Death by Devotion (Book #9 in the Caribbean Murder Series)

by Jaden Skye

  “You like working on this police force?” Cindy asked, thinking of how convinced Mattheus was that they’d been bought off.

  “Sure,” Sean replied, “I like it down here fine. The guys on the force are good to me.”

  It didn’t seem to Cindy then that Sean had a sense of the force being corrupted. Now she wondered if that was true. There were always rumors like that about that about every police force. If it were bought off, Sean would have to know it.

  “Ever plan to move back up to the States?” Cindy asked casually, just to make small talk.

  Sean shrugged his shoulders lightly, “From time to time, I think about it,” he said. “How about you? What are you up to when this case is over?”

  It was a good question, one that Cindy had purposely stopped herself from considering.

  “I’m not sure,” she answered slowly. “I’ve a good job offer waiting back in New York, writing a crime column for a top newspaper.”

  “Really? That’s wonderful,” Sean was impressed.

  “I’m not sure,” said Cindy.

  “It’ll probably be good for you to go home for a while,” Sean reflected. “Will be great for you to get away from Mattheus.”

  Cindy shivered as the soft air stirred up into a little breeze.

  “I’ve been looking into Mattheus’s background,” Sean continued, unabashed. “Did you know he was once brought up on charges?”

  “What?” Cindy flinched, “I never heard that.”

  “He never told you?” Sean looked astonished.

  Cindy could barely believe what she was hearing now.

  “He was exonerated,” Sean continued, “the case was dropped, but he was charged with assault and battery.”

  Cindy was both profoundly horrified that Mattheus hadn’t told her, and irritated that Sean had. “It’s hard to believe this,” she uttered.

  “But it’s true,” Sean insisted.

  “He probably didn’t tell me because he was exonerated. It didn’t amount to anything.”

  “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Sean replied.

  “That’s not fair,” said Cindy, “and you know it.”

  “Ever think Mattheus could be using you as a foil?” Sean dug in at that moment.

  “Never,” said Cindy, “why would he? A foil for what?”

  “Must be pretty nice for him working with a woman detective who gets so much attention. Then he can operate from behind the scenes then, in the shadows, like he is doing now.”

  “I resent that,” said Cindy, arching her back and raising her voice.

  “No offense, meant, Cindy,” Sean spoke more emphatically, “but I don’t trust Mattheus one bit. Even as we speak he’s consorting with a bunch of low lives. How the hell did he get to know them so quick?”

  “I told you Mattheus has contacts all over,” Cindy replied.

  “That’s a laughable answer,” Sean refused to buy it. “I’ve heard he’s even about to speak to Pedro Ranchez. Nobody speaks to Pedro Ranches. No one can get close to him. And Mattheus can? Tell me how come?”

  “Listen, Mattheus’s a great detective,” Cindy answered. “He’s helped a lot of people and he’s got a lot of favors due him. He’s calling them in.”

  “That doesn’t cut it,” Sean was uncompromising. “And it’s not gonna help us figure out who beat up his daughter in jail.”

  “What?” The hair on Cindy’s neck bristled.

  “Andrea was found bruised in her jail cell. Someone who came to see her gave her some punches she won’t forget.”

  Cindy was stunned. “Will she be alright?”

  “Yeah,” said Sean. “And for all we know she did it to herself, to take suspicion off her.

  But in my opinion, someone else came in and knocked her around.”

  Cindy’s heart fell to the floor. She felt terrible not only for Mattheus, but for Andrea.

  “I heard Andrea’s into all kinds of things,” said Cindy, thinking someone in her world could have come in and done it.

  “Yeah, we know,” Sean replied, “drugs and prostitution. These kids on the island who do it bring in a lot of money for their families.”

  This was nightmarish and heart wrenching. “Oh God, I wish I could talk to her,” Cindy cried.

  “You can, why don’t you?” Sean replied.

  “She doesn’t want to talk to me. She thinks I’m coming between her and Mattheus.”

  “You can talk to her anyway,” Sean said more softly. “If you want I’ll go with you.”

