Death by Obsession (Book #8 in the Caribbean Murder series)

by Jaden Skye

  “I’m glad you called,” said Cindy, really meaning it. Tara shouldn’t be alone right now with this information and all the changes it brought to her life.

  “My wedding is supposed to be the most wonderful time of my life,” Tara spoke fitfully, “and it’s turned into the worst. I’ve never felt so much pressure in my life – from everybody. Seems like nobody cares about how I truly feel, only about the wedding. Lynch’s mother refuses to believe anything is wrong. She’s acting like everything’s normal, making toasts with her friends to the happy couple.”

  “Not good,” Cindy commented, “no one wants to get married under the gun.”

  Tara flung her head back suddenly and looked relieved. “It’s great to hear you say that. I even said that to Lynch. I said let’s run away and spend time with your son. We have to get to know him, he has to become part of our lives. We can’t get married otherwise. Once we all work it out, then we can have a small, quiet wedding somewhere else.”

  Cindy was startled by the strange plan. “How did Lynch react to that?” she asked.

  “He didn’t,” Tara grew quiet, “he’s been numb and silent, unwilling to say anything more about it to me. I guess he thinks if he pretends it isn’t happening long enough, it will all go away. I’m sure he’s also scared to death about how his mother is taking it. Lynch does whatever he can to make her happy. But, yesterday I told him a man whose life is run by his mother is not the man for me. I said these decisions are up to us, they don’t affect your mother.”

  “But, of course they affect his mother,” said Cindy. “The two of them seemed joined at the hip.”

  Tara took exception to that. “After Lynch’s father died, his mother asked him to take over the business. He works with his mother side by side. What’s so bad about that?”

  “Nothing,” said Cindy. “It can be a wonderful arrangement at times.”

  “That was one of the things that drew me to Lynch,” Tara went on, relieved to be talking about it. “He cares so much about his mother, is such a great son. When he told his mother that I was so happy they were close, she decided I was the perfect wife for him. Since then she’s been doing everything she can to help us along. Everything! She’s paying for this entire wedding herself.”

  Cindy realized in a flash that Raina had become the mother to Tara that she’d just lost.

  “Raina’s not a bad person,” Tara insisted, “even though she was rude to me the other day and can be bossy.”

  “I guess she was just shocked to see her grandson,” said Cindy.

  “Must have been that,” Tara agreed.

  Cindy saw how hard to would be for Tara to bail out of the wedding. It was not only Lynch, but also Raina that she’d been letting down.

  The car drove steadily along and Cindy looked out of the window as they were leaving the main part of town. They drove down a hill into a winding road that seemed to be leading through a valley. As they made their way the dim light left of the day shone over all kinds of flora and fauna and made it seem as though they were all surrounded by a strange, misty, glow.

  “Where exactly are we headed?” Cindy asked, feeling a bit disoriented.

  “To the village where Bala lives with her son,” said Tara. “It’s a small fishing village in St. Marteen, on the Dutch side of the island. The boy was raised here, it’s his home. He comes from a completely different world than we do. It will take time for him to acclimate.”

  Cindy was confused. What was Tara thinking of? It became clear in that moment how fixated she was on the boy. Cindy had a sudden, frightening thought that Tara might want to grab him away and keep him for herself.

  “What will Paulie have to acclimate to?” Cindy asked cautiously.

  “To a new life,” Tara murmured. “He’s going to have a lot to get accustomed to.”

  Cindy still didn’t know what Tara had in mind. “You’re overly involved with the boy,” Cindy said plainly, glad she was along on the trip.

  “Not at all,” said Tara.

  “Over involvement can lead to obsession,” Cindy continued, unwilling to let it go. “Sometimes we build fantasies about someone that have nothing to do with what’s possible. This boy does not belong to you.”

  Tara shivered suddenly. “Okay, so maybe I am over involved,” she replied in a hushed tone. “But I lost a brother and never got him back. My mother’s first child died in childbirth.”

  My God, that’s it, thought Cindy, Paulie is reminding her of her lost brother.

  “All my life my mother told me how wonderful it was that I was born and replaced him. She never knew how much it hurt me when she said that.”

