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

“Pete needed the whores?” the words escaped Cindy’s mouth. “He was addicted to them?”


At that Taylor laughed. “I wouldn’t call it addicted, I would call it smart. If a guy’s gonna stay with a woman like Loretta, he needs a refuge somewhere, doesn’t he?”

Cindy hardly knew how to answer. “I wouldn’t exactly call that a refuge,” she said finally.

“What would you call it?” Taylor seemed to be enjoying seeing Cindy squirm.

“I would call it a dangerous path to take,” she replied.

“So, Pete enjoyed all kinds of danger,” Taylor agreed. “Guys are wired like that. Something wrong with that?”

“Well, look at where the path ended. Look where it got him now,” Cindy flung back.Taylor fell silent. The heavy trees rustled overhead as Cindy and Taylor stared into the pond. If you looked long enough you could see a few fish silently swimming close to the surface and then diving down deep again.

“I’m sorry about your brother,” Cindy slowly offered.

“Thanks,” Taylor mumbled.

“What do you think happened to him?” Cindy felt an urgency arise.

“I figure Pete found out about the corruption at the real estate company. He was a smart guy, they couldn’t hide it for long. Then maybe he threatened to blow the whistle on one of the leeches and someone took him out.”





Cindy decided to tell Taylor more. “I spoke a partner at the company and he said there was no record of Pete making a down payment.”

“See that, I was right!” Taylor’s eyes shot open. “The bastards are stealing the money. And who knows what else was they’re up to? Pete found out. He must have wanted his money back and they wouldn’t give it.” Taylor’s eyes flashed as he spun a web.

He jumped up from the bench then, agitated. “Let’s get back,” he said quickly, “I’m gonna call this guy Eric and get him involved with the case right away.”





Chapter 14


Taylor kept mumbling on his cell phone all the back to the hotel.

“I got hold of the lawyer,” he finally said to Cindy, “he’s gonna meet us in an hour at La Costa Nuva in town. We’ll get there just before the dinner hour and get a table in the back.”

That was where she and Eric had dinner before. It seemed strange to Cindy that Taylor knew Eric. She doubted though that Taylor knew anything about his involvement with Charma, though. It seemed possible that Pete did, though. How else could he have met Eric?

“I’ll go upstairs, shower and change and be down in a little bit,” Cindy said as she and Taylor walked into the lobby.

“Don’t dawdle,” Taylor grimaced, “you’re not exactly going to a fashion show.”

Cindy shuddered at his comment. Taylor was unpredictable, on target at times, nasty at others. She wanted to take him on, but thought better of it. This wasn’t the time to assuage her ego, it was the time to keep everything copasetic so they could all work together as easily as possible.

As soon as Cindy got to her room, she flung her bag on the couch and kicked off her shoes. It had been a long, wearying day. A shower would be the perfect thing before going to dinner with Taylor and Eric.

As Cindy walked to the bathroom her phone sharply rang. She hoped it was Taylor telling her to take a little more time, that Eric had been delayed.

Cindy picked up the phone.

“We can’t go on like this. I won’t allow it,” Mattheus was on the other end.

Startled, Cindy gasped.

“Are you there, Cindy? Can you hear me?” Mattheus sounded upset, but also determined.

“I hear you,” she said quietly.

“This is crazy,” he breathed. “I don’t deserve this kind of treatment, I didn’t exactly kill anyone.”

This was definitely not the time to take on this discussion. “No one said you killed anyone, Mattheus,” Cindy tried to calm him down. “It just seems healthier to let things end when they’re finished and not keep going over it again and again.”

“So, you’ve decided it’s over?” Mattheus’s voice rose a notch.

“If my memory serves me,” Cindy kept her cool, “you’re the one who ran out.”

“I was tremendously hurt and frustrated,” Mattheus exclaimed.

“Yes, I understand that,” said Cindy, “that’s what you do when you get upset. And I take responsibility for what happened, too. It seems there are hurdles between us that we can’t get over.”

“We can get over anything we choose to,” Mattheus was irked.

“This isn’t the time to talk now,” Cindy replied. “I only have a few minutes to shower and dress and meet someone connected to the case.”

“Okay, I get that,” Mattheus relented. “Let’s find another time.” He wasn’t letting go.

“We will find another time. Things here are heating up here now and I need to stay calm. I’ll call you as soon as I see an opening,” Cindy promised.

“I appreciate that, Cindy,” said Mattheus. “I really do.”