by Jaden Skye
D E A T H B Y O B S E S S I O N
(book #8 in the CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES)
Jaden Skye
About Jaden Skye
Jaden Skye is author of the #1 Bestselling CARIBBEAN MURDER series, which includes 10 books (and counting). The first book in the series, DEATH BY HONEYMOON, a #1 Bestseller, is now available as a FREE download on Amazon!
Also in the series are DEATH BY DIVORCE (#2), DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3), DEATH BY DESIRE (#4), DEATH BY DECEIT (#5), DEATH BY JEALOUSY (#6), DEATH BY PROPOSAL (#7), DEATH BY OBSESSION (#8), DEATH BY DEVOTION (#9) and DEATH BY BETRAYAL (#10). She is also author of the romance A PERFECT STRANGER.
Jaden has always been fascinated with mystery, wrongful death, lies, deception and the power of the truth to prevail. Her romantic suspense/mystery novels feature strong female protagonists who must overcome insurmountable obstacles, and through them, she seeks to get to the very heart of the nature of justice and love.
Please visit www.jadenskye.com to find links to stay in touch with Jaden via Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, her blog, and a whole bunch of other places. Jaden loves to hear from you, so don't be shy and check back often!
Books by Jaden Skye
THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES
DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)
DEATH BY DIVORCE (Book #2)
DEATH BY MARRIAGE (Book #3)
DEATH BY DESIRE (Book #4)
DEATH BY DECEIT (Book #5)
DEATH BY JEALOUSY (Book #6)
DEATH BY PROPOSAL (Book #7)
DEATH BY OBSESSION (Book #8)
DEATH BY DEVOTION (Book #9)
DEATH BY BETRAYAL (Book #10)
THE TOM’S RIVER SAGA
A PERFECT STRANGER (Book #1)
Tap here to download Jaden Skye books on Amazon now!
Copyright © 2014 by Jaden Skye
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 1
When Cindy and Mattheus received the call from Aldon Wentworth they were luxuriously stretched out on a blanket on the beach at St. Barts. Their hands entwined, listening to the gentle surf, neither wanted to pick up the phone when it rang. Whether they wanted to pick it up or not, the phone kept ringing, breaking into the beauty of the balmy day.
“It’s your turn,” Cindy said to Mattheus playfully. She fully expected the call to be from her sister Ann, back in the states. Ann was probably wondering when they’d be returning for their visit home. Cindy was excited to talk to Ann, tell her how wonderfully happy she and Mattheus had become once again. Ann would be pleased, and also say to go slow and be cautious.
Mattheus rolled over on the blanket, reaching for the call. “Yes, yes,” he said, as he picked up, his tanned, handsome, face slowly growing tense. “Of course I understand. No, nothing is impossible. Give me a minute to check with my partner.”
Cindy sat up and brushed some sand off her body. Their time together here in St. Barts had been perfect. They’d relaxed deeply, walked the beaches, swam, dined, danced, and spoke about the future until late into the night. There were so many ways in which their dreams intersected. Mattheus shared with her in a way he never had before. He told her how deeply he wanted to have a family. It was reassuring and heartwarming to leave nothing between them unsaid.
Before they’d arrived on St. Barts, Mattheus said he had a surprise gift for Cindy. That had made her nervous and Cindy’d asked him to hold off on it until they’d more time alone together. Mattheus respected her wishes and hadn’t brought it up again. In the beginning she’d been glad about that. But now Cindy was feeling so close to him, she was eager to know what it was. Was it a ring? Was Mattheus on the edge of proposing? If he was, at this moment, Cindy couldn’t find any reason to say no.
To Cindy’s surprise, this call was the first they’d received during their holiday. It was both exciting and jarring at the same time. She looked over at Mattheus now. He was still on the call, silently listening, concentrating on whatever was being said.
Finally, Mattheus put his hand over the speaker, and leaned towards Cindy. “It’s Aldon Wentworth, calling from St. Martin’s.”
Cindy had heard the name Aldon Wentworth before though couldn’t quite place it.
“He’s desperate for us to get down there as soon as possible. Has something urgent to ask and says it will only take a day or two. But he keeps saying time is of the essence.”
What’s it about?” she asked.
“He can’t say anything more until we get down there,” Mattheus answered. “Seems quite agitated, though.”
Cindy paused. She was and wasn’t ready to let go of the beautiful time she and Mattheus had shared alone together. It was a rare respite they’d needed and it was unusual to have Mattheus all to herself. She wasn’t quite sure she was ready to give it up yet.
“St. Martin’s only a stone throws away,” Mattheus quickly added, seeing her reluctance. “We can hop a quick plane over, stay a couple of days and return. It’ll break things up.”
Cindy could see that Mattheus wanted to go. He must be getting restless, she thought, seemed eager to be back on a case. It was okay, that was natural. The two of them had many days just lolling in the sun by now. And, if Cindy were completely truthful, she had to admit that she liked the idea of being back at work as well.
