Death by Devotion (Book #9 in the Caribbean Murder Series) by Jaden Skye Page A

and throw my bag down.” Mattheus had not yet
mentioned which hotel she was staying at. “Is the place I’m staying at nearby?”
    Mattheus
looked glum. “I booked a cheap hotel near my daughter’s home,” he replied. “I
got a room for you down the hall from me.  It’s safe and clean. Hope that will
be okay.”
    “It’s
fine,” said Cindy quickly. It made no difference at all to her right now
whether the hotel was fancy or cheap.  All she needed was a room to, rest,
re-group in, and be able to get to work.
    “The
place is the best I could find in the neighborhood,” Mattheus quickly added.
    “After
all, everyone in the Caribbean doesn’t consort with the rich and the famous, or
even want to, believe it or not.”
    Cindy
wasn’t sure what had prompted that, but Mattheus was definitely back on his old
resentment of the rich.  It didn’t take much to turn him back to his favorite
themes. Cindy didn’t want to get caught up in it now, just decided to change
the topic.
    “I’m
sorry about your daughter,” Cindy said gently then, wanting to get back on
track.
    The
sincerity of her tone changed the mood abruptly.
    “Thank
you,” said Mattheus, looking down. “I appreciate that, I really do.”
    Cindy
took a deep breath. “I need to get all the details.”
    “You
will,” said Mattheus, “I’ll fill you in on everything when we get back to the
hotel.”
    Mattheus’s
tone turned so flat and lifeless then that Cindy stopped a moment and looked at
him. He certainly wasn’t himself at all. This entire situation had shaken him
badly. Cindy could feel the great weight of it upon his shoulders, bearing down
on him.
    Feeling
Cindy’s concern Mattheus looked back up at her and then grew agitated.  It was
as if there were something he wanted to say, but couldn’t.
    Cindy
knew him well enough to know what he was thinking without his saying a word,
though.
    “Is
there something you think we should do before we go back to the hotel?” Cindy filled
in for him.
    “We’re
a few blocks away from Petra’s house,” Mattheus seemed nervous about it.
    Cindy
perked up. “Andrea’s mother? Your girlfriend?”
    “Andrea’s
mother,” Mattheus exclaimed. “Petra hasn’t been my girlfriend for fifteen
years! And in fact, she doesn’t really want anything to do with me now.”
    “I
didn’t mean it that way,” Cindy backtracked. “Don’t bite off my head. I’m not
implying anything, just trying to get it all straight.”
    “Petra’s
going through hell. It wouldn’t hurt to stop in and speak to her,” Mattheus
repeated. “We’re right here.”
    Cindy
could feel Mattheus’s genuine concern for Petra. It touched and unnerved her at
the same time.  It was unsettling that Mattheus still had feelings for Petra,
but also good that he could feel compassion for the terrible situation she was
in.
    “I’d
love to go meet Petra,” Cindy said, meaning it fully. “Do you have to call her
first and tell her we’re coming?”
    Mattheus
shook his head. “No, she won’t pick up her phone, hasn’t gone out of the house
since her husband was killed. She’s totally shocked and also terrified for
Andrea. Keeps saying that her daughter’s a goner now, too. Friends and
neighbors have been coming over, bringing her food, talking to her.”
    “Have
you gone, too?” asked Cindy.
    “Of
course, I have,” Mattheus replied.  “None of this would have happened if I hadn’t
come down here to Anguilla.” He threw Cindy an odd side glance.
    “You
don’t know that for sure,” Cindy remarked quickly. “Andrea and her stepfather
had a long history before you ever came on the scene.”
    “Well,
I do know that Petra definitely needs me now. I belong there,” he said.
    “It’s
a lot losing a daughter and husband at the same time,” Cindy sympathized.
    At
that Mattheus looked over at her with a flash of his old, fighting spirit back.
    “Who
says Petra’s lost Andrea?  Sure, there’s evidence against Andrea,