Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

“But maybe you don’t want to ever have another honeymoon?” Mattheus said, suddenly flippant. “Maybe one lousy experience was enough for you?”


Cindy felt her face flushing. That was unnecessary. Mattheus was blaming her for not wanting to get closer to him right now. Was he blaming it on the fact that Clint had been killed on her honeymoon? Cindy absolutely refused to say another word about it. It was unfair and this was not the right moment.

“Fill me in on what you found out this afternoon,” she said in a clipped voice, determined to take things in a different direction.

“Do you still want to go to the Dive Shop with me and the police first thing in the morning?” asked Mattheus.

“Yes, I would, said Cindy, wondering why he thought she would change her mind.

“Good,” Mattheus liked that. He seemed to ease up. “This afternoon was busy,” he went on. “Most of the groomsmen are freaked out about this. They’re a tight little bunch, who adore Peter. No chink in their armor, all have the same story. They say Peter’s a great guy and was happy with Allie. Seems like Peter makes a pile of money working for his father, and a couple of the groomsmen work with him. His best man Tad’s his right hand guy at work. Peter’s got a cushy deal if anyone ever had one. He works directly under Mac, the sleazy partner.”

Cindy was offended. “What’s sleazy about Mac?”

“That guy’s a player if I ever saw one.”

“Where do you get that?” Cindy defended Mac.

“How could you miss it? It’s written all over him,” Mattheus looked at Cindy strangely.

“Mac’s a great friend to the family and also to Peter,” Cindy said.

“That guy’s got his nose in everything,” Mattheus insisted. “There’s not a thing that happens that he doesn’t know about. He plays people, figures the odds. It gives him pleasure.”

“A control freak?” Cindy was curious about Mattheus’s feelings.

“More than that,” Mattheus was adamant. “This guy’s after a piece of the action for himself.”

There was no way Mattheus could know that. And it was unusual for him to take such a dislike to someone so quickly. Basically, he was just going with a hunch and taking it to the furthest possible degree. Cindy hadn’t seen him so bitter before, either. Must be because there was so much money and influence here, she thought. Could be making Mattheus feel inadequate.

“Not only did I speak to the groomsmen,” Mattheus went on, “I got to meet a few women who aren’t in the wedding party.”

Cindy was surprised, “Like who?”

“Vivien,” Mattheus filled her in quickly. “A close friend of Peter’s.”

Cindy made a sour face. “There’s bad blood between Vivien and Allie.”

“Vivien’s gorgeous,” Mattheus breathed.

“What has that got to do with it?” asked Cindy.

“Well, I can understand why Allie might not have liked her. I’m sure lots of women would be threatened by Vivien,” said Mattheus. “She’s the kind of woman you definitely keep away from your man.”

Cindy felt her blood boil. “Vivien was Peter’s ex-girlfriend. Even after they broke up, they stayed very close.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Mattheus wasn’t impressed.

Cindy became more heated. “Peter and Allie fought a lot about it. It was a big bone of contention between them.”

Mattheus had no reaction. “Seems like most women need to find something to have a bone of contention about,” he finally said. “It makes their day.”

Cindy recoiled, felt insulted, but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him that.

“What’s Vivien like? What did you find out from her?” Cindy continued.

“She’s got long red hair, groomed to the hilt, sensuous,” said Mattheus.

Cindy felt as if Mattheus were throwing little barbs in her direction, trying to make her feel shaky.

“Vivien told me that Allie’s mother hated her,” Mattheus continued, “and that her mother was incredibly jealous of Allie’s relationship with Peter. Vivien urged me to talk to the mom.”

“Vivien’s suggesting that Allie’s mother killed her daughter?” Cindy was horrified. “That’s pretty ridiculous. Makes me wonder more about Vivien.”

“You never know,” said Mattheus.

“There are some things you do know though, “Cindy responded. “You know not to go off on wild speculations. You taught me that, Mattheus. You taught me to keep a sense of balance, or things can get de-railed pretty fast.”

“Right,” Mattheus conceded, “but getting pulled into wild speculations is an occupational hazard. But every good detective’s been there. You’ve got to be willing to get de-railed sometimes, go after wild speculations.”

That’s how Cindy used to feel, but Mattheus had grounded her, taught her to stay with the facts. For the moment it seemed as though they’d switched places. Maybe it was still the shock of having found his wife’s body so recently.

“I think someone killed Allie,” Mattheus said flatly then.

Cindy was stunned. This wasn’t like him either. He never jumped to conclusions like this.