Jaden Skye - Caribbean Murder 07 - Death by Proposal

by Jaden Skye

  Clay turned to her coldly again, “Is there something wrong with that?” he asked tersely.

  “Of course there isn’t,” said Cindy.

  “You’ve never heard of love at first sight?” Clay was on the defensive.

  “Of course I have,” said Cindy.

  “But you’ve never experienced it yourself. That’s as clear as day, isn’t it? People who don’t know what love is are always suspicious of those who do. They think we’re idiots and pushovers, that it’s easy for people to play us.”

  “I’ve never thought anything like that about you,” said Cindy.

  “Yes, you have. You think it now. I see it in your eyes,” Clay insisted.

  “No, you don’t,” said Cindy. “You see sorrow in my eyes, sorrow for both you and Kate.”

  That quieted Clay for a moment, but then he just grabbed the computer away from her again.

  “Kate said she loved me in that email and she said it in so many other ways, ways you’d never even begin to understand.”

  A chill pass through Cindy. Maybe he was right, maybe she didn’t understand the language of love.

  “I’d like to understand,” said Cindy, wanting to hear more.

  “But you never will,” Clay suddenly turned snapped the computer shut. “You’re not real, you’re not honest. You’re not any different from the rest of them.”

  Cindy was stunned by the sudden change in his mood and tone. “Wait a minute, Clay,” she tried to reach out to him.

  But then, with the computer under his arm, he quickly got up and rushed away.

  CHAPTER 15

  “Guess what we’re doing first thing tomorrow morning?” Mattheus announced, as soon as Cindy returned the room.

  “What?” she was startled to see him suddenly so cheerful again.

  “We’re off to The Spot,” he grinned.

  Cindy was baffled. “What spot?”

  The Spot is one of the windiest places on the planet,” Mattheus continued, “the fantastic winds and shallow water makes it a great place to learn Kite boarding. I have always wanted to Kite board. How about you?”

  “Hang onto a kite and fly above the water?” asked Cindy nervously. She’d heard of it vaguely, but had never been interested.

  Mattheus laughed. “Why not? We’ll have fun together and decompress. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s the perfect place to cheer us up and take our minds of everything for a while. I’ve scheduled a beginning Kite boarding lesson at the Spot for us, he said, suddenly scooping her up in his arms.

  This was definitely the last thing Cindy expected. Obviously Mattheus was determined to get their relationship back on track. He was determined to hold onto his conclusion that the pressure on the case was off, that Sean was their man. This was now the time to focus on them.

  “We’ll make it an early night and get there first thing in the morning, forget about our cares,” Mattheus went on.

  “But,” Cindy started.

  “No buts allowed,” he interrupted. “It’s time to unwind. I’ve found out so much after researching Sean that for all intents and purposes the case is closed. We have the right the take time off now and play in the sun.”

  Cindy wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. “Case closed? That’s a pretty big statement, isn’t it? she said.

  “Yes, it is,” said Mattheus, “and a good one. Why aren’t you happy about it?”

  Cindy’s surprise meeting with Clay had been troubling. There was something about him that seemed strange. She wished she could talk to Mattheus about it, but right now he would have only brushed her off. Of course Clay had just been through a trauma that would unbalance anyone, but his relationship with Kate intrigued her. She needed to know more about it.

  “Are you game?” asked Mattheus

  “Yes, I’m game,” said Cindy, trying to throw the specter of Clay out of her mind for the moment.

  “Great,” said Mattheus, “that’s the Cindy I know and love.”

  “I’m definitely up for an outing,” said Cindy. “But, as for the case being closed, that’s another thing.”

  Mattheus led Cindy to a big leather ottoman in the room and sat her down on it. Then he pulled another one over and sat opposite her.

  “Listen,” he said, “Everything I found out about Sean points to trouble. The kid is impulsive. He has two DUI’s. His records show that along with a black belt in Karate, he has an anger problem with lots of fights, growing up. Out there it’s common knowledge not to cross Sean, or else.”

  Cindy was surprised that she hadn’t sensed that about him. She’d seen a different side, one that cared and felt deeply Kate.

