Death by Request (Book #11 in the Caribbean Murder series)

by Jaden Skye

  “He’ll have to,” Mattheus insisted.

  “But he may not be able to,” said Cindy, “and we can’t force him. I don’t know how reliable he is as a witness anyway.”

  “We definitely have to talk to Hank,” Mattheus murmured as they passed a few casual restaurants open for lunch. The smell of fish and meat sizzling on the grills wafted out from the restaurants, making Cindy feel hungrier than she realized. “Do you want to find the boat Owen rented and talk to its owner first, or have lunch?” Mattheus asked.

  “Let find the boat’s owner,” said Cindy. “Then we’ll have more to go over at lunch.”

  Mattheus grinned. “Great,” he agreed. “Let’s find him. I love your spirit Cindy. I know you’re hungry, I know you’re tired, but you never let that get in the way. You really know how to put first things first. Nothing ever stops you.”

  “I want to get to the boat as soon as possible,” Cindy felt pleased. “There still could be something left there for us to see. And, we have to make sure the forensic evidence was collected properly. For all we know someone else could have even been on board with them?”

  “Good thinking,” said Mattheus, “no stone can be left unturned.”

  *

  It took only a few moments to locate the boat rental place Owen had used - Wyndsail Rentals. It was one of the most established, best known boat rental services in Jamaica and had franchises in other parts of the Caribbean as well. The place was owned and operated by Andy Tane.

  Cindy and Mattheus walked up to the long, low wooden building. Wyndsail Rentals was proudly written in large red letters on a huge plaque in front. This was the place where day trips were planned and reservations made for boat rentals and cruises. As soon as they walked in Mattheus immediately asked for Andy Tane. To their delight he was there, in his back office. As soon as he was called, he immediately came out to see them.

  “Well, I’d heard C and M Investigations were down in Jamaica on the case,” Andy said as he walked straight towards Cindy and Mattheus. Andy was tall, well built, suntanned, dressed in jeans and a T shirt. He had short cropped hair, strong features and leathery skin from the sun and winds.

  “Thanks for talking to us,” Mattheus responded.

  “I’ve spoken to the police a couple of times,” Andy continued. “Of course, if there’s anything else I can do to help, let me know.”

  Cindy appreciated his no nonsense, forthright attitude. “We’d like to go onto the boat and look at it ourselves,” she piped up.

  Andy turned to her, slightly startled. “Sure,” he agreed, “why not?”

  The three of them promptly walked out of the cabin and out onto a planked walkway that lead to the boat.

  “The boat Owen rented is one of the best boats in the fleet,” Andy remarked as they walked along, the breeze blowing over them all. “Owen reserved it a couple of weeks before their vacation.”

  “He didn’t need a Captain to go along?” Mattheus asked. “He knew how to ride it?”

  “Yeah, yeah, in fact Owen’s rented from us before. I know him,” said Andy. “There was never a problem the other two times.”

  “Don’t you send Captains out along with the tourists on day sails, though?” asked Cindy.

  “Not unless the people ask for them,” Andy replied, disconcerted by her persistence. “People know what they can handle.”

  “Did Owen rent the same kind of boat this time as he did before?” Cindy continued, undaunted by his irritation.

  “Good question,” Andy turned to her, uncomfortable. “The other two times he rented a smaller boat with less power, for a shorter trip. That time he just planned to stay out for an hour or so.”

  “And this time?” Cindy felt uneasy.

  “This time Owen wanted the most powerful boat we had. He’d planned a day sail to celebrate his anniversary,” Andy said solemnly as they got to the white power boat that sat grandly, gleaming in the sun.

  “Beautiful boat,” said Mattheus.

  “Sure is, “Andy agreed. “Top of the line and in perfect condition.”

  “Want to step into the boat? “asked Andy, trying to be obliging.

  “Sure do,” said Mattheus, as he gave his hand to Cindy to help her climb over the ledge.

  Cindy shivered as she stepped on board the boat. It felt powerful and majestic standing there under the clear sky, rocking gently in the light wind. As she stood there, Cindy tried to feel what Tara had been feeling, alive, happy, trusting, about to embark upon a beautiful day with her husband.

  “How long were they out for before the accident happened?” Cindy asked, looking around at the boat carefully.

  “A couple of hours,” Andy answered, as Cindy spotted a drop of blood in the corner.

