Death by Desire (Book #4 in the Caribbean Murder series)

by Jaden Skye

  “Why?” asked Cindy.

  Shane shrugged. “She was just so nice,” he said.

  “I heard the two of you were an item for a long time,” Cindy said.

  Shane made a face. “I wouldn’t exactly call it an item,” he said. “We dated, stopped and then dated again.”

  “I heard you were very important to her,” said Cindy.

  “Who told you that, her mother?” asked Shane.

  A cooler breeze began to blow up along the shore.

  “Yes,” said Cindy.

  Shane nodded. “Tiffany always had to put up a front for her mother. She told her mother what she wanted to hear. Tiffany was cool, she knew how to play it.”

  “Play what?” asked Cindy, surprised.

  “She knew how to get along, not ruffle feathers.”

  “Weren’t the two of you an item?” asked Cindy.

  Shane put his surfing board down and leaned closer. He seemed very comfortable talking to her.

  “Not really,” he said. “I wouldn’t call it an item. We dated on and off. It was casual. She never meant much to me romantically.”

  Cindy felt upset. “She didn’t mean much to you?”

  “We just had fun together, if you know what I mean?”

  “Sex buddies?”

  “Something like that. I never meant much to her, either.”

  Cindy couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing and wondered how Tiffany would feel if she heard it.

  “We both took it for what it was worth,” said Shane, filling her in.

  “What was it worth?” Cindy asked him.

  “We had a good time together. It calmed our nerves,” Shane looked at Cindy then as if she’d come from a different world. “What a crazy day this is,” he went on. “I never saw mist like this around Christmas. What a terrible time to die. I heard her mother wants to have a mass said for her at church and her father refuses.”

  Cindy hadn’t heard that, but she didn’t want to get distracted.

  “How do you know your relationship never meant much to Tiffany?” Cindy persisted. Cindy had the impression that Tiffany had cared a great deal about Shane.

  “Tiffany and I talked about it,” Shane said plainly. “We didn’t hold anything back. I told her things between us would never go anywhere and she said she felt the same way. It was nice. It freed us.”

  Cindy wasn’t sure what to make of this. She wanted to pin Shane down, make him uncomfortable, get to a deeper truth.

  “People said you couldn’t take your eyes off her at the engagement party. That you seemed obsessed.”

  Shane threw his head back and laughed out loud.

  “Me, obsessed with Tiffany? Let me tell you, there were a bunch of creepy people at that party. And whoever told you that is nuts. I was fascinated to see her looking so happy, and curious to see if it were true. I always knew when Tiffany was pretending, which she never did with me.”

  “Who were the creepy people at the party?” Cindy pursued it.

  “Whoah, that would take all day to tell.”

  “I have all the time in the world,” said Cindy.

  “Well, maybe you do, but I don’t. I have to be back in a little while. There’s someone waiting for me at home. Guess what? I have a fiancée too.”

  “You’re engaged?”

  “Sure, to somebody I’ve loved for a long time. It was no big deal to Tiffany either. She knew about her. She wished us well.”

  Cindy was silenced. “Do others know that you’re engaged?”

  “Of course they do,” Shane said. “Whoever said I was obsessed with Tiffany is nuts. Let me tell you, that crowd loves to gossip and spread rumors. They dream up all kinds of things, don’t have much else on their minds. Me, I love to surf.”

  Shane was frank and engaging and Cindy couldn’t help but believe what he said. She was surprised at the picture he painted of Tiffany. This was another person unfolding in front of Cindy’s eyes. It opened the range of possibilities for what could have happened to Tiffany though, and the people who could have been in her life.

  “Tell me more about her, Shane,” Cindy said.

  “She was caught in the grip of her family” he said. “They expected her to be perfect and she got caught in the trap.”

  “And her twin sister, Rori?” Cindy asked suddenly.

  “She’s as different from Tiffany as night from day. Rori’s wild, rough, can be pretty nasty. I never spent much time with her.”

  “Where were you the time Tiffany was murdered, Shane?”

