Death by Request (Caribbean Murder #11)

“Was Ann really happy?” Mattheus asked sincerely.

“Yes, she was happy living that life with Frank,” Cindy answered quietly. “That’s the life she wanted for me, too.”

“And did you want that for yourself, really?” Mattheus’s voice was inquiring.

“I never saw myself that way,” Cindy admitted. “Ann and I were different. I never fit in, was always restless for more. The guys I chose were nothing like Frank either, certainly not the kind of guy who ends up surrounded by a white, picket fence.”

Mattheus held Cindy’s hand tighter. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” he said softly.

“No, it isn’t,” Cindy agreed, “but Ann was always trying to get me to settle down with her kind of man.”

“She wanted you to be happy in her way,” Mattheus remarked.

Cindy took a step deeper into the water, and Mattheus followed along. The water was colder than expected and Cindy swiftly caught her breath.

Mattheus laughed at her surprise. “The water’s invigorating,” he said.

“Yes, it is,” Cindy laughed along with him, wanting to go all the way in, to throw herself completely on the mercy of the dark waves that seemed to be calling her. “Let’s swim way out to the horizon,” she uttered.

“Whoah, wait a second,” Mattheus laughed as Cindy tugged on his hand. “We’ll swim, but not that far out. There can be sudden undertows everywhere.”

“I’m not afraid of undertows,” Cindy laughed as the two of them plunged into the water and started to swim, side by side, under the piercing moonlight.

It felt wonderful swimming together, not talking or thinking about anything, being bathed by the moon, feeling at peace. Cindy cherished this time here with Mattheus. As they swam together, all of a sudden, from the corner of her eye she saw a tiny flash of lightning way out on the horizon. It flickered for a second and then disappeared.

“Oh my God, Mattheus,” Cindy called out, “is a storm coming?”

Mattheus lifted his head and looked around. “What are you talking about?”

Cindy saw another quick flash of lightning once again. “There,” she pointed to the horizon, “I saw a couple of flashes of lightning. Did you see them?”

Mattheus turned his head in that direction, looking, as another one quickly flashed and disappeared.

“There, did you see it?” Cindy called louder.

“See what?” Mattheus called back.

“The flashes of lightning?” she answered, her voice echoing.

“I didn’t see anything,” Mattheus called back.

“Keep looking,” she called, waiting for another one, which didn’t come.“I saw three flashes of lightning,” Cindy said quickly, “one of them happened right when you were looking that way.”

“Probably just the flicker of the light of the moon bouncing off the waves,” Mattheus replied.

“No,” Cindy was certain, “they were flashes of lightning. Or, maybe lights from a boat far out, signaling something?”

“Who knows?” said Mattheus. “The light of the moon can take all kinds of shapes and look like different things to different people. Do you want to swim back to shore?”

“Yes, it’s time,” Cindy said, disturbed that Mattheus hadn’t seen the flashes of light, and wondering exactly what they really could have been.





Chapter 5



The beautiful moonlight swim had soothed Cindy and Mattheus and they slept deeply and peacefully all night long, wrapped in one another’s arms. When they awoke first thing in the morning they were both refreshed and ready to get going. The next stop was a visit to Tara’s family. Cindy had called setting up an appointment, which was for ten o’clock in the morning.

Tara’s family was staying at the Villa that Owen had rented during the vacation. Thankfully, it was not far from the hotel. Cindy and Mattheus had time for breakfast together, and a second cup of coffee before they went downstairs to get a cab. When things were going so well between them both of them felt strong, nourished and supported. It seemed as if there was nothing they could not tackle, that they were destined to be working and living together forever like this, side by side.

“Do you believe in destiny?” Cindy asked, as the two of them got into the cab to drive to the Villa.

Mattheus grinned. He knew Cindy so well by now, knew just what she was thinking.

“I don’t know if I believe in destiny,” he responded, “but I sure do believe in love. I can see how great it feels when things are good, what love can do for two people.” Then he kissed her lightly on the top of her head.