Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

“I would really appreciate that,” said Cindy, relieved to get some help with this.

“Okay, jump in a cab now and come on in,” Ben replied. “Let’s get it all done and finished with.”

*

The police station was located a few miles away in a long, low stucco building. As Cindy jumped into a taxi she felt grateful that Ben had agreed to bring in the graphologist. After all, the suicide note was the main piece of evidence they had at the moment that Shari had taken her own life.

As the taxi drove along Cindy felt sad not to have Mattheus with her. She loved working with him as a team, felt more surefooted with him at her side. Cindy thought of Mattheus out on the golf course now, as the taxi wound through beautiful streets. It wasn’t like Mattheus to back away from something and Cindy wondered how he really felt about her pursuing this alone.

The moment she arrived at the station Cindy was pleased to be greeted by both Ben and Albert, who were waiting for her up front. After the initial greeting, the two of them led her through a cluster of long hallways, to their offices in the rear.

“The point of having you and the graphologist in,” Ben spoke as they walked, “is to get done with the case as soon as possible. We don’t need rumors leaking out. We don’t want publicity.”

Cindy felt badly that Ben seemed more concerned with bad publicity than with what truly happened to Shari.

Albert seemed to pick up on how Cindy was feeling. “We get lots of suicides down here in Aruba,” he suddenly confided, in a soft tone. “People come down to this little piece of heaven and think they’re gonna be happy day and night. They think that landing in paradise will take all their pain away.”

“And it doesn’t?” Cindy tried to be lighthearted.

Albert smiled. “When things go badly even down here, some feel even more desperate than ever. You can’t believe how many end it all.”

“There’s no reason to blow these suicides up into something bigger than they are,” Ben broke in, speaking both to Albert and Cindy. “There’s no need to drag it out, either. It’s better for the family to face the facts right away. The longer it takes to accept what really happened, the harder it is on everyone.”

“How can you always be sure these are suicides?” asked Cindy. “How do you know some of these people haven’t been killed?”

“Most of the murders down here are related to drugs, gambling debts, trafficking and gang on gang crime down in the neighborhoods. Guests at hotels are robbed here and there, but killed? Not often,” Albert answered, smiling at her then.

Cindy appreciated his frank sweetness. He obviously had a good grip on what was going on down here.

“The people who commit suicide are usually guests at the hotels,” Albert continued.

“How about people who’ve come down for destination weddings?” Cindy was curious. “How common is that?”

“If you’re down here in love, and something goes wrong, then anything can happen,” Albert whispered.

“It’s enough, Albert,” Ben grunted. “Here you go on a talking jag again.”

“Just filling the beautiful lady in,” Albert replied.

“Where’s your partner now, anyway?” Ben turned to Cindy, rubbing his hand over his chin.

Cindy didn’t want to tell them that Mattheus was out on the golf course alone at the moment, while she was here.

“You guys just got engaged yourself, didn’t you?” Ben continued. “Is this the best way for you to spend your time, is it? Never saw a lovebird trying to solve a murder.”

Cindy felt struck by his comment, didn’t like it. “When is the graphologist coming to look at the note?” She quickly changed the topic of conversation.

“She’ll actually be here in a couple of minutes,” Ben replied. “You were in luck, she was home when I called and able to come over right away.”

Cindy was extremely thankful to get another pair of eyes on the case.

“Go get Cindy some coffee.” Ben turned to Albert then. “By the time she finishes, Margaret will walk in.”

*

Albert brought back a cup of coffee for Cindy loaded with sugar and way too much milk. Fortunately, as soon as she began to drink it, Margaret walked in and Cindy put the cup down. Margaret was an attractive Caribbean woman, about Cindy’s age, who seemed glad to be joining them.

“Thanks for thinking of me, Ben,” Margaret said as she sat down at the table with them.

“We got a suicide on our hands,” Ben started immediately. “No reason so far to suspect anything else. She left a note we want you to look over. This is Cindy Blaine, detective on the case,” and he nodded at Cindy.

“Detective?” Margaret seemed surprised. She had a lovely, lilting, intelligent voice.

“I was hired by the young woman’s father,” Cindy quickly filled her in. “He suspects foul play.”