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

“You looked creeped out,” Chama’s voice suddenly lowered. “You never had a guy hungry for you? You don’t know how to make a guy incredibly happy?”


Cindy had no intention of answering that question, unclear how they’d even gotten to this point.

“They’re also found your fingerprints over the knife that killed Pete” Cindy instantly refocused.

Charma didn’t miss a beat. “Anyone could have stabbed him and wiped my prints on the knife, couldn’t they? That’s not why they’re pinning it on me.”

“Why are they’re pinning it on you?” asked Cindy, sourly.

“Because it’s easy and convenient to blame a whore,” Charma grinned. “I’ve been blamed before, I’m used to it.”

“When?” Cindy was on the alert.

“You don’t know my criminal history?” Charma stopped for a second and really looked at Cindy. “You don’t know I have a record of assaulting a John once with a knife. “

“No, I didn’t know that,” said Cindy, wondering why someone hadn’t mentioned that to her before.

“Some detective,” Charma sneered. “But that time was different. I had to do it, My John was coming at me in a drugged stupor, going for my neck. It was kill or be killed. Everyone realized it. I got off.”

Cindy looked more closely at this beautiful, sensual young woman, horrified by

by her life.

“Everyone in the business runs into shit like that,” Charma went on. “It’s the law of the streets, if you’ don’t know how to protect yourself, you end up dead.”

“I’m sorry,” said Cindy, suddenly moved. “It’s a terrible way to live, Charma.”

Struck by the sincerity of Cindy’s feeling, Charma grew quiet for a moment and bit her lower lip.

“The life’s got good points too,” she said softly then. “It ain’t all bad or I wouldn’t be doing it.”

“What would you be doing?” asked Cindy, truly wanting an answer.

At that Charma threw her head back and guffawed. “Maybe I’d be a detective, like you. But that’s not such a great life, either though, is it? We can both get killed in a second flat.”

Cindy never thought of it that way.

“At least I got protection, and a home to live in. I got regulars who really care about me” Charma’s eyes half closed, looking at Cindy like an alley cat. “How about you? What do you get out of what you’re doing?”

Cindy felt deeply disturbed by the question.

“Listen, I should have been out of here a long time by now. This is getting ridiculous,” Charma went on. “You got to help me out. I want you to get hold of a guy named Eric. The girls at the house have his number. Eric’s my number one, regular John. He’s a big lawyer down here and he’ll do whatever he can to help me. Tell him Charma said her ass is up against hell. He’ll know what I mean, in a second flat.”

“Have you told the police to contact Eric?” Cindy asked immediately.

Charma frowned and her face grew darker. “What kind of idiot do you take me for? What Eric and I got is secret. It’s okay for you to call him, but don’t tell anyone about it. Eric will lead you to the killer. He’s smart, he’s connected, he’ll figure things out.”

“Are you nervous about this, Charma?” Cindy asked.

“Sure I’m nervous,” Charma retorted. “At first I thought it would all just work out, but it’s taking too long. Now I’m wondering.”

“Who wanted Pete dead?” Cindy asked fervently.

“Damned if I know,” Charma growled.

“He ended up dead in your room, though,” said Cindy.

“Yeah, but most of the night I wasn’t even there,” Charma suddenly thundered. “I was out with Eric, if you want to know. We went to a fancy motel and then he brought me back to the house much later on.”





“You have an alibi?” Cindy was startled. “Did you tell the police?”

“Of course I did,” said Charma, “I said I was out with another John and didn’t get home until late. They just laughed in my face.”

“Didn’t you ask the police to have Eric confirm it?” Cindy urgently needed to know.

“No,” Charma’s eyes closed quickly. “I didn’t tell the police who the John was. Eric and I got an arrangement, I don’t let anyone know about him and me.”

“Eric’s married?” Cindy asked, guessing that was the reason.

“He’s not married,” whispered Charma, “though if he was, what difference would that make? I told you, Eric’s a big time lawyer down here. It wouldn’t be good for him if people found out what he did on the side. I just told the police I was with another John, and that Sanya saw me come home about three in the morning. Pete’s time of death was listed as around two a.m.”

A long chill passed up Cindy’s shoulders. This was crucial information. If it was true, Charma couldn’t have killed Pete.

“Will Eric agree to testify that he was with you?” Cindy asked softly.