Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

“My daughter did not commit suicide.” Edward’s voice grew suddenly stronger. “I’m absolutely positive of it.”


Cindy knew it was hard for the family to believe that someone they loved could end their own life. “There was a note left behind, wasn’t there?” she asked softly.

“Note or no note, Shari didn’t do it.” Edward’s eyes became focused and more determined.

“We are so sorry.” Mattheus stepped forward now. “I know how hard it is to suddenly lose a daughter to suicide.”

“Please believe me.” Edward grabbed Mattheus’s arms. “I’ve known Shari since she was little. There was no way in the world she would end her own life, especially now. She was thrilled, she was happy. She and I planned a surprise party for Doug when they got home. His birthday is coming. She told me many times how much she loved him and how happy she was to be getting married. Everything was falling into place for her.”

Cindy felt every inch of Edward’s body shaking. “The amazing thing about suicide”—Cindy spoke gently—“is that it often happens when a person suddenly feels good, especially if they’ve been depressed awhile. The desire to end it all can come suddenly, like a thunderstorm in the middle of a beautiful day.”

Edward turned the full force of his attention upon Cindy. “That’s not how it was in this case,” he insisted. “Shari would have spoken to me if she were slipping. You don’t understand, we were very close. We shared everything. There was nothing she held back from me. There were so many nights I talked her through a feeling of darkness.”





Cindy didn’t know why she wasn’t surprised to learn that Shari had been depressed. There’d been no indication of it in the short time they’d met.

“Sounds like you had an unusual relationship with your daughter,” Mattheus responded to Edward. “Most daughters don’t talk to their fathers like that.”

“Yes, we did.” Edward began to splutter. “And there’s no way Shari would do something like this to me. She loved me, she cared about the way I felt.”

“Shari taking her life doesn’t mean that she didn’t love you.” Cindy tried to comfort him. “When a wave of despair comes, it can block everything out. You forget those close by who love you.”

Edward’s jaw clenched fiercely, and his voice rose. “She didn’t kill herself, I’m positive of it!

Please, please check it out at least. Shari deserves that much. Take the case, I beg you.”

Mattheus stepped between Cindy and Edward. “There is no case,” Mattheus said calmly. “There’s no evidence at all that foul play was at work, though it’s natural to suspect it.”

“How do you know if there was foul play or not if you don’t at least check? How can you say there’s no evidence? No one looked for it!” Edward’s voice rose into a wail.

Edward was making a good point and Cindy couldn’t deny it. “You have a good point,” Cindy concurred.

“Thank you, thank you.” His eyes got teary. “Then you’ll take the case?”

“We didn’t say that,” Mattheus interjected.

“Why won’t you? Why not?” He couldn’t fathom it.

“We’re down here on vacation,” Mattheus said simply. “Cindy and I are celebrating our engagement. We’re here to find a wedding venue.”

Edward’s eyes opened wide. “Just like Shari!”

“Yes,” said Cindy sadly.

“What are the chances of that?” Edward exclaimed. “Doug mentioned the two of you to me. He said that he and Shari met a lovely couple, like them, looking for venues. I had no idea it was the two of you.”

“Yes, it was,” said Mattheus quietly.

“That can’t be a coincidence!” Edward kept talking. “The four of you must have been brought together to help. Nothing else makes sense.”

Mattheus let out a long sigh. “I wish we could, I really do,” he responded, “but we’re on vacation now, we’re celebrating our engagement.”

Edward looked back and forth between them uncomprehendingly. “How can you stop and enjoy a vacation when a murder has been committed right under your nose? Another couple in the same position as you, and one of them is gone!”

“This was a suicide, not a murder,” Mattheus insisted.

“That’s not clear yet, though, is it?” Edward insisted. “There’s a chance it wasn’t, right?”

“There’s always a chance of anything.” Mattheus was growing irritated. “But what are the probabilities? That’s what we consider.”

“My daughter is more than a probability, sir.” Edward looked offended.

Cindy stepped back in between them. “Of course there’s a chance it was an accident or murder,” she had to agree, “though the odds are slim.”

“Just give it a day or two, please! Look things over,” Edward began pleading again. “You can spare a day or two from your vacation, can’t you? Believe me, I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll pay you enough to take care of your entire trip here, and more.”

“It’s not a matter of money.” Mattheus didn’t like that.