Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

The woman quieted down. “Yes, of course,” she responded, oddly rational now. “It would be good for us too, to get Andrea out of here. I’ll see to it that she’s taken from jail, and goes with both of you. But if she ever steps back on the island, she’s a dead woman walking.”


Cindy couldn’t move or say a word. She was both horrified and fascinated. This woman obviously had tentacles all over the island and Mattheus was ready to succumb. On the one hand it made sense to save all of them. On the other, a murderer was being left loose and his mother knew it. Jared could easily kill again. Who knows what he’d done before? Cindy couldn’t and wouldn’t go along with any of it.

“Alright,” said Mattheus, “it’s settled then.”

“I’ll have Andrea brought to the airport, 7:30 tomorrow morning,” the woman said. “Meet her at Hangar A. I’ll book tickets on a plane for the three of you.”

“We’ll be there,” said Mattheus.

“Your every move will be watched until then,” she continued.

“Fine,” said Mattheus.

Sensing something the woman suddenly turned to Cindy. “Fine with you as well?”

Despite herself Cindy glared at her. How dare she make a deal like this? Who was she, anyway?

“Of course it’s fine with her,” Mattheus intercepted, “she has absolutely no choice.”

“Go now,” the woman pointed to the open door. “Both of you - get out of here immediately.”

*

Cindy walked beside Mattheus, shaking from head to toe. They walked down to the front of the estate slowly retracing their steps towards the car below. As they walked Cindy yanked her cell phone from her pocket to call the police.

Mattheus grabbed it out of her hand, instantly. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Calling the police,” Cindy spit out. “They’ve got to know.”

“They can’t know,” said Mattheus.

“You’re siding with the enemy, obstructing justice?” Cindy was alarmed.

“I’m being sensible,” Mattheus replied as Cindy grabbed the phone back.

“Sensible, or criminal?” Cindy shot back.

“Accusing me will get you nowhere,” Mattheus flung out at her. “You rather get killed? We will get killed.”

“The police will protect us,” Cindy insisted.

“Fat chance of that,” Mattheus scoffed. “This woman has obviously got them in her pocket. Or, maybe your sweet friend Sean will jump in and protect you?”

“Cut that out, Mattheus, right now,” Cindy demanded. “We’ve just heard a confession. We have to report it.”

“Cindy, wake up,” Mattheus growled. “The police couldn’t care less about our wellbeing. We’re a thorn in their side. They’d be thrilled to see us killed off.”

“That’s what you think!” Cindy retorted.

“That’s what I know,” Mattheus snapped. “I know it for a fact. You call the police and you’re finished. There won’t be anything I can do.”

“If I give in to these killers, I’ m finished as well,” said Cindy. “If I cover up a crime, how can I live with myself?”

“Cindy, look at me, please,” Mattheus insisted. “We’ve got to be practical. Not only is our life at stake, but Andrea’s as well.”

Cindy took a deep breath, there was no arguing with that. She couldn’t win. “Okay, okay,” she said then. “We’ll play it your way this time.”

Mattheus looked at her deeply grateful and humbled. “Thank you, Cindy, thank you so very much,” he said.

“You’re welcome,” Cindy replied, slowing down. “I’m completely exhausted with all this. You go get the car and meet me at the road over there. It’s only a few feet from here. I don’t want to walk any further.”

“Fine,” said Mattheus, “it’s a deal.”

*

Cindy sat down under a tree and watched Mattheus go for the car in the valley. She put her head back against the tree’s strong bark, and as soon as he was out of sight, took out her phone and quickly called Sean, giving him every detail. As she was finishing the call, Cindy looked to the side and suddenly saw a long shadow creeping closer to her on the grass.

“Who’s there?” she jumped up, frightened.

“It’s me,” Jared said as he rounded the corner, grabbing her and flinging himself upon her.

“Get away from me,” Cindy struggled.

“I heard every word you said,” he uttered. “How dare you call the police on us? My mother told you not to. You disobeyed my mother! You know what happens to people who disobey my mother?”

“What happens to them?” Cindy said, wriggling hard to get from his surprisingly tight grip.

“They get what they deserve,” Jared said digging his chin into her shoulder.

“Get away from me, Jared,” Cindy did her best to thrust him off her, but couldn’t.

“You’re stupid, you’re stupid,” he started yelling then. “Now my mother will have you killed to protect me. She won’t let anything bad happen to me, ever. That’s a real mother for you.”

“Jared, get away,” Cindy tried to thrust his wiry body off her, but could not.

“My mother knows I killed Cain, but so what? I did it to save Andrea. What’s so bad about that?”