  “I’m sorry, Tara,” she remarked. “No one person can replace another.”

  “You can say that again,” said Tara. “And now my wedding is coming and both my mother and brother are gone. Doesn’t Lynch realize how lucky he is to have a living child? How can he just forget about him?”

  The car made a swift sharp turn then, jostling both of them unexpectedly, and turning onto a dirt road that was barely paved.

  “I’m excited to see Paulie again,” Tara whispered to Cindy, “very excited.”

  Mattheus was right, Cindy thought, there was something wrong with Tara, she was definitely obsessed.

  “Does Bala know you’re coming?” asked Cindy, nervously. She didn’t know how this could turn out well.

  “Yes, I called and told them to expect me,” Tara replied victoriously.

  *

  The car drove a small distance further, through some bushes and then pulled up to a little wooden house, with a handmade fence in front of it. The driver parked and Tara told him they’d been back in a little while. He nodded and turned on the radio while Tara flung the car door open and jumped out. Cindy followed close behind, not knowing what to expect.

  As Cindy walked up to the house with Tara she saw a few large dogs roaming untended, and a cluster of birds perched on the fence. This part of the island was indeed more wild and primitive.

  Tara got to the door and knocked on it loudly. In a moment it opened and Bala stood there, her large eyes looking confused and afraid.

  “This is my friend Cindy,” Tara introduced her right away.

  Bala looked over at Cindy, perplexed and nodded. “Come in,” she said softly.

  They walked into a small, colorful, unpretentious, pretty and clean, living room. The open

  windows let in fragrant breezes and Cindy could smell something delicious baking in the kitchen.

  “This is our home,” Bala said simply, as if she were being inspected.

  “It’s lovely,” said Tara, meaning it. There were handmade patchwork cushions on the furniture and a beautiful, hand woven rug on the wooden floor.

  Bala looked over at Tara sadly. Despite the strange circumstances there seemed to be a sense of familiarity between them. “Why are you here before your wedding?” Bala asked directly. “What do you want?”

  Not such a simple question to answer, Tara closed her eyes for a long moment.

  Bala turned to Cindy inquisitively. “None of us know why Tara is visiting,” she said in a beautiful, lilting island tone. “My relationship with Lynch ended a long time ago. I hardly ever think of him.”

  “I think Tara’s realizes that,” said Cindy.

  “I’m not worried about your relationship with Lynch,” Tara opened her eyes suddenly.

  “My brother Dawl is with us here now, too,” Bala continued. “He’s in the back with Paulie.”

  That put Tara on edge. “There’s no reason for your brother to be here,” she quickly protested.

  “Of course there is,” Bala insisted. “Dawl helps me with Paulie all the time, we take care of him together. Dawl has been a father to Paulie since he was born, and Paulie can’t live without him.”

  “Awful,” Tara gasped.

  Bala’s eyes flashed opened with fire. “What’s awful about it? A boy needs a father figure.”

  “He needs his real fathe
r,” Tara exclaimed.

  “Dawl’s even better than a real father,” Bala was filled with sudden anxiety.

  Just then the other door to the room opened, and a large, rugged, West Indian man stepped into the living room. He was dressed in overalls, T shirt and kerchief around his neck.

  “This is my brother Dawl,” Bala started.

  Dawl raised his large hand over his face, wiping away the perspiration and took another step in, filling the room with his powerful presence. “No need to introduce us,” he said in a thick accent, looking at Tara intensely. “Exactly what brings you to our home?”

  “I want to see Paulie again,” Tara started.

  “Oh yeah,” Dawl muttered, “Why? Who sent you?” He aimed his menacing energy directly at her.

  “No one sent me,” Tara tried to stand up to him and couldn’t so well. “I want to see the boy who will be my stepson soon.”

  “That’s a laugh,”Dawl shook his head. “All this time no one there cared a fig about my boy and now he’s suddenly your “stepson”? Doesn’t make sense to me. Not a whit.”

  “It’s true though,” Tara’s voice trembled, “he’s going to be my stepson.”

  Dawl seemed momentarily threatened. “Who the hell said he needs a stepmom? He’s got a real mom and real dad right here, too.”

