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

by Jaden Skye

  “Of course I would,” said Cindy, “in a flash.”

  “Then how could you be trusted?” Mattheus countered.

  “How could I be trusted?” asked Cindy. “You’re turning this completely around.

  Mattheus took a deep breath and sighed loudly. “Men and women,” he muttered, “two different species.”

  Was Mattheus back to that now? Seeing women as impossible creatures he could never understand, or trust. Cindy felt her body tighten into a knot.

  “I thought we’d come far from that point, Mattheus,” said Cindy quietly, looking directly into his eyes.

  “Listen,” Mattheus tried to regroup. “I’m just saying let’s give this guy a chance to have a life and go forward. There’s no reason to ruin his marriage over this.”

  “We’ve been hired to see if there was something about Lynch that Aldon didn’t know. We took the assignment. We have to tell him,” Cindy was emphatic. “Otherwise, we’re complicit in the lie.”

  “We’re not complicit in anything,” Mattheus grew more heated.

  “We have information that you want to hide?” Cindy was open mouthed.

  “We have information that doesn’t amount to anything,” Mattheus stood his ground firmly.

  “That’s up to Aldon to decide,” said Cindy.

  “For all we know Aldon knows about the kid already anyway,” Mattheus jumped over it.

  “We’ll tell him and see if he does,” Cindy insisted.

  “No, we won’t,” Mattheus half stood up. Then he sat down again, growing more agitated.

  “What do you mean we won’t?” Cindy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had no idea why Mattheus was so disturbed about this and so protective of Lynch?

  “Listen, Cindy,” Mattheus said suddenly, “how would you feel if you found out that I had a kid from an old girlfriend who I didn’t care a thing about at this time?”

  “Didn’t care about who, the girlfriend or child?” asked Cindy appalled.

  “The girlfriend, obviously,” Mattheus answered.

  Cindy flushed, unable to make sense of the question. “How would I feel now, or how would I feel if we were about to get married?” she asked. Then she stopped a moment and realized that she and Mattheus were on the verge of committing to each other right now. They’d been speaking about marriage day after day.

  “How would you feel?” Mattheus repeated.

  “If you hadn’t told me in the beginning that you had a child?” Cindy asked.

  “Yeah,” Mattheus answered. “If I felt I needed some privacy and secret spaces in my life.”

  “Everyone needs privacy and secret spaces in their life, Mattheus,” Cindy said. “But this is more than a secret space. This is a child you would have a responsibility to as long as you live. He’s someone you would need to see, care for and love. That’s not just a secret space in your life.”

  Mattheus sighed deeply and dug into the lunch that had just been brought to their table. Cindy watched him eat and couldn’t take a bite. Was there something like this in his life that he wasn’t telling her about?

  When Mattheus came up for air he turned to Cindy point blank. “I don’t want to tell Aldon about this,” he said definitively.

  “We have to, Mattheus,” Cindy replied. “There’s no two ways about it.”

  “Let’s sleep on it then,” Mattheus relented. “If you still feel so strongly about it, we can tell him in the morning.”

  CHAPTER 4

  After a semi sleepless night, the first thing the next morning, Cindy called Aldon and told him she had news and wanted to see him. At first Mattheus refused to go along, but Cindy was adamant that he had to come.

  “Aldon hired both of us,” she said. “It will look unprofessional if we don’t go together. It may even look as if we are divided about it.”

  “We are,” Mattheus said flatly.

  “Divided or not, there’s a job to do,” Cindy reminded him. “You don’t get to do the job only when things go your way.”

  “I’ll think about it,” said Mattheus, opening his computer and scrolling around as Cindy went into the bathroom to dress.

  Mattheus didn’t agree to go until the very last minute, when Cindy, dressed in a lovely azure linen pants suit, was practically out of the door. “Okay, I’m coming,” he said and shuffled over to join her.

  Cindy was relieved he was coming but also annoyed. As they rode up in the elevator to Aldon’s suite, they barely glanced at each other.