  “I was at a party,” he said. “There were lots of people there who saw me. The police have talked to plenty of them. I had absolutely nothing to do with this at all.”

  “Do you have any ideas who did?” Cindy asked.

  “I wish I did, believe me. I’d go with you myself and wring the guy’s neck. If I hear anything, I’ll call you. I didn’t love Tiffany, but she was my good friend.”

  “I realize,” said Cindy, as it started to rain.

  “Jesus, it’s raining,” said Shane, grabbing his surfboard. “I’m taking off. See you later. Call me anytime.”

  Shane grabbed his surfboard and took off as Cindy sat there a moment in the warm rain. It felt good, cleansing. She thought about the things Shane had said about Tiffany. Were they true or was he just covering himself, trying to wiggle out of a bad situation? No matter what, Cindy couldn’t help wondering how Tiffany would react if she’d heard what he said. It was futile for Cindy to feel badly though, there was no way Tiffany could know what Shane said about her. She was gone forever from this world, couldn’t be hurt by anything anymore. That was a huge relief to Cindy, who felt that Tiffany, unknowingly, had been caught in a terrible snare.

  As she sat musing in the rain, to Cindy’s surprise, her phone rang.

  “Cindy?” the voice on the other phone was soothing.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s Wynn, Tiffany’s sister. Where are you?”

  “At the surfer’s beach,” said Cindy.

  “Okay, that’s good. I just wanted to ask you if you’d like to join me and Rori and one of Tiffany’s friends in town tomorrow morning? We’re going stir crazy here on the boat and are planning to go in for a few hours.”

  “That would be perfect,” said Cindy. “Where can we meet?”

  “Meet us in the middle of town, at Robes café at eleven. We’ll take it from there. We all want to meet you and hear what you’ve found.”

  “I want to meet you too,” said Cindy.

  Wynn sighed a deep sigh of relief.

  “Is there something else?” asked Cindy suspicious.

  “My mother is melting down,” said Wynn. “She’s saying all kinds of crazy things, having dreams about Tiffany. She insists she sees her on the boat walking around. It’s terrifying.”

  “You need to call a doctor,” said Cindy.

  “We can’t,” said Wynn. “She’s done this kind of thing before. We have to keep it quiet. My dad’s reputation is at stake.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Petrovich’s party was tonight and Mattheus took great care dressing for it. He’d brought a couple of evening outfits, including a tux. Now he put on a custom silk sports jacket with matching slacks and deep blue shirt. Then ordered a taxi to take him to Petrovich’s villa. No doubt he’d be drinking, and didn’t want to drive back late on the winding roads. The night would be important, he felt it in his bones.

  The taxi drove up to the lavish villa, which rose above the ocean and was hidden behind rows of trees. As they approached a private, Russian security guard stopped them to check and see if Mattheus was on the guest list. Once he got clearance the taxi drove through two huge double iron gates to the main entranceway.

  Mattheus was impressed by the private security forces.

  “Some operation this guy has,” he said to the driver.

  “The party never ends here,” the guy mumbled. “We bring people back and forth all the time.”

  “He�
�s got his own security forces too,” said Mattheus. “Guess this guy has a lot to protect.”

  The taxi driver, an older, local man, turned and looked at Mattheus.

  “Petrovich runs his own little kingdom,” he said. “We’re the ones who have to protect ourselves from him.”

  “How so?” asked Mattheus, alert.

  The driver shrugged. “These guys are eating up the island alive,” he said, “buying up all the land for millions and millions, building, building, ruining the character of the place.”

  “Sorry about that,” Mattheus said.

  “Sorry won’t get us anywhere,” the driver said. “We need real muscle down here to stop them.”

  “Are you getting it?” Mattheus asked.

  “That’s for you to find out.”

  Mattheus felt the struggle that was going on here beneath the surface. He got out, tipped the guy well, straightened his jacket and walked in through the open doors.

