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

Loretta’s stony silence in response was jarring. “Are you hiding something from me, Cindy?” she finally asked.

This was becoming annoying. “What would I be hiding? I’m taking slow, careful, methodical steps, putting together a picture of everyone involved.” Cindy tried not to sound as exasperated as she felt.

“Who exactly are you trying to get a picture of?” asked Loretta quickly.

Cindy decided it wouldn’t hurt to give her the information she was so hungry for. Hopefully it would calm her down.

“I’ve spoken to Taylor, Charma, and visited the brothel again.”

“You what??” Loretta’s voice became paper thin and piercing. “You actually spoke to the whore? Why in the world would you go slumming like that? And I told you up front not to meet Taylor. He hates women, he always hated me.”

“It doesn’t matter who a person hates or loves,” Cindy’s voice took on an edge as well. “It’s my job to speak to everyone. That’s what you do when you’re investigating a crime.”

“I can’t believe you spoke to Taylor after I asked you not to,” Loretta became fitful. “I’m hurt, Cindy, very hurt.”

“I’m sorry you’re hurt, but I’m trying to help,” Cindy wouldn’t go along with it.

“And to top it off you also spoke to Charma,” Loretta went on. “Now I actually feel like throwing up.”

“Why?” Cindy began to feel angry now. “Charma’s a person, too, and for the moment she’s being held in custody for a crime you tell me she didn’t commit.”

“I know,”” hissed Loretta, “and I know she didn’t do it. But I can’t stand her anyway. I wouldn’t visit her if my life depended on it.”

“Your life doesn’t depend on it,” Cindy flung back at her. “But maybe Pete’s life did.”

“What in hell do you mean by that?” Loretta began to grow furious.

“I mean maybe finding his killer depends upon my speaking to Charma,” Cindy shot back.

“Oh, I thought you were going to tell me that Pete’s life depended on seeing Charma, that she told you that!” Loretta’s voice grew raspy. ”But nobody can ever say that to me. If they do ’ll never believe them or listen to them again.”

“I wasn’t going to say any such thing,” Cindy quickly defended herself, hoping Loretta wouldn’t ask the next inevitable question, whether or not Charma knew Pete at all, whether he was her customer? Thankfully, Loretta didn’t go there. That would obviously have been more than she could handle.

“I’m so sorry I missed dinner with you and Angela,” Cindy tried to lighten the conversation. “I’d love to meet her.”

“You will,” said Loretta. “Right now she’s having desert with my dad. She’s almost like another daughter to him, they’ve known each other for the longest time.”

“Good,” said Cindy.

“Who did you have dinner with?” Loretta asked carefully then.

Once again Cindy didn’t like Loretta’s probing. “I had a bite with someone from law enforcement,” Cindy lied. But it was only a half lie as Eric was a lawyer. Of course there was no way Cindy could say a word about Eric to Loretta or anyone.

“What was the point of that? The police are against us, anyway,” Loretta became pouty again.

“Loretta, you’ve got to trust me and let me do my job,” Cindy insisted.

“Of course I trust you,” Loretta replied, “but why don’t you go and talk to someone who can help. Go talk to Val at the real estate company. He’s the guy Pete had his dealings with. That’s where I’ve told you to look. I don’t know why you’re putting it off. Frankly I think something about the whore fascinates you. Maybe there’s something going on with you that I don’t know anything about? That gives me the creeps, if you know what I mean.”

“Your husband’s body was found in her room,” Cindy answered in a clipped tone.

“That’s not just why you talked to her, I don’t believe that for a minute,” Loretta went into a rant. “It’s something else, and I can’t even think what. Believe me, Cindy, none of the women I come in contact with would ever step a foot in a whorehouse and wouldn’t go talking to Charma either, behind my back.”

Cindy felt side swiped by Loretta’s bitterness. “I do believe that, Loretta,” Cindy retorted. “But I’m not a Midwestern socialite who’s coming to shop for a custom made wedding gown.”

“Are you implying there’s something wrong with that?” Loretta was horrified.

“No, I’m not, of course,” Cindy backtracked. “I’m just pointing out that my life is different from the women you come into contact with.”

“That’s for sure,” Loretta grumbled. “Those women would never do the things you do and they wouldn’t do them alone. They’d have a man at their side every step of the way.”