  “I’ll do all the talking if you like,” Cindy said, as the elevator door opened and they walked down the hallway to Aldon’s room.

  They’d barely knocked on the door when Aldon appeared and flung it open. It was as if he’d been waiting right there for them. “Come right in,” he said overly eager.

  Cindy and Mattheus entered hurriedly.

  “Your timing is perfect,” Aldon looked pressured. “Guests are arriving on the island by droves. And there’s more where these came from. The entire wedding party’s here. Tara’s been frantically texting, asking when I’m coming.”

  “She doesn’t know you’re here?” Cindy was surprised.

  “I told her that I’m arriving today,” Aldon said begrudgingly. “There’s a suite waiting for me at the Aupres Hotel. But I wanted to meet with the two of you first in private.”

  The three of them walked into the main room as Aldon motioned to the sofas and they sat down. “Okay, shoot,” he said right away then, chomping at the bit and looking eagerly at Mattheus.

  Mattheus just looked away though, and Cindy had to step in briskly. She knew she had to get right to the point. There was time for hedging around corners.

  “We’ve heard that Lynch has a son with a former girlfriend,” Cindy said.

  Aldon’s face went completely blank. “What?”

  “The son lives here on the island with his mother, who is Caribbean,” Cindy continued matter of factly. “Had you heard about this?”

  Aldon stood quickly and then practically fell back down once again, as if the wind had been knocked out of him. “Had I heard?” he asked in a shrill tone. “Never! Not a word.”

  “I didn’t think so,” said Cindy. “Our informant said no one knew.”

  “Who is this informant?” Aldon demanded.

  “That’s irrelevant,” Mattheus chimed in. “Our sources are private.”

  “Not to me,” shouted Aldon. “How can I trust him? How can I know this is the truth?”

  Mattheus just nodded briskly. “I found the informant through an infallible police source. He wouldn’t dare play games with me.”

  “My God, my God,” Aldon could barely breathe.

  “It’s possible your daughter knows about this, and hasn’t wanted to share the information with you,” Cindy chimed in, trying to calm him.

  “Impossible,” Aldon insisted. “She has no idea, none at all. Tara has always been naïve and innocent. She was overly protected, an only child. She never had a care in the world until her mother died. When would she ever have had the chance to run into conniving and lies like this?”

  “I wouldn’t put it that way,” said Mattheus. “There’s no evidence that Lynch is conniving. He’s taking good care of his son.”

  “Taking good care of his son? And no one knows about it?” Aldon couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You don’t call that conniving and lies?”

  “I call it a guy who made a mistake and is making good on it,” Mattheus insisted.

  Aldon threw a troubled glance at Cindy. “And what do you think?” he exclaimed.

  “I think you should ask your daughter about it directly,” Cindy replied.

  “For the record, I disagree,” said Mattheus. “Lynch doesn’t deserve to have his life ruined over something like this. And neither does your daughter.”

  “Have his life ruined? Who are you working for?” Aldon was aghast. “What about my daughter? She practically has a stepson she knows nothing about! And if Lynch could lie
about this, who knows what else he’s hiding? Who knows what other love children he’d have in the future, with other women, over the years?”

  Cindy took a step closer to Aldon who was trembling as he spoke. “Let’s not make this any worse than it is,” she said softly. “Call Tara right away and let her decide.”

  *

  Aldon flew to the phone, called Tara, told her where he was and demanded that she come to the suite immediately.

  “That’s a man of action, if nothing else,” Mattheus murmured as Aldon spoke on the phone.

  “She’s on her way here as we speak,” Aldon announced proudly, after he hung up. “I suppose the tone in my voice warned her that something was terribly wrong.”

  “She’s quite an obedient daughter,” Cindy remarked.

  That quieted Aldon somewhat. “Yes, Tara always was not only obedient, but good natured,” he remembered. “She was well meaning, kind. It wasn’t until her mother died that she became distant towards me. Almost as if she blamed me for her mother’s passing.”

  “Could have been her way of grieving,” said Cindy. “It’s not so unusual, people often blame the one’s they are close to when someone they love dies.”