  Cindy liked that idea. Cindy’s coming with Sean would make Andrea think Cindy had someone else she cared for, not her father.

  “It’s a good idea,” said Cindy, “but she’ll obviously talk more, if there aren’t any policemen around.”

  “So, I can go with you and stay for a few minutes and then leave the two of you alone,” Sean responded.

  Sean’s response comforted Cindy. Obviously he wanted more information as well. He wasn’t looking the other way.

  “Do you think one of Andrea’s John’s might have killed her stepfather?” Cindy suddenly turned straight to Sean.

  “Doubtful, why would they?” Sean replied. “They don’t care what happens to their girls. When one goes, they get another.”

  “When did her beating take place?” Cindy asked then.

  “After her mother visited,” Sean replied.

  Cindy stopped in her tracks and stared at him. “Is it possible?”

  “No, it isn’t Petra or her friend,” Sean seemed certain.

  “Anyone else visit her in the jail?” Cindy was insistent.

  “I checked the ledger carefully,” Sean replied. “Andrea had a visit from a rich dame from the other side of the Island, and her companion. The woman’s an ex patriot from California, too.”

  “Why did they visit Andrea?” Cindy was truly taken aback.

  “We’re looking into it,” Sean said laconically. “She and her companion are probably from one of the groups over there that do volunteer work for trafficked girls. We have a few groups like that on the island, mostly filled with rich, white ladies who have nothing better to do with their time.”

  Sean’s sudden bitterness surprised Cindy.

  “You don’t like rich, white women?” she suddenly asked.

  Sean looked at her surprised and laughed. “Not particularly,” he answered. “I happened to know a few of them personally, and they systematically broke my heart.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Cindy answered, but by now it seemed inevitable that anyone settling down here, away from their country, doing law enforcement, had had their heart broken, more than just one time. Still Cindy, was sorry to hear that. She liked Sean and suddenly wanted to reach over and take his hand. But she held back. Who knew where that would lead to, or what he would make of it?

  “Where are you off to next?” Sean asked then, regaining a more professional manner.

  “I’m going to drop in on Petra,” Cindy said, “and find out more about her.”

  Sean hung his head a moment, as if wanting to say something. “What are you looking for, Cindy?” he finally asked.

  “I’m looking for the key to finding out who killed Cain, and why they did it,” she replied forcefully. “I’m looking for just one word, one phrase, one piece of information. I could find it anywhere.”

  “I know, I know,” said Sean, nodding, “that’s why none of us can stop. It’s hook for us all.”

  Chapter 14

  Cindy and Sean had a brief lunch before she left to visit Petra. The time she’d spent with him had been both pleasant and unnerving. It was incredibly upsetting to have learned that Mattheus had been brought up on charges and hadn’t told her about it. But, perhaps it was just part of a detective’s life and he hardly thought anything of it. He had been exonerated, after all. Was Sean systematically trying to drive a wedge between them, create doubt in Cindy? Certainly, Mattheus was doing that, making Cindy suspect Sean and the entire police
force.

  Cindy took a cab straight to Petra’s home. As she drove back into that neighborhood she began to feel constricted and tense. It wasn’t pleasant coming here alone. She wondered how Mattheus was doing now, talking to the guys in the gang. Was it possible he’d actually get to talk to Pedro, the leader of the whole thing?

  The taxi stopped in front of Petra’s home and Cindy got out, paid him, and walked up the narrow front pathway. What if Petra were out for the afternoon? What if her visit was for nothing? Perhaps she really should have called. When Cindy got to the door, she rang the bell and then knocked loudly.

  To Cindy’s delight, in a few minutes, Petra came to the door and flung it open. She actually looked beautiful, wearing loose, silk, printed slacks and a fitting tunic, with her hair loose around her face. Cindy wondered if she had a visitor? It was clear that Cindy was definitely barging in.

  Petra’s eyes opened wide the minute she saw Cindy. “What are you doing here now?” she exclaimed.

  “I just happened to be in your neighborhood,” Cindy lied, “and was hoping we could have a few words.”

  “Ever hear of the phone?” Petra snapped back. “Why didn’t you call and ask before you arrived?”