  “He has an uncle,” Tara tried to correct him, as he took two heavy steps closer.

  “An uncle who’s more of a father to him than most dads you’ll ever know,” Dawl grumbled.

  Clearly Dawl loved the boy and wanted no interference. “What the hell you get out of messing with my boy?” he went on, sneering at Tara. “You can’t have your own kids, or something?”

  Tara flushed bright red. “It’s not that,” she whispered.

  “And, guess what? I don’t even care what it is,” Dawl answered roughly. “Someone put you up to this, someone wants to take my boy from me. I smell money here, but it ain’t happening. You’re getting the kid over my dead body.”

  Tara’s eyes filled with tears.

  Dawl clearly had the upper hand and he knew it. “Guess what? You don’t get to see Paulie again, not now, not ever,” he said, his teeth clamping down shut.

  Tremendously flustered, Tara recoiled. “What do you have against me?” she muttered.

  Dawl grinned broadly, opening his mouth. “What do I have against you? Nothing. Honey, you don’t even register in my world. Okay, I had it. Bala, show both of these ladies out the door. Visit’s over. They’re not welcome here.”

  *

  Once back outside, Tara and Cindy walked slowly to the car.

  “He threw us out,” Tara said in amazement, trying to take it all in. “How dare he? Who does he think he is?”

  “He thinks he’s Paulie’s father,” said Cindy. “He’s raised the boy and no one’s taking him away.”

  “It’s not that I want to take him away,” Tara was trembling. “I want to share him -.”

  “He’s not having it, Tara.” Cindy hoped to wake Tara up.

  Tara gritted her teeth. “When I tell Lynch - ,” she started.

  “You think he’ll care, that it will make a difference?” Cindy interrupted.

  Tara grew silent then, as they approached the car and got in it. “No, you’re right,” she said once back on the road, “this won’t matter to Lynch one bit.”

  Cindy took a long, painful breath, letting her thoughts wander to Mattheus and his daughter, growing up somewhere on the island, oblivious of her father as well. What strange destiny had brought

  her and Tara together, Cindy wondered, as the car wound its way back to the hotel.

  “What can I do to help you, Tara?” Cindy asked as they traveled homeward.

  “Just be who you are,” said Tara. “Hang in with me. Come to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night. I can’t do it alone. I need you there. “

  Cindy shivered. So, Tara was going through with the wedding after all? Cindy wondered when she’d made the decision and why.

  “Mattheus and I will be happy to go,” said Cindy, “but we’ll have to get the okay from your father. Officially, we’re off the case.”

  “Just be there,” Tara’s voice became imperious. “It doesn’t matter what my father says. It’s not up to him to extend invitations. It’s my rehearsal dinner! I told him that already and I’m telling you too! Please, Cindy, please, I need you.”

  “Alright, of course,” Cindy replied quickly. “Mattheus and I will be delighted to attend.

  *

  Once back in the room, Cindy kicked her shoes off and threw herself down on the sofa exhausted. “I’m completely wiped out,” Cindy muttered. “I don’t know why.”

  Mattheus had been waiting for her and was tremendously relieved to have her back. He came over to the sofa slowly. “At least you’re home safe,” he said quietly. “I was worried.”

  “I was never in danger,” Cindy breathed.

  “You never know what’s going to happen when you go out into the outlying villages,” Mattheus replied. “Okay, tell me more.”

  “Tara’s obsessed with the boy,” Cindy started.

  “That’s what I was worried about,” said Mattheus. “Does she want to adopt him for her own?”

  “No,” Cindy replied. “She just wants him to be part of her and Lynch’s life. She won’t marry him otherwise.”

  “That’s nuts,” Mattheus sighed loudly. “Sounds like the shocking news made her come unhinged.”

  Cindy sat half up on the sofa. “There’s something wrong with all of us, Mattheus,” she said.

  “Some more, some less,” Mattheus agreed.

  “Well, I like her,” Cindy insisted, “she’s brave, she’s interesting, has principles she fights for.”

  Mattheus smiled, “But you, Cindy, are perfect. At least I always thought so.”