  “Sean actually even almost had a fist fight with Kate’s Uncle Carl,” Mattheus continued.

  “I don’t believe it,” said Cindy, surprised.

  “Why not?” asked Mattheus, “you think that Carl is above something like that?”

  “Actually, yes,” said Cindy. “He’s dignified, powerful -.”

  “Whoah, here we go again,” Mattheus shook his head hard. “You like this guy.”

  “Like him? I respect him, I value him, but do I like him like that? No, of course not,” Cindy was emphatic.

  “No, you do. You like him,” Mattheus insisted.

  “Stop it, Mattheus, stop it!” Cindy demanded. “You’re starting again.”

  “I can see it in your eyes,” he said.

  “Mattheus, you’re being insecure. You’re confusing me with your ex-wife.”

  “Okay, okay, you may be right,” said Mattheus. “I’ll stop. I’m overly suspicious at times.”

  “That’s putting it mildly. Slightly paranoid, I’d say,” said Cindy.

  “Could be,” Mattheus smiled and backed down.

  “So, Cindy continued, tell me about the fight Sean almost had with Carl.”

  “If you ask me, it was inevitable,” Mattheus continued, “the two of them hate each other.”

  “Hate is a strong word. I knew they didn’t like each other,” said Cindy. “But hate is something else.”

  “It says volumes, doesn’t it?” said Mattheus. “But it’s not surprising, paints a better picture of Sean. Not only that, Sean lied to us, too.”

  Evidence was quickly piling up and Cindy could see the personal pleasure Mattheus was taking in nailing Sean, backing him into a corner. That bothered her.

  “How did Sean lie to us?” Cindy was suddenly gripped with sorrow for Sean. Despite everything Mattheus said, she couldn’t bring herself to believe he killed Kate.

  “Sean told us he never cheated on Kate. Well, he did,” said Mattheus, gleefully. “He and Riva got together once before, when Sean and Kate were still together. Then he and Riva broke up. This time they were back for the second go round. I dug it all up. People were talking about it. Did Kate find out? Maybe she did, maybe not?”

  “You’re positive about this?” the news was unexpected.

  “Absolutely,” said Mattheus. “I have air tight proof. Not only that, I got in touch with the woman Sean mentioned who saw him banging on the door. She admitted to opening her door and seeing him there that night. She heard him yelling for Kate. She said he seemed like a lunatic. I asked why she hadn’t told the police and she hadn’t wanted to get involved. So, now we have an eye witness that puts him on the scene.”

  “I’m sorry to hear this,” said Cindy, quietly.

  “Sorry’s an understatement, isn’t it?” said Mattheus. “A young woman is dead.”

  “You think Kate opened the door and let him in?” asked Cindy.

  “That’s right,” said Mattheus. “It’s obvious. And I think he’s the one who pushed her off the balcony.”

  “But there was no sign of a struggle, nothing disturbed in the room,” Cindy countered.

  “Why would there be a struggle if she opened the door?” said Mattheus. “Clay was obviously sleeping and Kate brought Sean went out onto the patio. He must have begged her to leave Clay. She must have said no, and in the heat
of jealous rage, Sean must have pushed her over.”

  “It’s a theory,” said Cindy, her heart beating fast.

  “More than a theory, we have all kinds of circumstantial evidence lining up.”

  “There’s no physical proof though,” Cindy continued. “There’s no evidence he was in her room at all. The police would have found fingerprints, something. Especially if he pushed her.”

  “That would have been nice,” said Mattheus, “but it doesn’t necessarily happen that way. Besides, how carefully do you think the cops down here scoured the room? The crime scene was compromised very early on, with all kinds of people walking through it.”

  “If Sean came in, they fought and he pushed her, Clay would have heard something,” Cindy insisted.

  “Not if he was in a drunken sleep,” said Mattheus.

  Cindy scanned her memory. Clay hadn’t seemed so drunk the night she’d seen him and Kate at dinner. In fact, he’d seemed quite calm and clear.

  Cindy stood up from the Ottoman, stretched and walked to the patio of their room. It was dark out by now and she found comfort standing under the canopy of sparkling stars that stretched out over the night sky.

