Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

The autopsy report came in first thing the next morning. Allie had drowned underwater. There was no sign of struggle, either. The bruises and scratches came after she’d died, probably as the tide pulled her out to see and life in the ocean had its way with her. The contents of her body showed the effects of insufficient oxygen along with marijuana usage. It was clear that she’d gone diving under the influence, had impaired judgment and panicked when she saw the air gauge so low. She’d ripped off her vest and struggled to get to the top of the water. There was no way of explaining the incorrect air gauge, but the rest of it pointed to an accident.

The camera that was still tied to her hand showed nothing during the dive. It did have a few photos on it that she’d taken before she went down, pictures of Allie and Peter happy together, arms around each other laughing. One of the photos showed her dressed for evening, in a black, silky dress, wearing a beautiful emerald necklace and bracelet. Allie looked young, happy, healthy and on top of the world. She reminded Cindy of how she’d felt at the beginning of her honeymoon. Everything had been ahead of her. There was no way of knowing that the ocean would swallow Clint up, take everything away.

Dana called Cindy and Mattheus a few minutes after they received the autopsy news, while they were downstairs at breakfast.

“They’re not focusing on Peter any longer,” Dana said breathless. “There’s absolutely no evidence that he was involved.”

“That’s a relief,” said Cindy.

“The police want us all to stay a few days more until the investigation is formally completed, then we’re going home,” Dana said.

Cindy wondered if Dana was telling her that the case was over, they no longer needed her and Mattheus here.

“Peter said he doesn’t want to come back to the States with us,” Dana went on. “He can’t bear to tear himself away.”

“He’s grieving,” said Cindy.

“He can grieve at home as well,” said Dana. “I imagine this will take some time for him to make sense of.”

Something like this can never be made sense of, thought Cindy.

“He must feel like Allie’s still down here,” said Cindy, remembering how hard it was to go back up to the States after Clint died. She’d had to come right back down to the Caribbean soon after, longing to be with him again.

“The police will tie it up soon,” Dana continued, “I’m sure they’ll declare it an accident.”

“Looks like it,” said Cindy slowly, “except for the question of the air gauge.”

“There’s always going to be a question of something,” Dana’s voice grew brittle. “This has been an exhausting ordeal. I want it to be over with. No one can ever know if the gauge was tampered with or if they just had a faulty product. Edward wants us to leave as soon as possible. What are you and Mattheus’s plans now?”

“We have to speak to the guy who sold drugs to Allie today, and also go over the company’s records one more time.”

Dana grew stiff and silent. “Our company records? I don’t understand.”

“There’s always an outside possibility that someone in the company could have been disgruntled,” Cindy replied. “If it’s true, your troubles may not be over. You all could still be in danger.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said Dana. “Are you trying to frighten me? Did Mattheus put you up to this?”

Cindy was surprised at her bitterness. “It was Mattheus’s idea,” she answered plainly.

“I don’t like Mattheus,” Dana replied. “He seems like a loose cannon.”

Cindy felt hurt by that. She wanted to defend him, but decided to stay on point.

“Allie didn’t drown because she and Peter were separated, or because she was high on pot,” Cindy went on. “That might have contributed to it, but she drowned because the air gauge said full when it was empty.”

“Are you suggesting that someone in our company had a motive to harm her?”

“No, I’m not suggesting it. We just want to make sure it didn’t happen that way. We came all the way down here to help out. Let us finish what we started before we go.”

Dana was unsettled. “Do what you have to,” she said crisply, and hung up the phone.

Mattheus sat listening to the conversation, enrapt.

“Fabulous,” he said, “you handled that beautifully. Once Dana agrees to our going over the company records again, there’s no way Mac can say no.”

“Call him and ask him right now,” said Cindy.

Mattheus quickly took out his phone and called Mac. Their conversation was succinct and dour. At first they fought a little, but as soon as Mattheus said Dana had agreed to it, things seemed to calm down. There was a long pause, and finally Mattheus looked victorious.

“That’s great,” Mattheus said. I’ll meet you in the office in half an hour.” Then he hung up.

“Mac agreed to give me access to the company’s accounts providing that I clue him in on everything I find.”