Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

“They all are,” said Ann, weary.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing you when I get back,” Cindy said. “Should be pretty soon now.” Her voice trembled a bit.

Ann caught it. “Listen, it can be sooner than when you get back. Frank and I are vacationing right now in Miami. We’re only half an hour away!”

Cindy was thrilled and surprised. “Really? How come I didn’t hear?”

“We got down here a few days ago,” said Ann. “How about it? Would you like us to fly down and take you out for dinner, or are you just too busy for words?”

“Fly down,” Cindy said, her heart fluttering. “Get here as soon as you can.”





CHAPTER 14


Cindy was incredibly relieved to know that Ann and Frank would be flying down, and she could touch base with them. She wanted to run everything that happened with Mattheus by them, make sure she was not losing her perspective. It was definitely easy to lose perspective during a case where you constantly dwelt upon unspoken motives, imagined the worse scenarios, were always on the lookout for evidence of foul play. She used run things by Mattheus to keep perspective. They’d balanced each other, provided new insight, became a source of clarity and strength. But as Cindy went through Mattheus’s emails, she felt herself deeply withdraw from him. His exchange with Vivien didn’t sit right with her. Nothing about this case did. On the one hand, Allie’s death looked like a routine mishap. On the other hand, Cindy sensed a winding trail of lies beneath the polished surfaces of this gorgeous and incredibly well manicured playground for the rich.

Cindy went down to the front of the hotel to wait for the taxi who would take her to see the drug dealer, Carlos. For a second she thought of bringing Laura along. Cindy’d actually picked up the phone to call and invite her, but then, thought better of it. These girls in the wedding party were all close to one another. Who knew what Laura would say to who and how the news might spread of where they were headed. Cindy didn’t want that. She wanted to surprise Carlos in his territory, take him unaware.

The taxi pulled up to the hotel and Cindy got in. When she told the driver where to go, he turned around and shook his head.

“Not the best place for a woman alone. You sure you want to go down there?” he said.

His comment startled Cindy. She didn’t think of herself as a woman alone. She thought of herself as a strong detective, able to navigate anything now.

“It’s fine,” she said, as he started the car.

The taxi drove along the curving driveway of the hotel, wound its way through the main roads and then suddenly turned left and began a quick descent down a bumpy road. They passed some ramshackle houses and wild brush along the highway. Then they turned steeply down again through a narrow, unattended valley and then around a ravine. Cindy had no idea that a neighborhood like this was buried here on the Island.

“We’re almost there,” the driver said, as the trees grew thicker. “The place you asked for is down that way,” the driver lifted a heavy hand and pointed forward.

Cindy leaned over and saw an old, wooden, half broken down building at the end of the road.

“You want me to wait for you to take you back?” the driver turned around and looked at her.

“Yes, that would be great,” said Cindy. She hadn’t arranged for that in advance, didn’t realize the place was so secluded, that it would be very difficult to get a taxi here.

They drove as close to the house as they got could, and the driver pulled up under an old, squatting tree, with sprawling branches.

“He’s expecting you, right?” the driver asked, as Cindy stepped out of the cab.

“I’ll be back in a little while,” Cindy answered, grateful for the driver’s concern.

“Just want to know how long I’ll be waiting here,” he continued gruffly, “I got to get paid for my time.”

“Of course,” said Cindy, “I realize.” She thought of paying him right then and there, but suddenly decided it would be more likely that he wouldn’t drive away, if he had to wait for his fare. “I’ll pay you double for waiting time,” she said. “Clock it.”

He grinned. “You’re smarter than I thought,” he said. “Don’t want me running out on you down here, do you?” and he chuckled. “Listen, honey, there are simpler ways to get the stuff, unless you needs lots and lots of it.” He looked at her, questioningly.

He thinks I’m a dealer, Cindy realized, or a greedy tourist whose gotten sent far afield.