Death by Seduction (Book #13 in the Caribbean Murder series)

The sky suddenly grew darker and winds blew up, threatening rain. Cindy suddenly realized how crucial it was for her to talk to Charma as soon as possible. Pressure from Loretta had definitely taken a toll, causing Cindy to delay the meeting. How ridiculous, she thought. Charma was the first person she should have talked to. She’d be the perfect one to fill in the gaps about Pete, if she actually knew him.

By the time Cindy got out of the water and back onto the sand, her plan was clear. The very next stop would be to talk to Charma. She wouldn’t say a thing about it to Loretta, though. There was no need to. After she spoke to Charma, she’d contact Taylor and get the picture of Pete rounded out.

Cindy spent a little while longer on the beach, then gathered her things together. She would go back to the hotel, change and then make her way down to the police station where Charma was being held.

On her way back Cindy looked at her phone once again. Mattheus’s text stood there, unanswered, glaring at her. As much as she wanted to say something, Cindy forced herself to remain silent. She wasn’t going to respond in a knee jerk manor, or keep dancing this dance they’d been doing. A clean break was better, she thought.

*

Before going down to the police station Cindy called to make sure they knew she was coming down to speak to Charma. Fortunately, Ron, the cop she’d met at the brothel, picked up.

“I’ll be there in about an hour,” said Cindy, “I need to speak to Charma.”

“It’s a good idea,” Ron replied, “we’ve been waiting for you. Charma heard that you’re working the case and keeps asking why you don’t come down and talk to her, too?”

Cindy was glad to hear that and once again was upset for taking so long to come down and meet Charma herself.

*

Cindy waited in a small, airless room as Charma was brought out of her holding cell to talk to her. Finally, the door opened slowly and Charma was led in. In her late twenties with long, wild, curly hair and huge beautiful , brown eyes, she looked like a wild, trapped animal with frantic energy exuding from every cell. The minute she walked in, Charma lunged towards Cindy, but the police officer with her, directed her to sit down. Once she did, the cop, looking bored, turned and left them alone.

“You sure took your time about coming to see me,” Charma shook her thick mane of hair back over her shoulders. “But I got all the answers you need, so what kept you waiting so long?”

“I was stupid,” said Cindy.

Charma grinned. “Yeah, most cops are stupid as hell.”

“Sorry,” said Cindy lightly, agreeing with her.

“Were you scared to come and see a whore?” Charma baited Cindy, her eyes flashing.





“Not at all,” said Cindy, lying. “There were just lots of people I had to speak to.”

“Nah, “ Charma’s mouth opened wide, showing ragged edges to her teeth. “There’s only piece in this puzzle. Me. They’re pinning it on me.”

“Because they found your fingerprints all over the victim, “Cindy said abruptly.

”Sure my fingerprints are all over my guys,” Charma held back a laugh. “Where else would they be? That doesn’t prove a dang.”

“Pete was one of your customers?” Cindy took the opening, afraid to hear more.

“Oh brother, are we in kindergarten or something?” Charma looked up at the ceiling, then back at Cindy. “Sure he was one of my customers. Why wouldn’t he be? Something wrong with me?”

“Of course not, I didn’t mean that,” Cindy felt horrified for Loretta.

“Pete was one of my regulars and boy, did he like me!” Charma added for good measure, shoving it in Cindy’s face.

“He came to see you often?” asked Cindy, saddened.

“He came when he needed to,” Charma became flippant. “I don’t exactly keep a list of how many times my guys come to see me. They come when they’re bored, or lonely, or get hungry as hell.”

Cindy shivered. “Which was it for Pete?” she asked.

“All three,” Charma laughed. “I’m sure you’ve seen the lady he married, a moving stiff if ever I saw one.”

“When did you get to meet Loretta?” Cindy felt alarmed.

“I didn’t actually meet her,” Charma backtracked. “I was out on the street once, walking with another John, and saw Pete and her passing by. I knew who it was cause he’d showed me her picture.”

Cindy shivered. “Why would Pete show you his wife’s picture?” she asked.

“Lots of the guys do, believe it or not,” Charma was thoroughly enjoying the conversation. “Maybe it makes them feel less guilty, or something,” she said, “as though they’re letting their wives in on it too.”

“But the wives know nothing, do they?” asked Cindy, amazed.

“Of course not,” said Charma. “I’m the dirtiest secret these guys have. If the wives found out there’d be hell to pay. So when I saw Pete and his wife walk by I pretended not to notice. But I got a good look at her, and she glanced at me, too. She had no idea who she was seeing, though. She never thought in a million years, I was doing her man, making him happier than she ever could.”

Cindy looked away, overwhelmed.