  “Why are you fighting me like this?” asked Mattheus. “Everything I say makes perfect sense.”

  “I just don’t buy it, though,” said Cindy.

  “There’s a reason you’re hanging onto the stubborn possibility that Sean isn’t the one. Why? What does it do for you to keep the case open?”

  Cindy was deeply insulted. “It’s not about me, Mattheus,” she retorted.

  “Well, I don’t buy that,” Mattheus stood up as well and walked closer to her.

  “Do you think it was a suicide?” he kept probing as they stood out staring into the night.

  “Not necessarily,” Cindy answered.

  Mattheus put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to him abruptly. “Then what?”

  *

  The first thing the next morning, right after breakfast, Cindy and Mattheus left for their Kite boarding lesson. The class was being held at the edge of the water and a few other tourists were waiting there to learn about Kite boarding as well.

  The instructor, Andy, a tanned, a blonde haired young man, in his early twenties, led the class naturally, as if he’d done it hundreds of times. He seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.

  “The first step we will learn is steering, turning and flying of the kite. Then we’ll learn about the power window,” he said. Andy seemed terrifically at home here near the water, as if he were just where he belonged. Cindy wished for a moment that her life could be uncomplicated like his, planted in a place she adored, focusing on something simple.

  “It’s awesome when you get up in the air,” Andy went on with passion, “the closest thing to flying free you’ll ever feel.”

  Mattheus took a deep breath. Cindy could see how much he loved being here, how much he longed for the freedom of flying.

  “We won’t get up to flying today,” Andy continued, “but we’re going to get a great foundation. We’re also going to learn the use of the kite harness to hold the kite power. You’ll also learn line management and then preparation for the body drag lesson.”

  “Fantastic,” said Mattheus.

  “Actually, if you want to go further, this afternoon we have the body drag lesson, which takes from two to two and a half hours,” Andy continued, looking right at Mattheus. “Then after that, we do the board lesson, almost two to two and a half hours more, and then you’re ready to fly.”

  “Let’s do it all,” said Mattheus, raring to go.

  “One lesson is good for starters,” said Cindy.

  “Of course, it’s great,” said Mattheus, grabbing her hands. “Thanks for joining me with this.”

  “Thank you,” said Cindy, as the instruction went on and they all followed along.

  The class was basic, practical and useful. Cindy mostly enjoyed being out near the water, hearing the waves flapping on shore and feeling the sun grow stronger, soothing her.

  “The weather’s been crazy these past couple of weeks,” Andy commented as he spoke about the winds. “It’s unusual to get storms down here in Aruba, but could be one or two are coming our way. You get to know when they’re coming when you work so closely with the wind.”

  The other tourists in the class grumbled a little about how windy it even was now.

  “No,” Andy corrected them, “wind is good for what we are doing. It keeps our kite’s flying, it keeps us happy in the sky.”

  After the basic lesson, everyone went to the edge of the pier where there was an outdoor stand that sold coffee, sandwiches and pastry. Cindy and Mattheus followed along.

  “Want to do the next class this afternoon?” asked Mattheus.

  “Not quite sure,” said Cindy. “Let’s get some coffee first and see.”

  Cindy and Mattheus sat down on a bench with their coffee and pastries, looking out ahead of them.

  “Andy’s right,” said Mattheus drinking down his coffee in a huge gulp, “I feel a storm coming in from the West, too. It’ll probably close the island down for a day or two.”

  “Could be,” said Cindy, having no sense of that herself.

  “You had a good time today, didn’t you?” asked Mattheus.

  “Yes, very,” said Cindy.

  “But you’re quieter than usual,” Mattheus went on, squeezing the paper cup in his hand. “Something’s on your mind.”

  “I ran into Clay unexpectedly yesterday in the back of the hotel,” said Cindy. “He was sitting there with his computer reading his correspondence with Kate over and over again.”

  “That guy’s had bum, rough luck,” said Mattheus.

  “Clay showed their correspondence to me,” Cindy continued. “Seems as if he fell for her hard, right away, and she was taking it slower.”