  “I heard that from others,” Aldon noted, “But it was terribly hard for me, losing both my wife and daughter at the same time.”

  “I am sure it was,” Cindy sympathized, thinking of Clint suddenly. “Loss is never easy.”

  “You didn’t lose your daughter,” Mattheus interrupted, “she was just taking some space, building a new relationship with her young man. Look how she cares for you now, how she’s coming running.”

  “You could put it that way,” Aldon relented a moment.

  “But stop and think a second,” Mattheus’s voice got louder, “if you jump in now and destroy her marriage, you could really lose her forever then.”

  Aldon didn’t like that. “Firstly, I am not destroying her marriage,” he objected. “Lynch may have done that all by himself. I am not the one with a child hidden somewhere. And secondly, when Tara sees I care enough to find out the truth, she will only come closer. It’s inevitable.”

  “Nothing is inevitable,” Mattheus mumbled in a hushed tone.

  Aldon looked strangely at Cindy again then. “Your partner has odd views,” he declared.

  “We need to see all sides of a puzzle,” Cindy replied, “I see it one way and Mattheus sees it another. That way nothing gets overlooked.”

  Mattheus appreciated Cindy’s comment, got up then and came over. “Okay,” he said softly to her, “now it’s time for us to leave.”

  “Would you like us to leave, so you can be alone with your daughter?” Cindy asked Aldon then.

  “Absolutely not,” Aldon instantly blocked it. “I need both of you here when Tara arrives. I want you to report the news to her.”

  Mattheus backed off. “Sorry, but this is between the two of you,” he said.

  “I demand it,” Aldon replied.

  “We can stay while you talk to her,” Cindy offered, if that would give you a sense of support.

  “It definitely would,” Aldon turned to her briskly. “Otherwise it might look like I’m making up stories in my head.”

  “Of course, we’ll stay,” said Cindy.

  “Thank you,” said Aldon, as Mattheus turned glumly towards the patio, with his back towards both of them.

  *

  In a few moments there was a soft knock on the door and Aldon flew over and opened it up. Tara, stunningly beautiful, with long blonde hair, suntanned, and dressed in a white summer, sun dress with hand embroidered flowers, came in and embraced her father warmly.

  “What in the world are you doing here?” she asked, incredulous, looking around. “We’re all waiting for you over at the Aupres Hotel.”

  “I know, I know,” Aldon said softly, betraying his nervousness as he shuffled back and forth.

  Tara’s eyes glanced again over the room and suddenly, startled, fell upon Cindy and Mattheus who stood a few feet away.

  “Who are they?” Tara asked, her silky brow furrowing. “What in the world are they doing here in your room?”

  Cindy stepped a few feet towards Tara and extended her hand.

  “I’m Cindy Blaine,” she introduced herself, “and the man over there is my partner, Mattheus.”

  Tara took Cindy’s hand politely, confused. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asked.

  “Sit down, Tara,” her father demanded.

  Frightened by the tone of his voice Tara looked at Cindy beseechingly. Cindy smiled gently in return.

  “Sit down,” Aldon repeated emphatically as Tara then took a seat on the sofa.

  “Who are they? Why are they here?” Tara asked her father quickly. Her lower lip trembled slightly. “Everyone’s been asking where you were? What are you doing at a different hotel?” As she spoke she grew more nervous.

  “Tara, I have something to tell you,” Aldon gathered himself together.

  “What? Tell me,” Tara was growing more restless and ill at ease. “Why couldn’t you tell me what you have to over the phone? I had no idea what to tell Lynch or his mother when you called. I just said my father needs to talk to me instantly. Both of them were upset by this.”

  “You and Lynch were with Raina when I called?” Aldon obviously didn’t like it.

  “Everyone is spending time together,” Tara answered quickly. “There’s a million things to take care of.”

  “And I suppose Raina’s in the middle of it all?” Aldon’s lower eyelid trembled.

  “Raina’s helping out, of course. Dad, what is wrong with you? We want you with us to help out as well. We’ve asked you.”

