Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

“I knew you’d want to talk to me,” she said in a breathy tone that betrayed her anxiety.

“Thanks for your time,” Cindy replied, also glancing over at Tad. He had a steady, cam quality to him. “Thanks to both of you.”

Tad simply nodded. “Of course I’ll be glad to speak to you, but I’ve really told the police and your partner Mattheus all I know,” he said.

“I’d like to speak to you as well,” said Cindy.

Vivien reached out and took his hand. “You can talk to both of us now,” she said smiling, displaying a row of perfect, glistening, white teeth.

“I’d rather talk to each of you alone,” said Cindy.

Vivien shivered slightly, “Why?”

“There may be something personal you’ll want to tell me,” Cindy responded.

“There’s nothing I have to tell you that Tad hasn’t heard a hundred times,” Vivien murmured. “We’re absolutely best friends.”

“I thought you and Peter were best friends,” Cindy was quick on the uptake.

“I have a lot of best friends,” Vivien replied, a little muscle near her full mouth, twitching. “I’m not the kind who needs to hide away with just one person.”

“Like Allie was?” asked Cindy.

Vivien paused, as if surprised that Cindy knew what she meant.

“You’re the one who said it, not me,” Vivien retorted.

Tad stepped in promptly, not wanting this to go further.

“Vivien’s close to lots of people and Allie was, too. They’re just very different women.”

“In what way?” asked Cindy.

“Allie couldn’t share Peter with anyone,” Vivien blurted out, in a plaintive tone. “She wanted him all for himself.”

Cindy looked at Vivien’s eyes flaming.

“I was close to Peter before he met Allie,” she went on quickly. “She couldn’t take it though, even though he told her a hundred times we were just good friends.”

“Some women have a hard time with that,” said Cindy quietly.

“Sure they do,” said Vivien, “but not the way Allie did. She wanted Peter to be her personal possession, got upset each time the two of us talked. Give me a break. I was his best friend for years. She didn’t even want me to be down here for the wedding.” Vivien’s eyes flamed once again.

Cindy decided to play the devil’s advocate. “Plenty of women wouldn’t want their groom’s ex girl friend at their wedding.”

Vivien threw her head back, “Thank God, Peter wouldn’t buy into something like that. I was more than an ex-girlfriend, I was his best friend for years.”

“This must have been hard on Peter, too,” Cindy turned to Tad then.

Tad’s face was implacable, no trace of a response.

“Peter took it in his stride,” Tad finally said in a measured tone. “By the way, aren’t you employed by Peter’s family? Didn’t they bring you down on the case?”

Obviously Tad was putting Cindy in her place. She found it startling and interesting.

“Yes, Peter’s parents hired Mattheus and I. Exactly what are you getting at?” she asked.

“I know his parents were desperate to take Peter out of the spotlight,” said Tad. “He doesn’t belong in it.”

Was Tad was suggesting that Cindy and Mattheus skew their investigation, come up with the results they were paid to find? Not only was that illegal, it was shocking that he would even bring something like that up.

“We’re committed to finding out what happened to Allie,” said Cindy. “If Peter wasn’t involved, the spotlight will be taken off him, naturally.”

“If?” Vivien almost gasped. “Are you suspecting Peter?”

“Not at all,” said Cindy. “I’m just responding to Tad’s comment.”

Again, Tad’s face was unreadable. “Peter’s been my close friend for many years. He doesn’t deserve to go through this right after his fiancée has died.”

“The only way to take the spotlight off Peter is for us to find the one who did it,” said Cindy. “I’d like to know what you think about that? And also what Vivien thinks?”

“She drowned,” said Tad, suddenly saddened. “Nobody wanted her to die.”

“What do you think, Vivien?” asked Cindy.

“I have no idea what happened down there, or what was going on in her private life. Allie shut me out of it, entirely. I’m not close to her friends. I’m close to Peter, and I’m close to Mac.”

Cindy shivered for no reason she was aware of. Vivien noticed immediately.

“Mac and I are very close, actually, “Vivien said, in a taunting tone, a little smile curling at the edge of her mouth. “He’s a wonderful man who’s always there for everybody, including me.”

“You didn’t feel badly about coming to a wedding when you knew the bride didn’t want you there?” Cindy responded tensely.

“My best friend wanted me there,” Vivien answered, staring at Cindy defiantly. “Why are you even asking, am I some kind of a suspect now?”

“Should you be?” Cindy wanted to break Vivien’s cover, expose what was beneath her silky veneer. “Seems like you had a lot to benefit from Allie’s disappearing.”