Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

“Stop, stop,” Sean was running towards him and calling out at the top of his lungs.

Cindy watched through the windshield as Mattheus came to a halt, straightened up and

Sean approached. She knew she should get out of the car, but was frozen.

“What have you got in your arms?” Sean pulled Mattheus over as if he were a common criminal.

Mattheus opened his arms. There was nothing in them.

“What are you doing down here? Who were you just with?” Sean was digging right in.Cindy suddenly felt enraged. Sean had tricked her into coming down here. What would happen when Mattheus saw her here too? Sean was talking to him, but Mattheus wasn’t saying a word. Cindy was glad. He didn’t have to. But it looked as though they were almost at blows.

Cindy quickly stepped out of the car and ran over. Mattheus’s jaw dropped open in horror when he saw her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he gasped.

“It’s enough,” Cindy said sharply to Sean. “Leave Mattheus alone.”

Sean backed down somewhat.

“What are you doing, working with Sean?” Mattheus was outraged. “Spying on me? Dressed to the nines? Going out with him?”

“None of the above,” yelled Cindy.

“Then what’s going on?” Mattheus suddenly seemed devastated.

“Sean and I were driving to Magenta Tavern, to check out Andrea’s alibi. That’s why I’m dressed to the nines. Unexpectedly, he took a detour, wanted to show me where Pedro operated from.”

“You have no right to be here, Mattheus,” Sean jumped in, upset. “We asked you not to, to lay low.”

“I’ve got every right,” Mattheus charged back at him. “You’ve got my daughter locked up in jail and me under suspicion. Can’t think of a better reason than that.”

Cindy had to agree. “Mattheus is right,” she said firmly. “He has every right to talk to anyone he wants to.”

Sean stepped closer to Mattheus. “What did Pedro tell you? We’ve got to know?”

“He wants to find the killer as much as I do,” Mattheus suddenly smirked. “He asked me to find him.”

“Wants you to work for him?” Sean was appalled.

“He wants to help me find out who did it,” said Mattheus.

“And once you do, he’ll shoot both of you dead,” Sean remarked.

“What did you tell Pedro?” Cindy could hardly believe that Mattheus had access to him.

“I told him I want my daughter out of jail, that she didn’t do it.” Mattheus proclaimed.

“What else?” Cindy got between him and Sean.

“I told him the police think I’m a suspect. Pedro laughed at that and told me they had it upside down. It was me who should suspect them.”

“Mattheus, Mattheus,” Cindy reached out and put her hand on his arm.

He quickly shook her away. “I’ve got my car down here and Sean has his. Whose car are you driving back to the hotel in?” Mattheus answered fitfully.

“Sean and I are supposed to go to Magenta’s Tavern,” Cindy replied.

“Guess I had enough for one day,” said Sean. “I’ll pass on that stop for now. You can go there with Mattheus, if you want to.” Obviously, Sean was upset that Cindy had gotten between them and sided with Mattheus.

Mattheus was in no shape to go to Magenta’s Tavern though and Cindy didn’t want to go with him anyway.

“I’ll just go back to the hotel,” said Cindy and get a taxi of my own to go from there.

“Okay, that’s fine,” said Sean. “Go back to the hotel with Mattheus, because I have to go straight to the police station and file a report, anyway.”

“About what? About me?” asked Mattheus.

“Who else?” said Sean. “It’s not every day we find someone who’s been able to talk to Pedro. That’s got to be on the record, pronto.”





Chapter 17


At first Mattheus was dead silent in the car going back to the hotel. Cindy looked out of the window as they drove, trying to keep perspective. Naturally, Mattheus was surprised to have seen her with Sean, even though she’d told him many times she needed his help on the case. As they drove along the narrow roads, the tension finally became so thick Cindy could barely breathe.

“This is not time to indulge in crazy jealousy,” Cindy finally broke the silence. “Your daughter’s life is at stake and frankly, yours may be as well.”

Mattheus just gripped the driving wheel more tightly.

“I’m on your side Mattheus,” Cindy continued. I have been siding with you all along. I’m your advocate with the police.”

“I didn’t know I needed an advocate,” Mattheus muttered.

“Well, you do,” Cindy said.

“I’m that bad off?” asked Mattheus.

“You could be,” Cindy replied. “Nothing is clear.”

“You can say that again,” Mattheus relaxed a little.

“The police are shocked and disturbed by your access to Pedro,” Cindy went on abruptly.

“Naturally, they’ re watching you closely.”

Mattheus took it in. “I suppose you’re right,” he conceded. “But what choice do I have? The police have aced me out and there’s got to be a good reason for it.”