Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

Carita was stroking Cindy’s back now, but Cindy was too on edgy to continue. She rolled over, pulled up the towel, and got up suddenly.

“This was a great massage,” she said to Carita, “but I just remembered that I’ve got to be somewhere. I’m so sorry, I completely forgot.”

“What?” Carita was flustered.

“Really, I’m so sorry about this,” said Cindy.

Then she handed Carita a generous tip, pulled on her clothes and rushed out of the room, leaving Carita speechless.

Cindy rushed down the hallway, out of the spa and back up to her room. Once inside the room, Cindy paced back and forth uncontrollably. It was unhealthy to be this jittery, there was no way she could go on without trusting her partner. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mattheus’s computer sitting on the desk. Cindy went over to it, sat down at the desk, and opened it up. She had to get her head straight. She had the password to Mattheus’s email account and he had hers. It wouldn’t hurt to scroll through his emails and see if there was any record of him meeting Vivien every day.

Cindy opened his emails and began scanning through them. To her shock, there was one after another from Vivien.

I loved talking to you, Vivien wrote to Mattheus, you make me feel safe. You make me feel happy.

I’m here for you anytime, Mattheus quickly answered back.

Do you really mean that? Vivien’s next email said.

I do, I mean that, said Mattheus.

But we have to keep this quiet, Vivien wrote next. I don’t want Tad knowing I’m talking to you and I don’t want you telling your strange partner, Cindy anything. She gives me the creeps.

Cindy flushed bright red.

We can meet wherever you want, anytime, answered Mattheus. No one has to know.

But I can’t leave the hotel grounds, said Vivien.

I can take you in my car with me, Mattheus answered. We can go to the hiking trails, or go and sit on the coral reefs.

Cindy gasped. That was where Mattheus had taken her. He was replacing her with Vivien.

You turn me on, Mattheus, Vivien wrote in the next email. The thought of being with you in the coral reefs – whew.

I want you to feel safe with me, wherever we are he wrote.

Cindy checked the times these emails were sent. Mattheus took a little while before he answered the last one. His answer could mean anything. He didn’t say he was turned on by Vivien as well, but he didn’t clarify the purpose of their relationship, either. He didn’t clearly remind her that this was only part of the investigation. Why should he? He was probably enjoying the exchange as much as she was. Cindy’s heart pounded as she continued reading.

I want to tell you all about my relationship with Tad, Vivien went on. But only when we’re alone and safe.

I want to hear all about it, answered Mattheus.

It was actually unimaginable that Mattheus hadn’t mentioned a word about this to her. Cindy felt the ground dropping out from beneath her as she continued reading.

I could love you, Mattheus, Vivien’s next email said.

Cindy imagined Mattheus reading it, taking Vivien’s adoration in, thriving on it, wanting more.

Love is good, he replied. We all need it, for sure.

Trembling, Cindy turned away. It was enough. She couldn’t bring herself to read another email. What a miracle that she’d even found these. Thank God, she’d decided to take the massage with Carita. Thank God Carita massaged Vivien every day. This wasn’t the first time on a case that Cindy watched synchronicity working its magical ways. Despite the awful turn of events, she felt guided and looked after, not by Mattheus, but by something much larger than both of them.

Cindy got up, walked out onto the patio and looked out at the ocean. As long as she lived, she’d never felt so betrayed. She watched the waves lapping up on the shore and rolling back out to sea. There was no way Cindy would go to the drug dealer with Mattheus. At the moment she didn’t want to do anything at all with him. But she was still a professional, and she wasn’t going to let this knock her off her game. She’d go to the drug dealer herself, right now, and if she found anything noteworthy, she’d let the police and Mattheus know. Cindy had come down here to do a job and she would do it, to the last drop.

Cindy went back into the room, called up for a taxi, went to the bathroom, splashed water on her face and brushed her hair. After she finished this case, she’d immediately return to the States. Cindy suddenly thought of her sister, Ann. Ann had been begging Cindy to return and stay home for so long now. Ann tried to warn her about Mattheus back in Key West. Cindy decided to call Ann now and let her know that she’d be back home for a long visit, in a little while.

The moment her phone rang, Ann picked up immediately.

“So great to hear your voice, Ann,” Cindy started. It always calmed and centered her to talk to her sister.

“How’s it going, down there?” asked Ann.

“Rough case,” said Cindy.