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

Loretta turned and glared at Cindy, “Well, you’re not getting another thing from me.”


“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Angela patted Loretta’s shoulders, trying to calm her down. “Cindy’s not a bad person, she tries to do what’s right.”

“She’s bad,” Loretta insisted. “I want her to leave. Tell her to get off the island immediately.”

Angela looked distraught. “Okay, calm down. You go into the other room and lay down,” she said to Loretta, “and I’ll tell Cindy to go.”

“You’ll get her out of my life?” Loretta pleaded as Angela led her shaky, half drunken friend into the adjoining bedroom to lay down and rest.

Cindy closed her eyes, horrified by the way Loretta had become unraveled. It was probably the drinking that had done it, Cindy decided as she waited patiently for Angela to return and find out more.

In what seemed like a long while, Angela returned, looking grim.

“Is Loretta okay?” Cindy walked over to her quickly. “Is she hung over? What?”

“I don’t know exactly what you said, but you’ve upset her deeply,” Angela did not meet Cindy’s eyes. “She’s taken a lot of steps backwards again.”

“That was not my intention,” Cindy was surprised by Angela’s reaction.

“Loretta said you’ve been filled with lies, and that you believe them,” Angela was disturbed. “Is that so?”

“I’ve discovered new information,” Cindy responded, “and I needed to talk to Loretta about it. I’m here on an investigation.”

“The truth comes out all by itself,” Angela said in a strange tone, “and when it does it takes care of everything.”

“Yes, the truth takes care of everything,” agreed Cindy. “But it doesn’t come out all by itself, not unless there’s someone there digging. And someone willing to face the facts.”

“But you know you have to be careful about what you say to Loretta!” Angela grew frustrated. “We’re working so hard to stabilize her and she’s drinking more than ever now.”

“I’m sorry about that,” said Cindy.

“And even so, you barged in here and upset her anyway,” Angela wasn’t budging, determined to protect her friend.

“I didn’t exactly barge in, I called Loretta first,” Cindy defended herself.

“You know what I mean, though,” Angela’s face hardened. “You forced her to face things she was not ready to face.”

“Like what?” Cindy grew angry. “That Loretta gave the real estate company the down payment and Pete never did?”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Angela backed off.

“Loretta lied to me, she told me Pete left the down payment,” Cindy wanted to shake Angela from her complacency as well.

“It wasn’t a lie, it was the way Loretta sees things. We both know that. We’ve talked about it, haven’t we?” asked Angela irate. “Loretta can’t face reality always. She makes up things in her mind and sticks to them.”

“Loretta runs a successful business,” Cindy flung back. “There are plenty of things she has to face.”

“I agree with Loretta, you should go now,” Angela said. “Your services are no longer required. Leave the Dominican Republic as soon as you can.”

Cindy was stunned by Angela’s response. She was in complete compliance with Loretta, unwilling herself to look the truth in the eye.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Cindy flatly refused. “There’s been a murder committed, a potentially innocent woman is being held for it. As of now the killer is on the loose. It’s my duty to find the truth.”

“Loretta said your services are no longer required,” Angela repeated blindly. “If you don’t leave on your own, she’ll call her father. In fact, she’s probably speaking to him on the phone right now.”

“And what’s Henry going to do to me? Throw me out?” Cindy felt irate by the suggestion.

“I never saw this side of you, Cindy,” Angela’s lips began quivering. “But it’s obvious to me now that Loretta is right. You came down here to help her, and you’ve turned against her. You’ve become her enemy, now.”

Cindy felt both hurt and furious at the same time. “I’m not anyone’s enemy, Angela,” she insisted. “Not unless they’ve done something wrong.”

“See that, deep in your heart you’re blaming Loretta,” Angela repeated. “You have no idea how to forgive.”

“I’m not blaming anyone, I’m just looking for answers,” Cindy insisted, “and what exactly is it I have to forgive?”

“Forgive Loretta for her blindness, for the terrible pain she’s been living with,” Angela whispered in a soft tone, suddenly. “You’ll make things easier for her if you forgive.”

“It’s not up to me to forgive her for that,” Cindy answered, directly. “I feel badly about it, I wish she weren’t suffering, but the way out of it is for her to face the truth.”

“That may be the way for some, but not everyone, ”Angela began breathing quickly. “Some of us can’t take it. It’s just too much.”