Death by Jealousy (Caribbean Murder #6)

“Yes, she was very experienced,” Dana finally answered, sadly.

“That’s what the police keep asking,” said Edward growing somber. “They’re wondering how it happened, if both of them were so experienced. Or, why at the least, Peter couldn’t protect her. How did he allow the two of them to become separated underwater, knowing all he did?”

“It’s not a fair question though,” Dana interjected, “it just isn’t.”

The waiter brought the Sangria over and Cindy lifted it to her lips, but couldn’t drink it.

Mattheus drank his in almost one, long gulp.

“It was an evening dive,” Dana began whimpering. “Visibility wasn’t great. The two of them swam in different directions for a little while, they got separated.”

Obviously, that was her son’s story, thought Cindy.

“How do you know they swam in different directions?” Mattheus asked her bluntly.

Dana seemed startled by his briskness. “Peter told us. There’s no reason he would lie.”

Edward reached out and put his hand over his wife’s. “Of course there isn’t,” he soothed her.

“There has to be a presumption of innocence,” Mattheus responded. “They need hard evidence to prove anything different.”

“Of course they do,” Edward bristled. “And it’s also only a presumption that she died, anyway. There’s no trace of her body. All that they found was the equipment that she must have pulled off.”

Cindy was surprised. It was the first time she’d heard that detail.

“The question is why she got rid of her equipment?” said Cindy softly. She wanted to stay grounded, soothe the anxiety that was circling around the table.

Edward sat up straighter. “Actually, a report just came in an hour ago,” he looked straight in Cindy’s eyes, “they found something wrong with the equipment. A faulty air gauge. They’re wondering if it had been tampered with.”

“That’s huge,” Mattheus exclaimed, picked up his Sangria glass and drained the last drops dry. “That speaks to foul play!”

“I hadn’t heard that,” said Dana, trembling.

“I just found out,” Edward answered, “I was going to tell you.”

“Does it make it look worse for Peter?” Dana turned to Cindy imploringly. “Does it? Tell me?”

“Not necessarily,” said Cindy.

“They seem to be focusing on him entirely, though,” Dana’s eyes filled with tears.

“That’s because he was the last to see her alive,” said Cindy quietly. “It’s a matter of routine.”

“Who else was on the dive with them?” Mattheus interjected. “Did they rent their equipment? Who was the Captain of the boat?”

“They had their own equipment,” Edward spoke methodically. “It was kept in their hotel room and they brought it with them for the dive. Nobody else went down underwater with them.”

“It was a romantic evening dive before the wedding,” Dana spoke fitfully. “I told Peter not to go, there were so many details still to be taken care of. But he and Allie both loved evening diving, it relaxed them. He said they needed a break. Besides, they’d done it so many times. In fact, it was scuba diving that brought them together. They met at a group dive three years ago.”

“Have the police spoken to the Captain of the boat?” Mattheus turned his attention to Edward.

“Yes, his name is Jared Flay,” said Edward. “He owns one of the one of the best Diver Shops on the Island. He’s taken hundreds of people out. He and Peter have known each other for a long while. They’ve been out together many times before.”

“It was a routine dive, routine, that’s all,” Dana said emphatically.

“I get it,” said Mattheus.

“Get what?” Edward bristled for a moment. “What is there to get?”

“I get that this is complicated,” said Mattheus. “There are lots of factors to consider when someone disappears.”

Cindy suddenly realized that this scenario had to be re-kindling Mattheus’s fresh memory of his wife going missing and the years of torture that went with it.

“These things are never what they seem to be,” said Mattheus bluntly. “These cases can twist and wind you in a thousand directions before you find out what really went on.”

Dana sat up straighter at that. “Find out now! We don’t have time to twist and wind in a thousand directions. Our family and closest friends are here at the hotel for the wedding. Speak to them all, and to those on the bride’s side as well.”

It struck Cindy that this was the first time they’d mentioned anything about the bride. Their entire concern so far had been for their son’s safety. That was normal enough, she guessed. Everything had happened so quickly, they all still had to be in shock.

“How are the bride’s parents doing?” Cindy asked quietly then.