  Cindy smiled softly too. Mattheus always knew just what to say to defuse her upset, had a way of charming her. “I’m far from perfect,” Cindy said as she put her head back down on the couch to unwind. “And I actually never wanted to be perfect.”

  “But you are,” Mattheus insisted, smiling.

  Cindy didn’t know if he’s was still kidding, or telling her how he felt.

  “I can’t lose you, Cindy,” Mattheus went on. “I’ll never find anyone like you again.”

  Cindy closed her eyes, feeling frightened. “There are probably plenty of people much better for you than me,” she said softly.

  “We need each other,” Mattheus went on.

  Cindy wanted to roll over and fall asleep, do anything to get away from the painful moment. She had no idea right now if she and Mattheus could actually get married. Not knowing what to say, she just continued focusing on the case.

  “Tara wants us to come to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night,” Cindy went on.

  Mattheus laughed. “So, now she’s going through with the wedding and wants us there, to boot?” His voice sounded both relieved and incredulous.

  “She said she can’t do it alone,” said Cindy.

  “This gal has emotional problems,” Mattheus commented.

  “Whatever she has or doesn’t have, will you come with me to the rehearsal dinner?” Cindy wanted an answer right now.

  “Is it okay with Aldon?” Mattheus asked.

  “Tara said it doesn’t matter about Aldon. She wants us there. I’m going, and I need you there with me, too.”

  “Glad to hear that,” Mattheus relented. Then he leaned over and stroked Cindy’s arm. “Of course I’ll go with you to the rehearsal dinner. There’s nowhere else in the world I want to be but at your side.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Cindy and Mattheus decided to rest the next day and visit Philipsburg, the capital city. Cindy and Mattheus were attracted by the lively atmosphere. It would be a good place to put concerns aside for a day. Phillipsburg was located on a narrow strip of land that wrapped around Great Bay and was one of the Caribbean’s busiest cruise ports, known for its duty free
shopping. There were casinos, marinas and a mile long beach with a beachfront boardwalk, lined with bars and restaurants.

  They arrived and strolled along together, looking at the ships and shops and enjoying the bustling boardwalk. Both needed the break and, without saying a word about it, discussion about Mattheus’s daughter was put on the back burner.

  They made small talk, laughed, had a delicious lunch and Cindy bought some souvenir gifts for her sister. As the day ended and they were finally heading back to the hotel, Mattheus put his arm around Cindy. “After the rehearsal dinner tonight, where to next?”

  Cindy smiled. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow,” she said. She knew that Mattheus needed an answer, but she needed quiet time to let the questions she had go deep within and root in the silence. That usually helped things sort themselves out and answers come naturally.

  Cindy and Mattheus returned to the hotel somewhat refreshed, in plenty of time to bathe and get ready for the rehearsal dinner that night. Cindy gave herself the luxury of a long, warm bath and then dressed slowly in a beautiful, amber, cocktail dress with a matching silk jacket and long earrings. After doing her makeup, and putting on a dab of her favorite perfume, she went into the main room.

  When Mattheus saw her, he stood there transfixed. “You’ve never looked this beautiful before,” he murmured.

  His comment made Cindy feel sad. Most likely the threat of losing her made her seem so much more precious. And, if truth be told, Mattheus looked incredible as well. Suntanned and dressed in a dark blue silk, evening suit, his thick hair brushed back off his handsome face, he, too, took Cindy’s breath away.

  Mattheus walked over to her slowly. “I am proud to be at your side,” he said.

  “Thank you,” Cindy murmured softly, letting him take her arm.

  “And I want to stay at your side forever,” he went on, unflinchingly.

  Cindy looked up at him as her eyes filled with tears. At the moment, she had no idea what forever would look like for them, but she wanted it as well.

  *

  As their cab drove up to the Aupres Hotel for the rehearsal dinner, the place was surrounded by limousines, reporters and valets, welcoming guests. One of the valets rushed up to Cindy and Mattheus’s cab and opened the door for them. The moment they got out, photographers began flashing pictures. Cindy felt as though they were stepping on a red carpet with the whole world watching.