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

Cindy felt the depth of his relief to be talking to her. And, she had to admit that she was relieved to be talking to him as well. Ragged edges cut both ways.

“What do you mean things are heating up on the case?” Mattheus shot in abruptly, concerned. “Do you have the help you need down there?”

“I’m beginning to,” Cindy replied. “Not from the cops, but from interested parties.”

“That’s not enough,” Mattheus was all over it. “You need to get even one person in law enforcement working with you.” Cindy could feel how nervous he was for her. “I don’t like you working a case alone like this. It’s not smart. It shouldn’t be happening.”

Cindy sighed as she felt the depth of Mattheus’s concern. “I’m okay,” she reassured him, “it’s a new experience and a strengthening one.”

“I care about you Cindy, I really do,” Mattheus couldn’t help proclaim.

“I know you do, Mattheus,” Cindy responded, “but I have to go now. I really do.”

“Okay, go. We’ll talk later,” he mumbled and hung up.

Cindy hung up the phone feeling shaken and saddened. If she and Mattheus had simply been partners at work it would be wonderful to have him here now. But, of course, things had gone way beyond that. As Cindy walked to the bathroom to shower, she wondered what would have actually happened if she and Mattheus had settled on a wedding venue, sent out the invitations and actually gotten married? Would that have been a safeguard against his running away? Or would it have made the problem deeper with no means of escape?

Cindy jumped into the shower, and let the cool water wash the pain of the day away. She couldn’t indulge in these thoughts any longer right now. She had to stay clear and focused, alert to new evidence as it came up.

Once out of the shower Cindy dressed quickly in a lemon silk dress, shell necklace and beautiful sandals that glistened on her feet. As she put on her makeup, looking in the mirror, Cindy suddenly felt like a beautiful woman, something she hadn’t felt like for a long while. There were parts of her life had disappeared, Cindy realized as she grabbed a small matching bag and went downstairs to meet Taylor.

*

Taylor stood up the moment Cindy walked out of the elevator, surprised at her transformation. ““Wow,” he said, “looks like you’re going to a fashion show after all.”

“Let’s get going,” said Cindy, pleased by his reaction, and eager to get to the restaurant.

They grabbed a quick cab and Taylor started muttering again. “This guy Eric’s a straight shooter,” he began, “Peter told me that a couple of times. Eric’s not going to give us the run around.”

“I appreciate straight shooters,” said Cindy. “Everyone else is just a waste of time.”

Taylor grunted, “My sentiments exactly,” he said.

Cindy wanted to ask Taylor more about himself then, but this wasn’t the time.

They needed to stay focused on meeting Eric and see how he could help them sort things out.

*

As Cindy expected, the moment she and Taylor walked into the restaurant she saw the Eric she’d met, seated at the bar. He stood up swiftly the moment he saw Cindy and Taylor and walked over to them.

“So we meet again,” Eric zoned in on Cindy. “It’s really good to see you.”

“What do you mean you meet again?” Taylor didn’t appreciate the surprise.

“I wasn’t sure it was the same person you were talking about,” Cindy explained, “but Eric and I met before.”

Taylor’s eyes opened wide, looking back and forth between them.

“Purely a business meeting,” said Eric promptly.

“Of course. They’re all business meetings there anyway aren’t they?” said Taylor, a nasty glint in his eye.

Eric threw Cindy a quick glance of apology and she appreciated it.

“Let’s go sit down at a table and talk,” Eric suggested, being the consummate gentleman and taking the pressure off the moment.

As the three of them made their way through a row of tables, Cindy felt a hand in the small of her back, gently guiding her. As she turned and felt Eric close behind a tiny shiver crept up Cindy’s spine.

“I’m so glad to see you again,” Eric whispered as they approached the table he’d reserved for them.

Cindy let Eric pull her chair out for her as Taylor watched suspiciously. “Looks like you two have quite a history,” he remarked.

“We met one other time,” Eric repeated, “and I’m impressed that Cindy is doing a tremendous job.”

“How do you know that?” Taylor grew more suspicious.

“Because I heard about it from Charma,” Eric replied.

Taylor quieted down. “She’s the one they’re holding for the murder?” he asked.

“Exactly,” said Eric. “I’ve been on the perimeters of the case, helping out. So, naturally I had to speak to Charma. She told me that she really enjoyed meeting Cindy. Cindy made a big difference to her.”

As the caustic look faded from Taylor’s face, Cindy appreciated Eric’s intervention.