  *

  The place was vast, winding and beautiful and the party was in full swing. The rooms were bursting with incredibly beautiful people, dressed in fabulous, designer silks and satins with flashing jewels, perfectly groomed, totally indulged. A huge Christmas tree stood in the center of the main hallway decorated to the hilt with colorful ornaments and angels. In the room to the left was music, laughter, excitement. Tables with food were spread along the back walls. The room was crowded with people meeting, eating and talking to each amidst the clinking of glass.

  A full bar stretched out in another room. Behind it was a huge, open deck. On it was a Jacuzzi, half full, with guests inside, drinking.

  Mattheus didn’t know where to turn first. As he was about to go to the bar, a tall, dark haired young man, tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Mattheus?” he asked in what sounded like a thick, Russian accent.

  “Yes,” Mattheus answered, surprised.

  “We received word that you had arrived from up front,” the young man said.

  Mattheus was impressed with the tight operation.

  “Mr. Petrovich would like to see you,” the young man said. “Please come with me.”

  The guy didn’t waste a minute,” Mattheus thought, as he followed the tall young man to an alcove off another large deck, which had its own bar and was filled with more people milling around, flaunting their beauty and wealth.

  “Mr. Petrovich will be here in a minute,” the tall, young man said.

  Mattheus realized that was an order to stay and wait where he was.

  “Sure,” he said.

  Each spot had its own dazzling energy and Mattheus enjoyed taking it all in.

  The young man left and Mattheus turned to the bar for a drink. The moment he got there, a slinky, red headed female in a low cut sequined dress slithered up to him. She seemed to have had one or two drinks by now.

  “Scotch on the rocks,” Mattheus ordered, as the bartender approached.

  “I love men who drink scotch,” the gorgeous woman cooed, staring up at him.

  Mattheus was amused. She was so blatantly coming on to him.

  “My name is Alana Badoyvich,” she smiled, parting her rich, ruby red lips, her strong perfume overcoming his senses.

  Despite himself Mattheus was intrigued.

  “From Russia?” he asked.

  “Naturally,” she cooed. “I am a guest of the great Sasha Petrovich,” and she laughed, a gurgling sound. “And you, my darling? Where you are you from?”

  This gal really knows how to play it, thought Mattheus.

  “I’m a detective from the U.S.,” he answered straight forwardly.

  Her smile decreased just slightly, and her eyebrows lifted.

  “Now you are even more fascinating to me than before,” she murmured. “A detective? And exactly what are you investigating, if I may be so bold to ask?”

  Mattheus thought he detected a slight tremble in her well-modulated voice.

  “There’s trouble on this island,” Mattheus answered softly, throwing her a bone.

  She took it, and moved even closer to him, her mouth wide open.

  “Trouble?” she said, “I am used to trouble. Tell me about it.”

  She certainly had a way of drawing a guy in. For a second Mattheus wanted to tell her about the trouble, but he stopped himself. For all he knew she worked for Petrovich. He pulled back.

  Alana sensed Mattheus withdrawing immediately.

  “Everything you say will be secret with me,” she uttered quickly. “I do not work for Petrovich. I am only his guest. Sasha loves filling his home with beautiful women, he can’t live without us.”

  “I can see that,” smiled Mattheus, looking around.

  She put her hand on his arm then, and drew him closer.

  “Don’t look around at the others, darling,” her voice became husky. “That does not make the woman you’re with happy.”

  Mattheus grinned. They’d been together for two minutes and already she thought she was with him –

  “You have plenty to look at right here with me,” she continued.

  Mattheus thought he might as well take advantage of this sudden connection to find out all he could.

  “Tell me about Petrovich,” he said as the bartender brought him his drink, and the two of them lifted their glasses.

  “Petrovich is a delicious monster,” Alana smiled, pursing her lips together. “It’s common knowledge.”

  “A monster? How?”

  “He eats up woman up and then throws them away.”

  “Doesn’t sound pretty,” said Mattheus.

  “So what? Sasha grows bored easily, like plenty others.”