  “So?” Mattheus didn’t make much of that.

  “In their correspondence Kate answered Clay’s questions simply. I think he read a lot into them,” Cindy said.

  “Guys do that,” said Mattheus. “Girls don’t give as much as guys do. Sometimes guys don’t even realize it when a girl’s leading a guy on.”

  That was a new take on things. Cindy disagreed and once again, felt a sharp need to defend Kate.

  “Kate wasn’t doing leading anyone on, she was doing the exact opposite. She was being honest,” Cindy stated flatly.

  “Yeah, of course, in her mind Kate was being honest,” Mattheus continued, “maybe she didn’t realize the effect she was having on Clay. Or, maybe she did? Maybe she liked it? Maybe that’s how women get power, by leading guys on?” Mattheus looked at Cindy in an odd way.

  “What are you saying, Mattheus?” Cindy didn’t let it slide by.

  “I’m saying that it only looks like guys have power in relationships. Basically, they’re helpless when they fall for a gal. That gal has ultimate power over them, and often she uses it ruthlessly.”

  Mattheus’s bitterness was so intense, Cindy could barely breathe. It surfaced like this at odd moments, and made Cindy feel ill.

  “How could Kate have so much power over Sean? He was seeing Riva too, wasn’t he?” Cindy retorted.

  “Riva was a backup, a side show,” said Mattheus. “Sean never really fell for her.”

  “Riva fell for Sean, though,” said Cindy.

  “Maybe?” said Mattheus. “There’s no evidence of that though.”

  Cindy thought of the emails Riva was sending Clay now. Maybe Mattheus was right? Maybe Riva never fell for Sean at all, was only opportunistic, out to get what she could for herself?

  “Riva sent quite a few condolence emails to Clay,” said Cindy.

  That stopped Mattheus. “Now, that’s interesting to me,” he said.

  Cindy was surprised. “Why?”

  “It just further proves what I said about Sean. The guy can’t be trusted, he’s a player, needs a woman around to make him feel strong. Riva sounds like a nice gal who
picked up the slack when things got rough between Sean and Kate. But when Kate actually hooked up with Clay, that was too much. It shot down Sean’s self-esteem. He couldn’t let that happen. Came down here to the hotel to stop it.”

  “Looks like you’ve got the case all tied up,” said Cindy.

  “What else is left?” asked Mattheus.

  “Maybe we need to check all this out with Riva,” said Cindy, “see what she thinks about Sean.”

  “Great idea,” Mattheus agreed. “Let’s go for it. Once we talk to her, we’ll just get more confirming evidence about Sean.”

  “And maybe we won’t?” breathed Cindy, hopeful. “Maybe something entire different will come to light?”

  CHAPTER 16

  As both Cindy and Mattheus suspected, Riva had not yet checked out of the hotel. Registered in Sean’s room, she was obviously waiting for him to go home. Right now Sean had been released back to his hotel room on the condition that he wouldn’t leave the Island for another few days. The police didn’t have enough to hold him, but agreed that he was a person of interest. Rod told Mattheus that they were waiting for Cindy and Mattheus to come up with something more.

  After the Kite boarding lesson and lunch, Cindy and Mattheus returned to the hotel to check on the whereabouts of Riva. When Cindy got Sean on the phone, he said she’d gone on a bar hopping tour. They’d find her at a local bar.

  “Okay, thanks,” said Cindy, “we need to talk to her.”

  “What exactly has Riva got to do with this?” asked Sean, sounding glum.

  “Nothing probably,” Cindy answered, “but we can’t leave any stone unturned.”

  “Knock yourself out,” Sean snapped, “but you guys are barking up the wrong tree. If you really want to know what happened to Kate, talk to Clay’s family. Find out more about Clay and her.”

  “We already did,” said Cindy, “so far Clay’s family looks great and so does he. Nothing comes up in the records.”

  “Yeah, yeah, Clay’s just a regular prince,” scoffed Sean.

  “You have some proof that says otherwise?” asked Cindy.

  “The guy looked spacey to me at dinner that night,” said Sean. “Didn’t seem like a normal dude.”