Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

Vivien gasped and grabbed onto Tad’s arm.

“You’re totally crazy,” Vivien said, glaring at Cindy, “that’s a horrible, horrible thing to say.”

Tad didn’t like that, either. He stepped out in front, blocking Vivien.

“Peter would have been devastated if Vivien wasn’t at the wedding,” Tad defended her vehemently. “So would the rest of Peter’s family. Your line of questioning is out of order.”

“And you?” Cindy asked Tad, “Are you close to Vivien as well?”

“Not exactly,” said Tad, taking a step away. “We know each other, but close is a whole different matter.”

To Cindy’s surprise, Vivien showed no response to Tad’s odd remark. Cindy absorbed it all as the wind grew stronger, tossing the three of them about a bit.

“I think we should go in now,” Vivien said, looking at Tad. “It’s way too windy out here.”

Cindy was about to agree when she turned bit and saw someone standing on the other side of the pool, watching them all from afar.

“That’s Mac,” said Tad, “a good friend of the family.”

“Cindy knows Mac,” Vivien purred. “Mac, come over and join us. Right away!”

As soon as Vivien called out, Mac walked quickly in their direction, the wind blowing his hair as well.

“Good to see you all,” he said, as though the meeting was perfectly normal, old friends running into each other at a pool. “Nor Easter coming, I’ve heard.”

Vivien dashed over and stood close beside him, looking at Cindy dauntingly.

“Cindy has just said something awful about me,” she spoke coyly, looking up into Mac’s eyes.

“Really, what?” Mac seemed troubled.

“Cindy thinks I had something to do with Allie’s disappearance,” Vivien’s voice rose in the heightening wind.

“Silly,” Mac said to Vivien, as though he were speaking to a schoolgirl, who’d had a bad dream. He turned his glance to Cindy then, and once again she felt the magnetic attraction between them, was irritated by Vivien’s hand on his arm.

Cindy caught her breath quickly, and regained her footing. Mac could be irresistible when he wanted to be. She wasn’t going to fall for it.

Cindy looked directly into Mac’s eyes. “I actually never said that Vivien had anything to do with what happened. I was just exploring her relationship with Allie.”

Mac smiled at both of them, as if wanting to make peace. “I understand,” he said.

“It was a rough relationship,” Vivien repeated.

Mac smiled at Cindy. “You know how girls can be. Vivien and Allie loved fighting over Peter. Most gals enjoy fighting over the same guy.”

Cindy was offended. There was nothing in the world she hated more.

“In fact, it’s a national pastime down on the Island,” Mac joked, trying to melt their concerns. “The girls love seeing who’s prettier, sexier, who can win the guy’s heart.”

“Allie won, though,” Cindy answered crisply. “She was marrying Peter. The fight was over.”

“I won, too,” Vivien insisted. “Peter cared about me.”

“Yes, he did,” Mac said to Vivien. Then he turned to Cindy. “Just because Allie was marrying Peter didn’t mean she was locking him into a cage. A guy’s allowed to have other friendships.”

“A husband respects his wife’s wishes,” Cindy stood her ground staunchly. “If something bothers her – the husband respects that.”

Tad cleared his throat. “Peter respected Allie more than anyone in the world.”

Vivien winced.

“Peter gave Allie whatever she wanted,” Tad continued, “there was no reason Allie couldn’t have allowed him to have Vivien at the wedding.”

“Thank you, Tad,” breathed Vivien.

“Was there anyone Peter didn’t respect?” Cindy jumped right back in. “Anyone he had trouble with?”

“Peter hated Allie’s mother,” Vivien burst out. “He told me that many times. Maybe he was scared Allie would turn out like her.”

“Wait a minute,” Mac chimed in. “Peter never hated anybody.”

“Why hasn’t anyone spoken to Allie’s parents?” Cindy asked abruptly then. She felt a visceral need to speak to Allie’s mother.

“The police spoke to them when it happened,” said Mac. “Since then her parents haven’t been out of their room. They demand privacy, don’t want to see Peter or his family right now.”

“Allie’s mother blames everyone for everything that’s gone wrong in her life,” Vivien continued, her voice growing rougher. “Peter told me. He told me things. We were close friends.”

Cindy shuddered. “What about your parents, Vivien? Are they at the wedding, too?”

“My parents died in a car accident when I was little,” said Vivien. “I was raised by my Aunt in Atlanta. What has this got to do with anything?”

Mac also looked curious about why Cindy asked that. Cindy wasn’t entirely sure herself.

“Just curious,” said Cindy.

“Well, I’ve had enough,” said Vivien, looking at Mac beseechingly.