“Sure, why not?” said Cindy lightly. “And if we’re not interested in the case, we can just fly right back here and dance all night.”
Mattheus grinned. “Is it possible that there’s a case you wouldn’t be interested in? Are you actually becoming domesticated?”
Cindy grinned back, picked up a handful of sand and tossed it on him. “Looks like it’s possible that you’ve tamed me,” she quipped.
“Impossible,” Mattheus laughed as he turned back to the phone. “Sure, we’ll come,” he said to Aldon. “The next plane out is in the early evening. We’ll be there to see you tonight.”
*
Cindy didn’t have to wait long to find out where she’d heard the name Aldon Wentworth. Waiting in the airport for the quick flight, Cindy picked up the paper and saw a story on the main page about him. Aldon Wentworth, a blue blood from Boston, was well known for his charitable giving, foundations and established famil
y. Right now he was down on St. Martin’s, throwing a huge, destination wedding for his socialite daughter, Tara. Both Aldon and Tara’s pictures was spread all over the front page. Tara looked ravishing, dressed magnificently in a sleek, glittering dress, sporting her huge diamond ring.
Naturally, a wedding of this magnitude was garnering a great deal of attention and the entire island was preparing for the event. Not only were the Wentworths featured, but there were also photos of the groom’s family, the Sprains, as well. The Sprains, owned the largest importing firm on St. Martin and in the States. Glamorous and dashing in their own right, the Sprains were covered in the papers regularly. This was a celebrity coupling and the world was taking note. Excitement was building as the nuptials were scheduled to take place at the famous Aupres Hotel, on the beach, in a few days.
Cindy handed the paper to Mattheus as they boarded and took their seats on the small plane.
“Quite a spread,” he said, looking it over. “I thought I’d heard the name Aldon Wentworth before.”
*
Evening was falling as the small plane lifted into the sky. Cindy always loved flying during sunset, watching the incredible shifting colors of the fading light reflected on the clouds. The short flight was quick and easy. Before they knew it they were ready to land. Cindy took Mattheus’s hand as the plane glided smoothly into the airport, like a large bird swooping down, searching for home.
The moment they stepped out of the plane, two well dressed men, in pale blue linen suits, came over to greet them.
“Aldon asked us to meet you and take you to see him,” one of the men said formally.
“Let’s go,” Mattheus agreed.
The two men led them to a limousine and they all got in and drove away.
“We’re not going to the main hotel for this meeting,” one of the men announced as the car left the airport. “Aldon actually has a suite in a smaller, private hotel, on the northern side. He’s also reserved a suite for you there.”
This meeting was obviously hush, hush and Cindy’s curiosity was sparked. Whatever it was, no detail had been overlooked. Aldon organized it beautifully, Cindy thought as she looked out of the window at the incredibly beautiful, winding countryside which was slowly being covered with twilight’s haze.
The car drove a little further then, taking them to an intimate, custom designed hotel, hidden behind bourganvellia, at the end of a long winding road behind the water’s edge. The hotel was not only hidden, but small, narrow and elite. It was the perfect place to go when you wanted total privacy.
Cindy Mattheus walked into the custom designed lobby that had incredible hand painted tiles on the floor and what looked like award winning, handmade furniture placed sparsely here and there. When they walked in the lobby was practically empty. The two men with them led them to the elevators and without a moment’s hesitation, they went straight up to Aldon’s suite.
*
Aldon Wentworth, a medium sized, formal, beautifully groomed man, with thinning hair, in his early sixties, opened the door of his room and stood there taking in the full measure of Cindy and Mattheus. His hands clenched into fists, he seemed unnerved.
“Please come in,” he finally said in a high pitched tone, nodding to both of them. Then he signaled the two men who brought them here to leave.
Cindy and Mattheus entered the room slowly. It was spacious and luxurious with high ceilings and beautiful paintings on the walls.
“I am most grateful that you made your way down here,” Aldon extended a hand first to Mattheus and then Cindy. “I will not forget your kindness to me.”
“You’re most welcome,” said Mattheus.
“Please take a seat,” said Aldon then, showing them to a comfortable, brocaded sofa next to the glass doors which led out to a patio over the ocean.
Aldon quickly took a seat opposite them. “Of course no one at all knows I’ve called you down here,” he started hurriedly, catching his breath with each word. “I heard about you from Tara’s aunt, Olivia, who thinks the world of the two of you.”
“Thank you,” said Cindy softly, wanting to calm him down.
“I did not tell Olivia about it,” Aldon went on. “She has no idea that I’ve contacted you now. Nobody has any idea at all.”
“Is that why you’re staying here, rather than at the main hotel?” asked Cindy.
Aldon looked at her impressed. It was obviously difficult and painful for him to get to the matter at hand. “Precisely,” he went on. “Everyone is down on the island or will be shortly. They’re all staying at the Aupres Hotel.” He bit his lower lip. “There will be photography sessions, rehearsal dinners, on and on.”
