Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

“Thank you, Cindy, thank you,” Frank mumbled then. “You’re sure you’re okay? You don’t need any help?”


Cindy could not bring herself to tell him what was happening, though. “I’m fine, Frank,” she said quietly. “And I’ll be in touch when the case is over and I leave Aruba.”

“The case?” Frank sounded confused. “I thought you and Mattheus were there to find a wedding venue.”

“We were,” said Cindy, “and then a case appeared. A young woman who just got engaged, who fell from a cliff.”

“I didn’t realize,” Frank mumbled.

“They think it’s a suicide, but I’m investigating, to be sure. It’s okay, it’s fine,” Cindy tried to reassure him. “It will be over soon and I’ll be home.”

“Home?” Frank’s voice got louder. “Where is home, Cindy, where?”

His question startled her. She couldn’t tell her brother-in-law that she had no idea. But this wasn’t the time to go into it, either.

“I’ll call you soon, Frank,” Cindy insisted, entirely bypassing the question of where her home was or where she planned to go next.

“I’ll look forward to it, Cindy, I really will,” Frank replied. “And so will your mother.”

Cindy hung up and then kept glancing at her cell phone to see if Mattheus would text her back. He didn’t. Of course it was possible he wasn’t getting phone service due to the oncoming storm, Cindy thought. It was also possible he was on the way back right now. Anything was possible, but in truth, she had no idea.

Cindy listened to the wind roar outside the window and while her phone service still lasted, decided to call Shari’s friend Glenna immediately. She quickly found Glenna’s contact information and put in a call.

As soon as the phone rang, Glenna picked up.

“Glenna, this is Cindy Blaine calling from Aruba,” Cindy started. “I’m a private detective working for your friend Shari’s father.”

“My God, my God.” Glenna could barely speak. “I’m so horrified, so horrified,” she gasped.

“We all are,” said Cindy quickly. “How long have you known the news?”

“Deidre just called and told me,” said Glenna. “Deidre knew Shari and I were best friends. She made me promise to keep it quiet for a while, said Shari’s death was being investigated.”

“Yes, it is,” said Cindy.

“Thank God for that,” said Glenna. “I can’t believe that Shari jumped. I just can’t believe it.”

“Shari suffered from depression though, didn’t she?” Cindy questioned.

“Sometimes she did, but she wouldn’t jump,” Glenna insisted.

“She actually left a suicide note behind,” said Cindy softly.

At that Glenna got quiet. “I didn’t hear that,” she murmured. “What did she say?”

“Shari apologized for the pain she would be causing,” Cindy responded.

“That’s not her, it just isn’t,” Glenna insisted. “Someone else could have written the note.”

Cindy bristled. “Who?”

“I have no idea,” said Glenna.

“Do you think Deidre could have written it?” asked Cindy softly, remembering how similar her handwriting was to Shari’s.

“Deidre? That’s crazy!” Glenna was shocked. “Deidre loved and adored Shari. Her whole life was about making things good for her.”

“Really?” This was the first time Cindy had heard that.

“I’ve known Deidre for years, we’re always in touch,” Glenna insisted. “We’ve actually talked about Shari’s wedding a lot.”

Cindy felt uneasy about that. It seemed as if Deidre was like a shadow, hovering over Shari’s life.

“Did you happen to hear from Shari herself while she was down here in Aruba?” Cindy asked.

“Yes, I did,” Glenna exclaimed. “In fact, Shari called me the day she died.”

“What?” Cindy was stunned. “Why didn’t you call and tell us?”

“I just found out what happened a little while ago,” Glenna said. “And, anyway, I promised Shari I wouldn’t tell anyone what she said.”

“What did she tell you? You have to let us know!” Cindy was adamant.

“Shari was agitated, she was crying on the phone. She told me she was going to call the engagement off.” Glenna sighed deeply then, a great weight now off her heart. “But she made me swear not to tell anyone.”

“Why?” asked Cindy.

“That’s what best friends are for, to keep your secrets,” Glenna swiftly replied. “But Shari had told me that plenty of times, I didn’t know whether or not to believe her. She’d always say she was breaking off for good, and then she’d go back to Doug later.”

“So you weren’t positive she was really calling it off?” Cindy had to be certain.

“I’d hoped she would, but I wasn’t sure,” Glenna said. “I told her to do it. I said it was a good idea. And I wasn’t the only one who encouraged her either. Deidre was also constantly trying to convince her sister to break off with Doug.”

“Why?” Cindy’d had no idea about that.

“If you want to know Shari’s secrets, ask Deidre,” Glenna went on. “She knows a lot of things.”