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

“No, thank you, thank you,” Loretta flung her arms around Cindy giving her an enormous hug. “Thank you for coming down to help me. I’ll never be able to repay your kindness.”


Cindy stepped back and looked at her old friend, amazed that she could have made her way to the airport looking so put together right after her husband had been killed. Most likely none of it had sunk in, yet.

“You look wonderful,” Cindy breathed.

Loretta smoothed her hair quickly and smiled, “Thanks, you were always the best. You always had something nice to say about everyone.”

“It’s actually amazing that you’re holding up so well, after such a tragedy,” Cindy couldn’t help but add.

Loretta lifted her hand to swat away a fly and then put her arm around Cindy, completely ignoring what she’d just said.

“You’re the best now and you always were the best, Cindy,” Loretta continued.

“I’m glad to be with you,” Cindy answered simply. It seemed at the moment that Loretta might be in denial. For a moment she feared that Loretta would not be able to help with the investigation. But Loretta had enough clarity to contact Cindy and make arrangements for the trip. There was no reason to assume she couldn’t be counted upon.

“We have a lot to do here together,” Cindy commented gently, as she and Loretta walked down a long plank towards baggage claim.

“We sure do,” said Loretta, “we sure do.”

*

“Fill me in on you life, fill me in,” Loretta said after they got the baggage and were getting into a cab. Loretta and Pete had been staying in a beautiful hotel in Santa Domingo and Loretta had gotten Cindy a room on the very same floor.

Cindy wanted to talk instead about Pete’s murder, and decided to find a way to help Loretta bring it up.

“What have you been doing all these years since college?” Loretta smiled at Cindy, as if this were a simple reunion between very old friends.

“No, you fill me in first,” Cindy replied lightly as the cab drifted onto a highway surrounded by gigantic palm trees.

“Life has been good, it’s been beautiful,” Loretta started, staring out the cab window. “Pete and I have been so happy together. It’s been a fairy tale life all these years.”

Cindy nodded slowly. She knew that after a tragedy it was natural to keep returning to the past, where all had seemed beautiful and safe. It was of demanding that reality stay as it had been, the way one wanted it.

“Do you remember Pete at all?” Loretta asked then, facing Cindy.

“Yes, I do. I remember that he was a finance major, very handsome and that he certainly swept you off your feet,” Cindy smiled.

Loretta was pleased. “You got that right.”

“I’m glad you two were so happy,” Cindy slowly went on.

Loretta placed her hands in her lap and slowly squeezed them into fists.

“Pete and I came down here to buy a vacation condo,” Loretta’s voice began to rise. “We found one we wanted and Pete even left a huge deposit on it. He knows the island well, comes down here often for business.”

“What did Pete do?” Cindy wanted to hear more, glad that Loretta was speaking.





“He works for financial firm that speculates in all kinds of investments and has a branch down here as well.”

“This must have been a big trip for you. You must have been very excited,” Cindy spoke as soothingly as she could,

“More than excited, more than thrilled,” Loretta echoed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Of course you would,” Cindy reassured her.

“I told that to the police when they questioned me,” Loretta went on. “The Chief of Police Brad made a sour face. Why? Why would he even question me about this when he told the papers it was an open and shut case?”

“It’s routine to question the nearest of kin,” Cindy answered calmly. “But why do they think it’s open and shut? Who do they think did it?”

Loretta balked at that and pressed her face against the taxi window, though the cab was winding around a turn in the road. She remained that way, silently, for a long while.

“Who do they think did it?” Cindy finally insisted. This was basic information that she had to have.

Loretta turned then and stared at Cindy. “You must never tell any of the people back home about this,” she demanded.

Cindy was startled. She didn’t know the people Loretta knew back at home anymore. “Don’t worry, I haven’t been back to Wisconsin for years,” she said.

“Why not?” asked Loretta.

“Mattheus and I work in the Caribbean,” Cindy blurted out, only realizing what she’d said afterwards.

“Who’s Mattheus? Your partner?” asked Loretta. “Is that what C and M Investigations stands for?”

“Mattheus was my partner,” Cindy replied professionally.

“Was? You’ve broken up?” Loretta grabbed at the information. “Why?”

“We’ve taking different turns in the road,” Cindy said quietly.