  Cindy had no decent answer to that. “Just a spur of the moment thing,” she replied.

  Petra didn’t like it, but couldn’t close the door on Cindy, either. “Well, you’re here, come in,” she murmured.

  Grateful, Cindy walked through the narrow hallway and into the living room. The windows were all open and it was breezy. Cindy looked around a moment and then couldn’t move, just stood staring. Mattheus sat there, on the couch.

  “Mattheus?” Cindy finally murmured when she could catch her breath.

  Mattheus quickly stood up from the sofa. “What are you doing here now?” he replied, equally startled.

  “You’d have thought she’d call,” Petra came up behind Cindy. Then she walked over to Mattheus, put her hand on his shoulder and pressed slightly, so he would sit back down. He did and Petra quickly took her place beside him.

  “I thought you were down talking to the guys,” Cindy barely mumbled.

  “I had business to finish with Petra first,” Mattheus was caught between them.

  Cindy’s voice got louder. “You came down here to tell her I was going to come and talk to her?”

  “Exactly,” Petra crooned, a little smile creeping over the edge of her mouth. “He was being a gentleman, looking after me.”

  “And now I’m the enemy?” Cindy shot back.

  “I wanted to give Petra time to prepare to see you,” Mattheus haltingly replied.

  “Prepare in what way?” Cindy grew more irate with each passing moment. Was Mattheus actually working against her? Was what Sean said true? Had he called her down here to be his foil?

  “I’ve been through enough shocks for one lifetime,” Petra quickly broke in. “He was just letting me know you were going to come and grill me again.”

  “I never said that,” Mattheus interrupted.

  “No, but you said something like it,” crooned Petra.

  Mattheus swallowed hard.

  “What exactly did you say to Petra?” Cindy asked, furious.

  “I simply said you’d be coming over to talk to her about her life with Andrea. I said the discussion wouldn’t be easy and that she should get ready for it.”

  “Is it supposed to be easy, Mattheus?” Cindy drew a step closer to him. “A man has been killed and your daughter is in jail for the murder.”

  Petra stood to her feet and snapped, “It’s far from a done deal, believe me. The medical examiner’s report isn’t in it. The time of death hasn’t been determined. Andrea said she was with a friend during most of the day and people were with her.”

  “Do you know that for a fact, Petra?” Cindy zeroed in on her.

  “No, I don’t,” she said. “I don’t know anything.”

  “It should be easy enough to find out,” said Mattheus, also standing. “The people who saw her will tell us.”

  “And maybe they won’t?” Cindy couldn’t look at him. “When I spoke to one of them, she said the kids had made up their minds not to talk to me.”

  “Not to you, maybe?” said Petra, “but they’ll talk to Mattheus.”

  “Oh really? How do you know that?” Cindy moved in on her.

  “I don’t for sure,” Petra’s head shook. “But they’ll talk to someone, they’ll talk to me.”

  “Why should they talk to you, Petra?” Cindy felt enraged. “Do you know something I don’t about them?”

  “Jesus, you bitch, I’m her mother, after all,” Petra eye’s flashed with anger.

  “Are you really?” Cindy flung back at her.

  Petra flinched at the barb and the atmosphere grew thick with pain. Mattheus tried to calm it.

  “Wait a minute, you two,” he stepped between Petra and Cindy. “You’re both on the same side. There’s no reason for this animosity.”

  “Your Cindy hates my guts,” Petra proclaimed. “You told me so yourself. You said she thought I was a terrible mother, that I let Cain beat Andrea.”

  “Did you?” Cindy swerved away from Mattheus and looked Petra right in the eye.

  “Women get beaten down here all the time,” Petra was practically frothing at the mouth. “All the time. If I got between them when he beat her, I might even end up dead. It’s happened to others before.”

  “So, why did you marry a monster like that?” Cindy shot back at her.

  “He wasn’t like that when I met him,” Petra said in a suddenly shaky tone. “He was good to me, he was good to Andrea. And he was strong. I thought he would protect us.”

  “How about your other husbands?” Cindy would not be mollified.

