“He’s the main Kingpin on the Island,” Sean retorted. “Once you get to talk to Pedro, you got it made. He won’t talk to the cops, hates our guts. We sit around watching him though.”

“I would think a guy with so much clout would live in a mansion somewhere,” Cindy remarked, “not in a hell hole down here.”

“He likes it here, it suits him,” Sean grinned, “this beast, lays low, and has others do his killing. No one gets close to him. I have no idea how Mattheus is even allowed to roam around in his territory and stay alive.”

“Mattheus has his own protection,” Cindy commented quickly

“From who?” Sean was right on it.

“From wonderful cops and detectives all over the Islands that he’s worked so hard to help,” she replied.

Sean quieted down. “I’m afraid you’re still in love with the guy.”

“No, but I do respect him,” Cindy replied. “Respect is respect, love is love. What about you? What really got you into this line of work, Sean?”

Sean threw a quick look over at her. “My twin sister got killed in a car crash,” he suddenly spoke out, as he drove along. “A drunken driver rammed into her car. After that, I couldn’t go back to life as usual.”

“I’m so sorry,” said Cindy, touched that he would reveal that to her. “Truly.”

“I know you are,” Sean smiled wanly, “otherwise I wouldn’t have told you. I also heard about how your first husband, Clint, got killed. So, we have something in common. Someone we loved gets knocked off unfairly, and we can’t go on.”

“Until we find justice,” Cindy filled in.

“That’s right,” Sean stepped harder on the gas.

“It makes all the difference, finding justice,” Cindy continued, “makes things right again.”

“You can say that again,” said Sean, as the car wound down a hill now and then pulled under a scraggly tree with low laying branches, and parked. The tree was close to a low, slanty dark wooden, house. You could see the house easily, though the car hidden by the branches. “Let’s just sit here awhile,” Sean suggested, as though he were on the lookout out for someone.

“On the lookout for someone?” Cindy asked.

“I often spend time sitting here watching Pedro’s house,” Sean continued, “just to see who comes out and in.”

“And what do you find?” she asked.

“Not much,” Sean replied, “the same old crew I’ve seen before, but sometimes someone new turns up. That’s exciting.”

Cindy wondered what Sean really had in mind, how long they’d be sitting here. She decided to just go along with things and see where they lead. She was also curious about Sean, wanted to know more.

“Were you ever married, Sean? Ever love someone?” Cindy continued. She’d enjoyed learning the little about him that she had.

“Yeah, of course,” Sean spoke more freely now. “I was engaged and she left me when I decided to give up law and join the police force. She couldn’t understand it, just wanted a rich lawyer for her husband.”

“It’s a hard to be married to a cop,” replied Cindy.

“I guess it is,” Sean replied.

“There are plenty of women who would be fine with it though,” she added.

“You trying to pawn me off on someone else now?” Sean threw his head back and laughed a little.

“I’m trying to give you hope,” said Cindy softly.

“You do give me hope, Cindy,” Sean replied. “Now, tell me more about you.”

“I’m doing okay,” she said calmly, “except for a little court case coming up back home. My dead husband Clint’s family have still got it in for me. Now they’re trying to take the house he left out from under me. I’ve got to go back to fight for it soon.”

“How dare they?” Sean bristled.

“I’m used to it,” said Cindy, “not the best crew in town.”

“I’m sorry,” he said and reached his hand out for her, and then suddenly lurched forward. “He’s there, there!” Sean bolted and leaned closer to the window pane.

“Who?” Cindy was alarmed.

“Mattheus! There he goes! I heard he came here. I’ve been waiting to spot him myself. We’re damn lucky to find him.”

Cindy leaned forward and in the heavy shadows, saw a man crumpled over, coming out of the house, darting down the road.”

Sean started honking. “This is incredible luck. Let’s get out of the car!”

“What’s going on?” Cindy was terrified.

Sean jumped out of the car and made a dash to the figure who was edging down the road.

“Stop right there,” Sean yelled out at the top of his voice.

Cindy couldn’t move. Could it really be Mattheus? Why was he crumpled over? What would it mean that they actually found him here?