Cindy smiled, “A busy time.”
Aldon did not respond to her smile. “And the papers have gotten wind of it. It’s all over the news.”
Cindy nodded. “We’ve seen the story. Is your daughter down on the island now as well?”
“Yes, certainly,” Aldon said haltingly. “She’s with the groom, Lynch, at the main hotel. They’ve actually been living together for a couple of months by now.” He took a deep, brittle breath, “I doubt that would have happened if Tara’s mother had been alive, but her mother has been gone for two years by now.”
“I’m sorry,” said Cindy, as Aldon’s eyes darted back and forth nervously.
“Tara’s mother would never have approved of her living with her groom before marriage,” he went on. “In fact, I doubt Tara would have done it, if my wife had been alive.”
“It’s common these days,” said Mattheus.
“Common, yes. A good idea, I don’t know,” Aldon replied, shrugging his shoulders and suddenly seeming to Cindy like a relic from the past. “But it’s a different life for a young woman without a mother,” Aldon continued. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t take her mother’s place, either. Tara has let me know that in all kinds of ways.”
Despite his stiff, formal manner, Cindy felt badly for him, sitting there alone, bathed in memories of the past. She could see why this wedding would be hard on him.
“How can we help you?” Mattheus asked directly then, trying to break the impasse.
“In a sense I feel like a fool for calling you, in another I am truly relieved that you have arrived,” Aldon picked up the pace. “The long and short of it is, I do not trust my son in law to be, Lynch Sprain one bit. I’ve tried to and just cannot. I don’t like him either.”
Cindy shivered at the extent of the disgust she felt in Aldon. “There’s nothing unusual about a perspective father in law having doubts about the man his daughter is going to marry,” Cindy remarked. “It happens all the time.”
“I suppose it does,” said Aldon, tautly, “but I simply cannot shake the feeling that this is not a matter of having doubts. Something is really wrong here. Whenever I look at this young man, I’m uneasy. He is not someone I can give my daughter to.”
“The wedding is in a few days,” said Mattheus.
Aldon sprang up suddenly, like a soldier to attention. “There’s time enough,” he proclaimed.
“For what?” asked Mattheus alarmed.
“I want you two to find out everything you can about him,” Aldon insisted. “Dig up dirt from every corner.”
“You’ve waited this long to investigate him while you’ve had so many doubts? asked Cindy.
Aldon turned condescendingly and smiled, showing a row of pearl white teeth. “Not at all. I’ve had Lynch Sprain thoroughly investigated. But, to be honest, but no one has found a damn thing. Lynch comes from a wealthy, upstanding family. His mother, Raina’s in the paper all the time. Quite the rich widow who makes the society pages daily.”
“You dislike his mother as well?” Cindy felt a slow chill go up her arms and shoulders.
“Yes, I do dislike Raina,” Aldon quickly proclaimed. “She’s not at all my type. Nothing like Barbara, Tara’s mother. Nothing at all. So, you see, it’s not just the groom, it’s the entire family. And the father, the owner of the
ir firm, died a few years ago. Lynch runs the family business perfectly well. To all appearances he’s doing a wonderful job. People have nothing but praise for him. He has an excellent reputation, but I don’t buy it. Deep down I sense something wrong. I need you to dig deeper.”
Cindy took a deep, long breath. “Why us?” she asked.
Aldon turned and looked at her piercingly. “I could have hired anyone, but I’ve heard incredible things about the two of you. You’re famous for cracking impossible cases down on the Islands. Clearly, you both know your way around. Lynch’s company works down here directly, importing goods. The island is a small world. Word gets around about everything. There are people down here who have to know something about him that I haven’t discovered yet.”
“There’s always a way to find out if something is off,” Mattheus assured him.
“Good,” Aldon became excited. “That’s what I like to hear. That’s what I feel too. You don’t need lots of time, you need lots of contacts. And the two of you have that. I’ve got to make this last ditch effort before Tara walks down the aisle. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t, and things didn’t work out. Tara deserves better. She deserves to be happy.”
“Isn’t she happy?” Cindy asked startled by his sudden vigor.
“Sometimes yes and sometimes no,” said Aldon.
“That’s pretty normal for relationships, isn’t it?” Mattheus replied.
“Of course it’s normal,” Aldon chimed in, “but sometimes I see something in her eyes that frightens me.”
“What is it?” asked Cindy.
“A loneliness, a fear,” Aldon replied.
“She may be missing her mother,” said Cindy.
“It’s more than that,” Aldon’s eyes half squinted.” I asked her about it many times. I said Tara, dear, I see it. Tell me, what’s wrong? Naturally, she shook me off, pretended everything was wonderful. I’m the last one she would confide in.”
“She knows you don’t approve of Lynch?” Cindy asked.