Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

Cindy tried to calm Deidre down. Of course a moment like this made the reality of Shari’s death real. It was horrible and shocking.

“It’s okay, I’m here. Talk to me, Deidre,” Cindy replied.

“I talked to you already,” Deidre pouted.

“I know, but there’s more you have to tell me,” Cindy insisted. “Talk to me, tell me about Shari and Doug’s relationship. I know that you were trying to get Shari to break it off for a long time now.”

“Of course I was,” Deidre snapped. “After all, I’m her twin sister. I know her better than anyone else in the world. If she actually married him, it would have been a complete disaster.”

It was a disaster now, Cindy wanted to say, but didn’t. “Why would it have been a disaster?” Cindy asked, instead.

Deidre suddenly stood up on her toes, looking unwieldy and strange.

“What’s wrong, Deidre?” Cindy tried to stop her.

“Nothing, I’m just upset. Shouldn’t I be?” Deidre responded.

“Of course,” said Cindy, “but tell me why the marriage between Shari and Doug would have been a disaster.”

At that Deidre stepped back down and looked at Cindy directly.

“Here’s the truth and you may as well know it! Shari and Tad were completely in love. They were perfect for each other, made each other happy. I never saw Shari so happy before.”

This was not what Cindy expected. “Did Shari tell you that?” she asked.

“She didn’t have to,” said Deidre, “it was obvious to the world.”

“To your parents, too?” asked Cindy.

“Yes, of course, especially to them, particularly my father. But could he stand to see Shari really happy? That’s the big question, isn’t it?”

“I thought he loved her,” said Cindy.

“Yeah, when she did what he wanted, he loved her,” Deidre quipped.

“And he wanted her to marry Doug?” Cindy asked.

“Yes, he did. So did my mother and the stupid psychiatrist. Everyone thought Doug was Prince Charming himself!”

“He wasn’t?” asked Cindy, urging Deidre on.

“Just the opposite,” said Deidre, “and finally, Shari realized it. Here’s the secret Shari made me swear not to tell. She was never going to marry Doug anyway. She was definitely planning to go back with Tad. And Tad knew it. She couldn’t get out of the trip to Aruba, but there was no way she was going through with the engagement.”

Cindy took a swift breath. “She was going to take a wedding venue and then break off?”

“I’m not sure exactly how she was going to do it,” said Deidre. “Maybe she couldn’t stop taking the venue, but she definitely wasn’t going to go along with the marriage. Tad told me she promised him.”

Cindy was stunned. “This trip was a farce?”

“Call it what you want to.” Deidre stood back up on her toes. “It’s not so easy to say no to my father!”

“Your father wouldn’t have gone along with breaking up the engagement, would he?” Cindy asked.

“That’s putting it mildly.” Deidre’s face flushed as suddenly there was another hard knock on the door.

“Who could it be? Who is it?” Cindy felt alarmed.

“Could it be Mattheus?” Deidre’s eyes squinted.

Cindy felt shocked and wondered how Deidre could have known Mattheus wasn’t here. There were a couple of other rooms in the suite.

“Mattheus wouldn’t have to knock so hard,” said Cindy, realizing in that instant that Deidre already knew who was at the door. “Who’s at the door, Deidre?” asked Cindy.

“It’s got to be Tad,” said Deidre in a shivery tone. “I called him and let him know I was coming to see you. Everyone’s leaving Aruba soon. This is Tad’s last chance to save the woman he loved.”

“To save Shari?” Cindy was confused.

“At least to nail the one who killed her,” said Deidre. “That’s saving her in a way, isn’t it?”





Chapter 21


Cindy walked to the door in slow, deliberate steps as the rain started slashing the windows.

She opened the door, and there was Tad, trembling, tousled and damp.

“Come in,” said Cindy, pulling the door wide open for him.

“Thank you for everything you’re doing,” Tad mumbled in a quick, harried tone. “We can’t leave the island like this so fast, not without Shari.”

Cindy took a deep breath. “Shari will be with you in different ways now,” Cindy said softly. “She’ll live in your heart, in your memories.”

“It’s not enough,” Tad exclaimed, “we were going to be married.” Then he suddenly crumpled down on the couch and began to cry.

Cindy went over and sat beside him. “I know how awful this is for you, Tad, and how hard it is to talk. But I need you to tell me everything you possibly can about what happened.” Cindy spoke in a hushed tone.

“Shari made me swear not to tell anyone,” Tad managed to say. “I promised not to say a word.”

“Not to say a word about what?” Cindy insisted.

“Shari was scared of Doug.” Tad’s voice grew lower.

“Why?” gasped Cindy. “You’ve got to tell me.”