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

The waiter came then and brought the table a large bottle of sparkling water. Eric poured each one a glass before they started to talk.

“Okay, we need your help,” Taylor jumped in. “I believe the real estate company my brother was buying his condo from is involved in this. Number one - they told Cindy they didn’t have Pete’s down payment. Number two, I researched them and found they’re corrupt as hell.”

“They have plenty of claims against them,” Eric agreed slowly.

“I’m here checking the money trail,” Taylor spit out and getting upset again.

“You’re a good brother,” Eric said firmly.

“Yeah, that’s all I am, but at least I’m that. At least Pete always had me,” said Taylor.

“What about your parents?” Eric was curious.

“Our parents were both killed in a car accident when Pete was in college,” Taylor seemed glad to be talking. “It was about the same time Loretta’s mom was also killed in the same way. That brought them together big time. They helped each other get through it. Other than that there was really no reason they should have been together. They were completely different.”

“Rough luck,” Eric murmured.

“I knew the marriage wouldn’t work for the long wrong. Taylor went on.

“Were they happy at all?” asked Eric.

“Who am I to say?” Taylor mumbled. “What about you? You live down here, you got a wife or something?”

“I’ve got a law firm I love,” Eric finessed the question skillfully. Cindy was impressed with how sensitive and sharp he was.

“So, let’s get back to basics, “Taylor went on fitfully. “I think someone at the real estate company did it,” he repeated fitfully.

“Possible,” Eric mused quietly, “but far from definite.”

“I’m gonna dig into the money trail at Pete’s company now,” Taylor grimaced. “I need your help to get into the books there. Every time I call there’s another excuse.”

“I’ can help you with that,” Eric agreed.

“Good,” Taylor seemed relieved.

“What do you think, Eric?” Cindy joined in, seeing that Eric seemed doubtful that the money trail was the answer. “Do you have any other ideas?”

“There’s a guy who’s obsessed with Charma,” Eric said in a low tone, “one of her customers, John Burnd. He’s a creepy guy, always hanging around her, watching everyone who she does business with.”

“Her pimp?” Taylor’s eyes opened wide.

“No, pimps are illegal down here. The girls take care of each other. This is just a creepy customer who’s become addicted to Charma. Shanya once found Burnd peeking in her window from outside and had to drive him away with a broom.”

“Oh my God,” Cindy uttered, “why didn’t you tell the police about him before? Why haven’t you said anything?”

“I’m being careful, taking it slow,” Eric answered in a measured tone. “You don’t want to sling suspicion on a guy like this, he’s a ticking time bomb, as it is.”

“He’s the first one the police should have looked into,” Cindy flushed, amazed that she knew nothing about him. “Was he getting more and more possessive and jealous of Charma’s customers?”

“Yeah, something like that,” Eric’s voice turned into a drawl, as Cindy suddenly remembered that Eric was also one of her customers, if not the main one. She wondered if he’d had confrontations with Burnd? Was Eric scared of the guy? Is that why he hadn’t said anything about him? Of course Cindy couldn’t say a word about this in front of Taylor.

“There’s a lot of lousy, creepy punks at the whore houses,” Taylor chimed in. “But why the hell would they pick on my brother? Charma had to have had plenty of other regulars! My brother only went there when he was in town.”

“Good point,” Eric agreed, “I think Cindy should meet Burnd herself and talk to him.”

“Cindy should?” Taylor’s eyes opened in fright. “Why the hell her?”

“She’s the detective on the case, after all,” Eric commented, “and I won’t let her go alone. I’ll back her up.”

“What the hell is a punk like Burnd going to tell her?” Taylor grew jittery.

“You never know,” Eric replied, “when you’re up against a loose cannon all kinds of things comes out.”

“Good idea,” Cindy agreed immediately. “I want to go.”

Taylor drew his chair back. “Well, I’m not going along, that’s for sure. This is where I had enough.”



“You don’t have to,” said Eric. “I’ll help you get into the books at Pete’s company and see what you can find there.”

“That’s a deal,” Taylor stood up then, ready to go. “I’m not so hungry for dinner now either, if you know what I mean,” he added. ”I think I’ll leave you two beautiful people to enjoy the Caribbean evening alone.”

Then as he turned to leave, Taylor suddenly stopped cold in his tracks. “Oh God, it’s her,” he muttered.

Loretta and another woman were walking straight over in his direction to a table right in front of theirs.