  “Then what are you doing here?” Mattheus asked as she drew so close he could felt her warm, sultry breath on his face.

  “I am here for the party, no more, no less. I am here to be happy. I long to be happy. How about you?”

  Mattheus liked her. She was different most women he ran into. He felt sad for her too, there was a lonely, desperation about her.

  “I am happy,” said Mattheus, in a soft voice.

  Alana lifted her hand and stroked his sun tanned face.

  “You are beautiful, darling,” she said, “but you do not look happy. You cannot fool Alana.”

  Mattheus smiled.

  “And you have a magnificent smile, gorgeous, white teeth.”

  It was enough. Mattheus wanted her to stop. She was hitting at feelings he’d left buried long ago.

  “How long are you staying on the island?” he asked.

  “As long as you’re here,” she responded.

  Mattheus stopped cold. He didn’t want to lead her on and yet he wanted to hear what she knew about Petrovich.

  “How long have you been a friend of Petrovich?” he asked.

  “No one is really a friend of Sasha’s,” she smiled, her beautiful green eyes slanting, looking at him like a Cheshire cat. People know Sasha, travel with him, drink his whiskey, eat his food, sleep with him when convenient, but be his friend – impossible. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”

  Mattheus wondered for a moment if she knew it, but then looked up and to his surprise, saw a huge, dark, burly man walking towards him.

  “Oh my dear, it’s beautiful Sasha,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air, as if to seem thrilled with seeing him.

  Petrovich liked that.

  “How handsome you are tonight, Sasha,” she said.

  “My little kitten,” he said to her playfully, “it is delightful to see you, but you must go away right now. I have to talk to this man in private.”

  Alana grimaced. “He and I have already been talking so beautifully,” she said.

  Petrovich smiled. “And you like him very much?”

  “Very much,” she cooed, smiling at Mattheus.

  “So I will call you back in a little while then,” Petrovich said, “and you can continue your courtship.”

  Mattheus raised his eyebrows. “We’ve been talking for about five
minutes,” he said plainly, “not exactly a courtship.”

  Petrovich laughed. “Move along little kitten,” he said to Alana, who backed away gently, throwing Mattheus a long glance over her beautifully, shaped, ivory shoulder.

  “For a few minutes only,” Alana said petulantly, “but I will be back.”

  “She’s impossible,” Petrovich said to Mattheus, after Alana had gone. “Once she takes a liking to someone, she never lets up.”

  “One of your girl friends?” Mattheus asked.

  Petrovich laughed again. “Hardly a girlfriend, just an amusement.”

  Mattheus nodded. This guy seemed to have a harem he could call on anytime.

  “So? How can I help you?” Petrovich asked. “I understand the Senator asked that you be a guest at my party. At first I thought this was an odd request.”

  The banter vanished and he looked at Mattheus keenly.

  “I’m glad you agreed to it,” said Mattheus.

  “Of course I had to agree because the Senator is an important man. I had no idea though, that you would be so dashing.” Petrovich looked Mattheus over approvingly. “You are a welcome guest, anytime.”

  Mattheus was caught between feeling flattered and put off. He knew there was trouble between Petrovich and the Senator. Was that why Petrovich agreed to have Mattheus come? Was Mattheus here to be inspected by him? This guy was sharp and crafty. Mattheus decided to jump right in.

  “Of course you know what happened to the Senator’s daughter?” Mattheus said.

  Petrovich did not even blink an eyelid. “Terrible thing,” he said.

  “I’m trying to find out more about it,” said Mattheus.

  “Maybe you will and maybe you won’t,” Petrovich said. “These kinds of things are difficult. I heard the murderer covered his tracks beautifully.”

  “They always leave something behind,” Mattheus said.

  “Not always,” said Petrovich. “For all you know it could be a random act by a malcontent done during the holiday season. Happens all the time in Russia.”

  “We’re not in Russia,” Mattheus said plainly. “This island is safe. Or it was.”

  Petrovich lifted his bushy eyebrows. “Nothing is safe,” he said.