Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

Mattheus turned out the light in the room and she heard him go to the bathroom, come out and climb into his own bed as well. Cindy’s heart clenched with sorrow. As much as she wanted to get up out of her bed and join him, something deep within wouldn’t let her do so.

Cindy slept and woke on and off for a few hours. The sound of Mattheus breathing so close to her was wrenching and dreams about Allie kept her unsettled as well. Finally, she jumped out of bed, grabbed her laptop, put on a robe and went out onto the patio. Rather than lay there tossing all night long, she decided to go through Allie’s email account. Cindy had the passwords she needed and had planned to do it the next day, but this suddenly seemed like the perfect time. It would calm her down to go to work and see what facts she could find. The police had done this already and said there was nothing of interest to be discovered. Cindy didn’t buy it. Let’s see what I find, she thought.

At first there was nothing out of the ordinary. There were tons of emails from friends excited about the wedding asking about Allie’s dress, the fittings and the bridal shower. Laura emailed her constantly reminding her of details, where to be when, whose calls to return. Clearly Laura was not only a Maid of Honor, she was truly Allie’s best friend.

Then Cindy came upon a cluster of emails between Allie and Peter, a few days before they left for the Island.

I’m asking you for the last time, Peter wrote. It would mean so much to all of us if you’d say yes.

It’s all set, Allie answered. And we’ve talked a lot about it.

Vivien’s bugging me about it every day, wrote Peter. She’s so hurt not to walk down the aisle with Tad.

I already told you how I feel, Allie answered.

So? Peter said, can’t you just bend a little for this? Let Vivien be a bridesmaid. Do it for me!

Can I have my enemy be in my wedding party? Allie wrote back.

Those were pretty strong words, thought Cindy.

Allie’s not your enemy, Peter quickly replied. You don’t have any enemies. Don’t you love me, Allie? Can’t you do this for me?

Don’t you love me, Peter? Allie wrote back. Why can’t you understand my feelings?

Don’t I love you? I give you everything, Peter sounded upset.

But I need more, Allie was pleading. Why can’t you understand that?

That string of emails came to a quick halt then. Another string began between Allie and Mac. Mac asked about errands he could run for Allie, and whether Peter needed anything else that Mac didn’t know about. Those emails seemed friendly and natural. There was another string of emails though, that bothered Cindy. It was from Nora, stuck in between the rest.

Allie, I’m warning you, cut it out! If Peter’s parents find out, it won’t be good. Love, Nora.

Get off my back, Allie replied.

Cindy was startled. This was a completely different tone from all the other emails.

I’m only warning you for your own good, Nora sent back another email to Allie once. For all you know, word’s getting around. Two people mentioned it to me this past week.

You’re totally paranoid, Nora, Allie replied. I can’t stand that about you, especially around my wedding time. Please, be happy for me!

I am happy for you! I’ve always been happy for you. I just want you to be careful, Nora said.

An hour later an email came back from Allie. Don’t worry, I’ll be very careful about it, she replied.

Cindy sat there in the moonlight, reading that string of emails over and over. What was Nora warning her about? How was it possible that the warning hadn’t caught someone’s eye? What was it that Allie had to cut out? Cindy suddenly wanted to call Nora and ask her about it. She decided to do so the next morning.

Cindy went back to bed discombobulated. She wanted to read through Peter’s email account as well, but the company had his password. She and Mattheus had to get clearance to enter and read them. Mac could help with that, for sure. As Cindy tossed back and forth in bed before she fell asleep she wondered again why Mattheus disliked Mac so much? She’d actually found Mac to be a fountain of strength. He only wanted to help them steer through what now beginning to look like very murky waters, indeed.

*

When Cindy woke in the morning, Mattheus was not in the room. His bed was left unmade, and it seemed he just got up and got out of there, fast. Probably downstairs having breakfast, she thought. Or, maybe talking to some of the other wedding guests. Mattheus was a light sleeper and often got up very early, especially when on a case. When things were better between them and they shared a bed, he slept more soundly, never just got up and ran out on her like that.