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

“Maybe some part of her realized something was strange,” Angela had to agree, “but she kept that part in darkness. Soon after Loretta found the porn on Pete’s website though, she started drinking a lot more than before. What a nightmare! Here was a fabulously successful woman who ran the most elegant, expensive salon for brides and even helped plan top A list weddings. If word ever got out that her husband visited prostitutes, do you know what it could do to her business?”


Cindy could well imagine. Loretta had been very proud even in college, extremely sensitive to what people thought.

“But Loretta said she and Pete were buying a condo together down here to have more quality time together. I guess they were trying make things better,” Cindy mused.

“That’s what she told herself and me, too,” said Angela. “But from the start I felt funny about it. I even told her father, Henry, I didn’t think it was a wise move.”

“Why would you tell that to her father?” Cindy was startled.

“Loretta’s father and I have been close for years,” said Angela. “He’s a wonderful man, he adores Loretta, would do anything in the world to help her.”

“Did Henry know that Pete was involved with other women?” Cindy asked bluntly.

“Of course he knew,” said Angela. “He was in the same bind I was in though, scared of saying it to her straight out. Scared the facts would destroy her, or that she just wouldn’t believe them and cut him out of her life. Her father couldn’t bear being cut out of Loretta’s life. She’s everything to him.”

“He must have hated Pete a lot,” whispered Cindy, wondering if there were any way Loretta’s father could be involved in this?

“Yeah, he hated him, but he didn’t do this,” Angela answered quickly. “He wasn’t on the island when it happened. And, Henry gave Loretta the money for the down payment on the condo, too. He wanted things to straighten out between them.”

Cindy was startled that Angela had such intimate information. It was even more disturbing because Loretta had said the money for the down payment came from Pete.

“Why did her father give money to her?” Cindy needed to know more. “Couldn’t Pete afford it? Loretta said he could.”

“Pete’s money flowed through his fingers like water,” Angela began whispering now.

“Come on, let’s walk more.”

Cindy started back down the cobblestone path with Angela.

“Pete had money but he wasn’t stable,” Angela kept talking as they walked. “Loretta knew it and it humiliated her.”

“So she took money from her dad?” Cindy asked.

“She took everything she needed from her dad,” Angela continued.

“Didn’t she make plenty of money on her own with her boutique?” asked Cindy.

“Yeah, she made money, but her business was in both her name and Pete’s. Who knows what happened to the money she made? For all we know, he siphoned it off.” Angela looked at Cindy slyly.

“What are you telling me, Angela? “ Cindy felt increasingly agitated.

“If you want to find the killer, follow the money trail,” Angela whispered. “Who knows what Pete did with his money? He could have been into weird deals, or for all we know he

could have given it to one of the prostitutes who had him by the throat.”

Cindy shuddered.

“I know it’s horrible and ugly,” said Angela, “but someone has to say it as it is. Someone has to face the truth.”

“What is Loretta’s father doing about this?” Cindy was suddenly struck by the fact that it was his money that had been lost. “Does he realize the real estate company has no record of the down payment?”

“Of course he does,” Angela smiled with relief. “He’s a smart man and he’s on it, big time. He’s even gotten the police involved. Henry actually believes that the real estate company stole the money he gave Pete and Loretta and then had Pete killed.”

“That’s quite an accusation,” Cindy took it all in.

“Henry even wonders now if Pete was in cahoots with the real estate company? It doesn’t make sense that Pete would give them the money and it would just disappear. Were they both in a scam to steal from him? The cops are putting heat on the real estate company as we speak, checking into the books.”

“Oh my goodness,” said Cindy. “Taylor’s also checking.”

“Taylor, who? Pete’s brother?” asked Angela alarmed.

“Yes, what’s wrong with that?” Cindy was shaken.

“Taylor’s a woman hater and a madman, “Angela breathed. “You can’t trust him. He hates Loretta like poison, too, always has.”

“That’s doesn’t make him a madman,” Cindy responded.

“No, I guess not,” Angela stopped walking as they stood under the towering gaze of another Patron Saint. “But why is Taylor involved in the investigation at all? I’m sure Loretta never asked him to help her.”

“Taylor’s brother was killed,” said Cindy slowly. “It makes perfect sense that he’d do all he could to find the murderer.”

“Yes, I guess it does,” Angela relented.