Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

Cindy ran to the bathroom and flung open the door. It was empty as well. She went back to the main room and looked for a note he might have left on the tables. There was no message waiting for her.

Cindy stopped, ran her hands over her face, and breathed deeply. Had Mattheus left without a word? She ran to his closet. His clothes were still there. Small comfort. This wasn’t like him, at least not until now. Mattheus had kept blaming her for using work to distance from him. Was he the one who was frightened of commitment, though? Was he just looking for a reason to run?

Cindy didn’t have an answer and at the moment, didn’t want one. The storm was coming and time was of the essence. She wanted to keep her focus strong. Instead of following an impulse to text him, search for him and make sure he hadn’t gone, Cindy chose instead to call Cayenne.

As Cindy dialed Cayenne’s number, all kinds of thoughts tumbled through her mind. Was it possible that Cayenne and Mattheus were together now? There’d seemed to be a swift connection between them. Had Cayenne succeeded in involving him in the case? Cindy’s hand shook as the phone rang on the other end, and as she realized how insecure she was about Mattheus’s love.

“Yes? Hello,” a nervous voice answered.

“Cayenne?” asked Cindy.

“Yes.” The voice got stronger.

“This is Cindy. I’m back at the hotel now,” Cindy said.

“Oh, thank goodness,” said Cayenne, breathing more easily. Cindy was surprised Cayenne was glad to hear from her.

“Can we meet right away?” Cindy asked then. “Can you talk to me?” Cindy’s heart started beating. She did not want to ask Cayenne if Mattheus was with her. That would sound crazy.

“I’d love to meet with you right away,” Cayenne answered, calming down a bit. “Where?”

“How about the Cave?” asked Cindy. The Cave was a popular lounge down the street from her hotel. “It’s a few steps from my hotel, dark and private with all kinds of nooks and corners to talk in.”

“Perfect,” breathed Cayenne, “I know where it is. I’ve been there before.”

Cindy was relieved. “Let’s meet right now.”

*

When Cindy walked in, the Cave was empty, actually about to be boarded up.

“Storm coming,” the local waiter told her as she walked in. “Winds picking up, we’re boarding up in about half an hour.”

At least it’s open now, thought Cindy. “We won’t stay long,” she replied.

“We?” The waiter looked around. “You know, they predict the storm’s gonna hit right after midnight. Did you listen to the news?”

“Yes, I heard,” said Cindy.

“You shouldn’t waste time hanging around. Everyone’s gotta get ready,” the waiter went on. “Have you walked down the streets? People are running around getting flashlights and water, boarding up buildings.”

For a flash Cindy wondered then where Mattheus was. Had he just fled the island? Did he plan to leave her here to ride out the storm alone? This was more than she had ever bargained for.

Just then the door opened and Cayenne walked in. She wore a yellow rain slicker with her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“I’m over here, Cayenne.” Cindy waved, as Cayenne saw her.

“There’s almost nothing open anywhere on the island now,” Cayenne breathed. “You could have come to my hotel, but I didn’t want anyone to see me talking to you. That’s why I came out onto the beach to meet you and Mattheus.” Cayenne’s words tripped over one another.

Was Mattheus there? Cindy wondered. Was that why Cayenne came to meet her somewhere else? Cindy had never felt suspicious like this before, and hated it.

“You have secret information?” Cindy zeroed in. “Is that why you don’t want anyone seeing or hearing?”

“Exactly,” said Cayenne, relieved.

“Does Mattheus know it?” Cindy asked in a purposely lighthearted tone.

“Mattheus? I don’t know. Why do you ask?” Cayenne’s eyes opened. “I was actually thinking he’d be here with you now.”

“I thought the two of you might have had a chance to talk on the way back to the hotel,” Cindy commented casually, covering up her relief.

Cayenne looked nonplussed. “No, Mattheus was dead silent in the cab. I even asked if something were the matter, but he just grunted a few times.”

“I’m sorry about that,” said Cindy, startled.

“He dropped me off at my hotel and then told the cab driver to take him somewhere else,” Cayenne continued, not taking her eyes off Cindy for a moment.

“Where did he ask to be dropped off?” Cindy asked, her voice getting lower.

Cayenne stared. “Why? Is there some problem? Don’t you know where he is?”

“No problem at all,” Cindy lied. “There are just so many ins and outs during an investigation, often we have to go our separate ways.”

Cayenne nodded, grew quieter then and looked around.

“They’re boarding up in half an hour here.” Cindy changed the topic. “That should give us enough time to talk. We shouldn’t waste any time, though.”

“Let’s sit on the bench in the back,” said Cayenne.