Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

Cindy’s heart began pounding. Was Mattheus threatening her, insulting her? Whatever it was, she didn’t like it.

“No, I’ll go on my own,” Cindy said in a breathy tone. “You two go back to the hotel, and I’ll meet you there shortly.”

Mattheus nodded and put his hand on Cayenne’s back then to guide her across the quickly shifting sand that was blowing up over all of them now.

Cindy stood there watching until they disappeared from view. The crime scene was not far from the beach; Mattheus could have come there with her. He was giving her a clear message though that, for him, the investigation was over. He was dead set on leaving Aruba now, with or without a venue to marry in. Was this a juncture in the road for them, too? Was Mattheus saying their engagement was over? Cindy didn’t know what to think. She did know, though, that the rain was going to fall more heavily soon and she had to get to the crime scene before that happened.

*

Cindy put up her hand to protect her eyes from the swirling sand and walked determinedly to the edge of the beach, then up a hill and further on to the top of the precipice Shari had fallen to her death from. As she walked Cindy cleared her mind of all the trouble of the day, so she could be clear and able to register anything that was there waiting for her. It would have been unconscionable not to return one more time, Cindy thought, as she climbed the precipice. The crime scene always had a voice of its own and spoke loudly when the time was ready.

Cindy stood at the top of the precipice as the harsh wind whipped her body. She tried to put herself in Shari’s place the evening of her death. It had been peaceful and calm when Shari stood here. There had been the comfort of moonlight and balmy air. Shari had friends and family close at hand, wanting to celebrate her marriage. Everything was in order. Had Shari suddenly been struck with terror at making a life commitment to Doug? Was she unable to back out of it? Did Shari see no other way out for her except suicide? Standing there, looking out into the expanse, remembering Shari’s sparkly eyes when they’d met, Cindy did not feel that was what happened.

“What happened then? What really happened?” Cindy asked out loud into the empty sky. There were no stars or moonlight now to answer. The wind pushed at Cindy harder then, tossing her back against the trunk of a huge tree. Cindy clung to the trunk for support, turned her head then, and looked down at the ground beneath it. Protected by thick leaves and branches, the soil below was still solid and dry. Cindy looked down at it more deeply. To her amazement, she suddenly saw unusual, beautiful peach-colored clay woven throughout the soil. She’d seen this clay before, but couldn’t remember where. Cindy did recall though that it had impressed her the other time she’d seen it.

Cindy bent over, scooped up the peach clay with a tissue, and put it carefully in her bag.

“Where? Where?” she asked out loud once again. Then she suddenly she grew cold as the memory struck her. Remnants of that peach-colored clay had also been on the carpet in Doug’s room. How did it get there? Shari couldn’t have brought it back with her as she never returned. Doug told everyone he had never stepped foot in this location. If he hadn’t, how did the clay get into his room? Was there someone else who could have brought it there?

Startled, Cindy grabbed harder onto the trunk of the tree. Had the police questioned Doug about a new alibi? She hadn’t recalled that they had. At the very least, they hadn’t told her about it.

Were the police sick of the case, just marking time so it would be over? Cindy flushed with sudden trepidation about Doug. It was possible he wasn’t an innocent as everyone imagined. After all, she’d just caught him in a blatant lie.





Chapter 19


All the way back to the hotel Cindy reminded herself to stay calm, not jump to conclusions. Someone else could have brought that clay with them back from the precipice to Doug’s room. It seemed unlikely to Cindy, though. The room had been cordoned off as part of the crime scene. Except for Doug, no one had been permitted in. It didn’t seem likely that someone would have gone to the crime scene later and trekked the clay back in.

Now that she finally had something specific, Cindy was eager to get back to the hotel room and go over it with Mattheus. This piece of evidence would wake him up, bring him to his senses. It was clear that Mattheus thought Cindy was running after phantoms, using the case to keep her distance from him. Nothing could be further from the truth and this would prove it.

As soon as she got to the hotel, Cindy ran to the elevator, up to the room and flung open the door.

“Mattheus,” she called loudly.

No answer. No one was there.

“Mattheus, it’s Cindy,” she called again. “Are you in the bathroom?”

Again, silence.