Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

“You two go upstairs,” said Mac to Vivien and Tad. “I’ll talk to Cindy alone.”


“I’m sure that will make Cindy happy,” Vivien said snidely, as she tossed her hair behind her shoulders, shook her head and fled with Tad back into the hotel.

“That was harsh,” said Mac after he and Cindy were alone together and darker clouds began covering the sky. “It’s a side of you I didn’t imagine.”

“It was only harsh in the interest of getting Vivien to open up. Sometimes there’s no other way to get at the truth.”

“Vivien’s a beautiful girl, she doesn’t need this,” Mac interjected.

“No one needs it,” said Cindy, “but like it or not, Vivien’s involved.”

Mac seemed put off. “How?”

“Vivien’s a guest at the wedding, even though Allie didn’t want her here. There was bad blood between her and the victim for a long time. It goes to motive.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Mac exclaimed.

“Why?” asked Cindy. “Vivien’s an orphan and who was now in the process of losing her best friend – Peter.”

Mac laughed. “There’s no way Vivien would ever lose Peter.”

Cindy was startled. “Marriage changes everything. It’s not unusual for wives to get rid of their husband’s friends. You hear about it all the time. They edge them out.”

“Not Peter,” Mac shook his head vigorously. “Peter’s a loyal guy, loves his friends and knew how to keep Allie in her place.”

Cindy was unnerved by that. “What exactly was Allie’s place?”

“I mean Peter knew how to set limits for her. In fact, I helped him with it. That’s the most important thing a guy has to learn in a relationship - how to say Yes, and how to say No.”

“You helped him do that?” Cindy was intrigued. It had definitely grown colder and she was only wearing a thin shirt.

“You must be cold,” Mac’s eyes roamed over her body, “and you’re only wearing a thin, beautiful shirt.”

“I’ve been colder,” said Cindy.

“You’re absolutely charming,” Mac grinned. “I enjoy everything about you. Look, it’s nasty out here and getting dark. Let’s go inside and have a drink while we keep talking. I want to keep you safe and warm.”

“I’m fine where I am,” said Cindy, refusing to be beguiled by the considerable charm Mac had turned on. “What exactly did you teach Peter about setting limits with Allie?”

Mac laughed, “You like that? It interests you?”

Cindy couldn’t help but think that the limits between her and Mac right now, weren’t what they should be.

“Well, it took some doing to teach Peter limits, I must admit,” Mac went on. “Peter loved Allie, she pulled at his heart strings and gave him something he needed badly.”

“What?” asked Cindy intrigued.

“Phenomenal sex,” said Mac, enjoying Cindy’s shock. “Beyond phenomenal,” he went on, “Allie wanted it all the time. Now, phenomenal sex makes it hard to set limits.”

As he spoke Mac drew closer to Cindy until she could felt him almost upon her.

“And, along with great sex, came guilt,” Mac continued, “Peter’s a guy who can be manipulated by guilt. Lots of us are, you know.” He stopped and waited for an answer.

“I wouldn’t know,” said Cindy, “I’m not into those games.”

“You’re above it all?” Mac smiled. “You’re telling me you’d be fine with it if your guy got close to another woman?”

“I never said that,” said Cindy, wondering how he managed to turn the conversation to this. "I bet you could make a guy feel plenty guilty if he got too close to someone else?” Mac persisted.

Cindy thought about it for a moment. She remembered how jealous she’d felt when she thought Mattheus was too involved with a woman on one of their cases.

“I wouldn’t make him feel guilty, necessarily,” said Cindy, “I just wouldn’t choose to be with a guy like that.”

“All guys are like that,” Mac was practically touching Cindy now. “No one’s naturally monogamous. Women aren’t either.”

“I am,” said Cindy.

Mac’s voice fell into a husky tone. “You’re not naturally monogamous, Cindy. You might be involved with one and refuse an encounter with another, but deep down you’d be wanting it to happen, right?”

Cindy felt herself flush from head to foot. He was going far afield of where she felt comfortable.

“You and Mattheus are an item, aren’t you?” Mac asked.

“We’re business partners,” Cindy replied.

“Who just happen to share a bedroom,” Mac chuckled.

“What has this got to do with anything?” asked Cindy.

“Besides the fact that Mattheus isn’t right for you,” Mac continued, “I’m trying to help you understand Allie and Peter. She wanted him all to herself. In most ways, she had him. But he still had feelings for Vivien. Why shouldn’t he? He and Vivien have known each other for years. She was his first real love.”