Death by Proposal (Caribbean Murder #7)

“We heard that you just got engaged yourself,” Cindy chimed in, not wanting to answer any further questions about her personal life.

Clay put his cup of tea down abruptly. His face flushed and his eyes brightened.

“Yes, Kate and I had just gotten engaged,” his voice rang out oddly. “She was thrilled, delirious, couldn’t have been more excited. After the proposal we went to celebrate with dinner and dancing.”

“I saw you there,” murmured Cindy softly. “You were sitting at the table besides ours.”

Clay didn’t register it. “I don’t remember,” he said, “all I remember is how happy we were, how beautiful she looked. She wore an amazing, blue silk dress.”

Cindy remembered it well.

“After dinner we went back up to our room,” Clay continued, “I had a few more drinks than usual and fell asleep, but Kate stayed up posting the good news all over Facebook. You can read it for yourself. You can see how much it meant to her, how happy she was. Her computer is on the patio.”

Cindy was eager to see Kate’s Facebook page, read what she’d said. “I’d love to look at it,” she said.

“Anytime you want,” said Clay.

“Everything was perfect between you?” asked Mattheus.

“Yes,” Clay insisted, “the only strange thing that happened is that while we were at dinner, an old boyfriend of Kate’s turned up. He and his date happened to be staying at the hotel. Kate was so surprised to see him, but she was too polite to tell him to leave. He and his date joined us for a little while.”

“Did that bother you?” asked Mattheus.

“Not at all,” said Clay. “What can you do? These things happen. People run into each other without warning all the time.”

That was the other couple Cindy had seen. Cindy reviewed the scene once again in her memory. The guy who was part of the other couple was Kate’s ex-boyfriend. That was news. He’d seemed upset.

“Are you sure he was Kate’s old boyfriend?” Cindy was fascinated.

“Of course I’m sure,” Clay didn’t like being doubted. “Kate introduced us. What choice did she have?”

Mattheus was all over it. “Did you get the guy’s name?”

“His name was Sean,” Clay continued. “Sean’s date’s name was Riva. Sean and Kate had gone out for a long time, I heard.”

“Really?” Mattheus moved in, “how long?”

“I don’t know exactly,” said Clay. “But Kate didn’t keep it from me. She told me all about it while we were corresponding. Sean cheated on her with this girl Riva and he and Kate broke up.” Clay sighed again and ran his hands over his face. This was becoming too much for him to bear. “That’s why she went online looking for someone new. That’s why she and I met. Sean wanted to get back together again, but Kate wouldn’t hear of it. Kate was beautiful, she was proud, she was elegant. She was meant for me, not him. The minute we met I knew it.”

“Exactly how did you meet?”“ Cindy burst in.

Clay suddenly perked up. “We met online, a chance encounter, can you believe it?”

“Yes, I can,” said Cindy.

“The minute we met we were both so excited. We emailed and texted all day long. There was so much to say, it never stopped flowing. We filled each other in on everything. Even though we lived in different cities, I felt as though she were there beside me all the time.” Clay’s face began to flush, “I waited so long for the right woman, I couldn’t believe she actually showed up.” Clay looked at Cindy and Mattheus with desperation. “Do you know what it feels like to meet the one and only person that is truly meant for you?”

Cindy and Mattheus stared at him unmoving.

“Do you know? Tell me!”

“Why do you care, what difference does it make?” asked Mattheus.

“Because you can’t understand me unless it’s happened to you. Meeting the one person meant for you is absolutely different from meeting anyone else. The minute it happens you know who you are, your loneliness goes, forever!”

Cindy trembled as Clay spoke. Had that happened to her ever with either Mattheus or Clint?

Had it happened to Mattheus? Did he feel that way about Cindy?

Clay slammed his hands on the table, “And now my loneliness is back again, and will never leave. Ever.”

“Do you remember hearing someone banging at your door that night?” Mattheus interrupted, wanting to get back to the facts.

“I don’t remember hearing anything,” Clay said, looking around. “I had too much to drink, I slept like a rock.”

“You don’t remember hearing anyone yelling, either?” Cindy asked.

“No, no!” Clay’s face looked anguished. “If I’d heard it I would have woken up and called the police! I would have protected her. I loved her.”

“I know you did,” said Cindy softly.

“When I woke up in the morning she wasn’t there. Where was she?” Clay began reliving the morning as he spoke. “I thought she was playing with me, hiding for fun. I looked in the bathroom, I looked around the room. I couldn’t find her. I even got annoyed.” He started trembling.