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

“I don’t know,” Eric was definitely flustered. “But I think it’s good that we’re checking the money trail.”


“Very good,” agreed Mattheus.

Cindy was relieved that Mattheus was being respectful of Eric. To her surprise Mattheus actually seemed to like him.

“Okay,“ one of the policemen broke in. “We all know about the girls, that’s not news. What else have you guys got for us?”

“We told you a lot,” Eric insisted. “What can you tell us now?”

“We got something else,” the cop admitted. “You want to tell them, Mattheus?”

“No, you go ahead,” Mattheus took a back seat, watching the interactions carefully.

“Mattheus found out something we didn’t know,” the cop quickly continued. “Seems like the real estate company had big ties with the brothel where Pete was found. Looks like they hired Charma and some other girls there lots of times for parties and special occasions.”

“That’s huge,” said Cindy.

“It’s something, but not huge,” the cop corrected her. “Lots of companies use these girls to beef up business and show their customers a good time.”

“No, Cindy’s right,” Mattheus disagreed. “If the killing had something to do with the real estate company it could explain why Pete’s body was found in Charma’s room.”

“You’re blaming Charma now?” Eric’s voice rose noticeably.

“No, we’re not,” Mattheus calmed Eric down immediately, “but we’re saying it’s entirely possible that Charma was used as a pawn in the hands of the real estate company.”

Mattheus had only been on the case a short while and made such headway. Cindy was proud of him, glad he was here. It was a different world working with him around.

Mattheus felt Cindy’s appreciation and turned her way. “I’m glad I’m here,” he said, “everywhere you look there’s another pothole, waiting.”

“I’m glad you’re here, too,” Cindy replied.

Cindy and Mattheus smiled at each other then, as Eric looked away.

*

After the meeting was over, they all stood up from the table.

“I’ll get a cab for us to get back to the hotel,” Mattheus said to Cindy, edging Eric out of the equation completely.

Eric looked over at Cindy, waiting for her response.

“Fine,” Cindy replied promptly, not wanting to leave an opening for Eric to think that anything between them was possible, or that she would chose to have him take her home. He was clearly involved with Charma emotionally, and now having fantasies about Cindy too.

Eric turned away then and signed the check and Cindy felt badly. She wanted to smile at him and thank him for all he’d been doing to help. But Eric didn’t look her way again, just began speaking to the policemen, one of whom offered to give him a lift home.

*

It was strange and tense in the car beside Mattheus. The lights from the streets shone in on them for awhile and then faded as they turned along the road to the hotel.

“You’ve certainly taken a lot upon yourself to come down here,” said Cindy as they drove along.

“I’ve been tracking the case for a long time,” Mattheus responded. “Fortunately I know a few of the cops here quite well.”

“You didn’t think I could handle it alone?” Cindy asked, troubled.

“No, of course I knew that you could,” said Mattheus. “I just didn’t want you to. I knew sooner or later there’d be trouble and I wanted to be there for you then.”

Cindy took a deep breath. Mattheus had gone out of his way to help her and Cindy was grateful for that. Where this would all lead was another matter.

“So, you and that guy Eric got something going?” Mattheus couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, we do. We’re working on this case together,” Cindy answered plainly. “That’s what we have going. Nothing else.”

“Nothing else, really?” Mattheus continued. “I saw how he was looking at you.”

“Lots of guys might look at me that way, Mattheus, but it doesn’t mean a thing to me. If you’re going to lose sleep about it, so be it.” Cindy was sick of his suspiciousness.

“I’m not going to lose a second of sleep about it,” Mattheus suddenly laughed.

“It’s crazy to think that way,” Cindy couldn’t help but continue. “Especially if we decide

not to go on with our relationship.”

“We haven’t decided that, have we though?” asked Mattheus.

Tears suddenly filled Cindy’s eyes and began to stream down her face. “I don’t know,” she said sorrowfully, “I’m not sure.”

“Cindy!” Mattheus turned her to him and put his hands on her face. “You’re crying.”

The tears just kept falling all by themselves.

“God, I’m sorry, so sorry,” Mattheus kept repeating. “I’m a fool, a jerk, I’ve hurt you so much.”

“That doesn’t work,” Cindy finally answered. “It’s not enough to say you’re sorry if you just keep repeating the patterns again and again.”

“If we keep repeating the patterns,” Mattheus corrected her. “And we’re going to break through those patterns, I promise,” he was insistent.