  “You know how I feel about Raina,” Aldon bristled, despite himself.

  Tara flushed with annoyance. “Is this what you’ve called me over about? Your feelings about Raina again?”

  “No, not at all,” Aldon collected himself immediately. “I have accepted Raina, though she makes a display of herself in the papers. I have accepted that Lynch’s mother will play a prominent role in your life. Remember though, she is totally different from your own mother and from the woman we raised you to be.”

  “Dad, Tara’s voice grew more brittle, “you don’t have to like Lynch’s mother, ever. The two of you are not getting married.”

  “Thank heavens,” Aldon murmured.

  “Lynch and I are the ones getting married,” Tara went on.

  At that Aldon bristled clearly. “Tara, listen quietly before you say anything. There is something I have to tell you.”

  “Tell me already,”Tara flushed with irritation.

  “You know all along I have not felt comfortable with Lynch,” Aldon spoke softly.

  “Oh God, are we starting with that again now?” Tara’s voice grew louder.

  “No, we’re not. I’m not going over old territory. There’s something else I have to tell you.”

  Tara seemed to want to get up off the sofa and fly out of there. “What? Tell me immediately.”

  “Lynch has a child with another woman,” Aldon announced.

  At first his words did not register. Tara closed her eyes and brushed her hand over her forehead.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Aldon repeated.

  “Not really,” Tara remarked. “I must be imagining things.”

  “Tara, pay attention!” Aldon demanded.

  Tara’s eyelids fluttered open and close. “I am paying attention,” she said in a suddenly small voice, as though she were having difficulty taking his words in.

  “Your husband to be is the father of a child with another woman,” Aldon repeated more firmly.

  Suddenly Tara’s eyes opened wide and she exploded. “What in hell are you telling me now? Another one of your crazy stories?”

  “Has Lynch told you about his son?” Aldon demanded, unaffected by his daughter’s outburst.

  “Has Lynch told me about what?” Tara was trying to grasp it.

  “Abou
t his young son with the Caribbean mother, who live down here on St. Martin and who he supports?” Aldon spoke emphatically, hammering each word in.

  Finally, the words took hold. Tara visibly reeled and sunk back into the sofa. “This can’t be true,” she said in a wobbly tone.

  “But it is true,” Aldon continued. “Ask these two detectives if you don’t believe me,” and he motioned to Cindy and Mattheus who stood silently, looking on.

  Tara looked up at Cindy with two huge, sorrowful eyes that looked stung, like a deer pierced by an arrow in the night. “What is my father talking about?” she asked finally.

  “Your father called us down here to investigate your fiancée,” Cindy started in a soft tone. “Your father was worried about you, felt something was wrong.”

  “Whatever I do, he feels that I’m in danger, that something is wrong,” Tara moaned. “How can I convince him that I’m fine, all is well?”

  “All is not well,” Cindy continued. “We found that Lynch is the father of a four year old son.”

  “But I don’t believe you,” Tara wrung her hands together, hopelessly. “Someone is trying to hurt us, to ruin our love, destroy our marriage.”

  Mattheus took a step closer then. “Who would do that, Tara?” he asked in a comforting tone.

  “I have no idea,” said Tara, her eyes tearing. “I thought everybody was happy for us.”

  “They are,” Aldon insisted. “Everybody wants happiness for you. Especially me.”

  “This is your father’s way of caring for you,” Cindy chimed in. “He wants everything to be right.”

  “Everything was right,” said Tara, “everything was wonderful. Lynch and I are deeply in love.”

  “But you didn’t know about his child, did you?” Aldon got between Tara and Cindy. “Everything was only wonderful in your imagination. What would you have done if you’d found out about this later on?”

  Tara could not speak.

  “And what if later on you also found out about other things that Lynch was hiding from you?” Aldon continued.

  “Lynch has told me everything about his life. We don’t keep a thing from each other, it’s what I love the most, he’s my best friend,” Tara whimpered.

  “He can still be your best friend,” Mattheus interrupted. “This is not the worst thing in the world.”