  “They haven’t been killed, it’s Cain we’re talking about,” Mattheus broke in then.

  “But they beat Andrea, too!” Cindy’s voice got high.

  “That has nothing to do with the case now,” insisted Mattheus.

  “And what about the guy who went with you to visit Andrea in jail?” Cindy continued like a steam engine, barreling along. “Was he the one who gave her a good beating in jail?”

  At that Mattheus finally looked shocked. “What the hell are you talking about?” he said.

  “Oh, you hadn’t heard?” Cindy stepped back, “someone came and beat Andrea up in jail.”

  Mattheus got dead quiet. “Is that true, Petra?” he asked.

  “I heard some rumor like that,” said Petra, off handedly. “How does Cindy know about it?”

  “I heard it from the police,” said Cindy.

  “From who, Sean?” Mattheus became incensed.

  “Who’s Sean?” asked Petra, fascinated.

  “A policeman on the force who’s got a thing for Cindy,” murmured Mattheus.

  A big smile broke out on Petra’s face then. “So the little lady isn’t as pure as she looks,” she said gleefully.

  “Sean’s the point man assigned to this case,” Cindy replied methodically. “He gave me the news and we have to explore it. You know more about Andrea’s life than I do. Could the beater have been one of Andrea’s Johns?”

  “One of who?” Mattheus grew pale.

  “Your daughter dealt drugs and was into prostitution,” Cindy reported factually, as if she were giving him the time of day.

  “Go to hell,” Mattheus practically spit at Cindy.

  “Hate me all you want,” said Cindy. “The facts are the facts.”

  “I don’t believe them,” Mattheus’s voice grew louder.

  “So ask Andrea’s precious mother,” said Cindy.

  Mattheus turned to Petra, his eyes flaming. “Is this true, Petra?” he thundered. “Was Andrea into drugs and prostitution?”

  “Yes, it’s true,” Petra replied boldly, suppressing a little smirk that rose at the edge of her mouth.

  “It is?” Mattheus seemed to be reeling.

  “You think I had such an easy time with
the slut?” Petra continued.

  Mattheus looked as if he were going to faint. “The slut?”

  “The beating happened after you and your friend visited Andrea,” Cindy swung the conversation back to Petra. “Did your friend beat her the way the rest of your husband’s did?”

  The horror of Cindy’s question seemed to revive Mattheus. He shot to attention as if he’d had an electric shock.

  “Who was that guy with you when you visited Andrea?” Mattheus suddenly asked.

  “He’s an old friend from the neighborhood,” Petra replied. “I’ve known him for years. He doesn’t mean a thing, just a neighbor.”

  “Why was he with you when you came to visit Andrea?” Mattheus kept it up.

  “Heck, I needed support,” said Petra. “Give me a break, I’m not the bad guy here. I’m the victim, remember?”

  “Some victim,” breathed Cindy, as she stared at Petra heartlessly.

  “Who beat Andrea?” Mattheus kept focused on Petra.

  “I have no idea, honey,” she said. “Andrea had a way of getting herself beaten. She had a life of her own and some real creeps in it.”

  “A life filled with Johns?” Mattheus asked, alarmed.

  “Yeah, some Johns, and also kids she hung out with.”

  “Kids she dealt drugs with?” Mattheus went on. “Is that why they were afraid to talk to Cindy?”

  “It’s not easy down here, Mattheus,” Petra took a step closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

  He took if off immediately. “Who else did Andrea hang out with?”

  “Was she in love with someone?” Cindy broke in, suddenly remembering how nervous Natalie had become when the topic came up.

  “Andrea, in love?” Petra threw back her head and laughed. “She’s fifteen years old, doesn’t know what the word means.”

  “Was there someone she had a special relationship with?” Cindy took a step closer to Petra, speaking in a threatening tone.

  “Why?” asked Petra, ill at ease.

  “Because I need to know,” Cindy said. “I heard there was someone else in her life and I want to know who.”

  Petra put her hands on her hips, outraged. “Oh yeah? Who’d you hear that from? Natalie? You can’t believe a damn word that kid says. She’s got a big mouth and she runs it.”