  “Blood,” she mentioned, pointing to it.

  “Yeah, I know,” said Andy. “Most of it has been removed. We have a few spots left to go.”

  “All the blood, fingerprints, and evidence were collected for forensics?” Mattheus asked.

  “Absolutely,” said Andy. “There were teams of cops down here for a long time inspecting the inside of the boat, collecting evidence and also looking over the front edge that rammed into her head.”

  Cindy shuddered at the thought of it. Standing here she felt safe and secure. Had the accident been just a combination of unexpected circumstances, or something else, she wondered?

  “How did the accident even happen?” Cindy asked, turning and looking directly at Andy, who seemed disturbed to be reliving all of this now.

  “Accidents happen,” he mumbled. “People come and rent boats that are too powerful for them. There’s no way to know in advance. Things can start out fine and then suddenly the day gets cloudy, the water gets rough. Things change in a second and they can’t handle the situation. In Owen’s case a rough wind blew up from out of nowhere and tossed the wife off the boat. He tried like hell to save her, but couldn’t. His foot must have jammed on the motor trying to get the boat out of the way. The boat swerved right at her hitting her head.”

  “Horrible,” breathed Cindy.

  “Yeah,” Andy agreed. “Horrible for both of them. Owen lunged into the water and pulled her out, but it was too late. You could hear his shouts from miles around.”

  “You heard him shouting?” Mattheus was interested.

  “You better believe I did,” said Andy. “When conditions change suddenly sometimes there are accidents. It doesn’t happen often, thank God, but it does happen.”

  “Not like this accident, though?” Cindy remarked.

  “No two accidents are exactly the same,” Andy replied. “Look, these are the chances you take when you go out on the water. People get killed on land, too. Crossing a street can be dangerous, if you want to look at it that way. This was an accident, that’s all. No one’s questioned that.”

  Cindy walked to the edge of the boat looking down at the sharp edge in front of it that had driven into Tara’s head.

  “Where are you going? Come back from the edge!” Mattheus called to her.

  But Cindy wanted to see for herself. She leaned over and saw a thin streak of blood was still etched into the wood.

  “There’s still blood here too,” she called out to Andy, fascinated by the trail it made.

  “I know, I know, we’re getting it all cleaned up,” he called back.

  “Come back from the edge of the boat,” Mattheus came up close beside her.

  Cindy liked it there, though, felt better able to get a sense of what Tara had been feeling.

  “You didn’t notice them of them fighting or upset, did you?” Cindy asked, straightening up and still standing there.

  “Absolutely not,” said Andy. “In fact, they seemed happy together. I noticed that.”

  “There was no one else on the boat with them, ever?” Mattheus double checked.

  “No, of course not,” said Andy. “It was their party for the day.”

  “Their last party,” Cindy breathed.

  �
��I’m sorry about it,” Andy responded. “If I could turn the clock back and make it come out differently, believe me, I would.”

  “We all would,” said Mattheus. “Everyone wishes they could turn back the clock, at least a thousand times in a lifetime. Don’t worry, this is not your fault.”

  Andy grimaced. “Of course it isn’t, no one ever said it was.”

  *

  After leaving Andy, Cindy and Mattheus were finally seated right at the edge of the water, having fried shrimp for lunch. It felt wonderful eating in the sun, having time to sort it all out.

  “Looks like there’s no question about it, it was an accident,” Cindy said, enjoying every bite of the food.

  “There’s always a question about everything,” Mattheus commented drinking down a cool lemonade. “I’ll check with forensics to see if Andy’s story holds.”

  “Oh, come on,” Cindy objected. “If Owen wanted to kill Tara there would have been easier ways. The wind blew up suddenly, it happens.”

  “Right,” said Mattheus, “we can blame the wind or we can ask why the guy rented such a powerful boat when he couldn’t really handle it.”

  “He didn’t know the wind would blow up, he didn’t know he couldn’t handle the engine. The weather forecast that morning was for calm waters,” said Cindy, wanting the focus off Owen. “If a storm had been predicted, then we could wonder about it.”

  Mattheus had to grudgingly agree. “I’m not entirely easy about Owen, though,” Mattheus finally commented.

  “Why?” asked Cindy. “Because I’m so sure he’s innocent?”

  “Because you were so sure so quickly,” Mattheus replied.

  Cindy suddenly wondered if it was Mattheus’s old jealousy, rearing its head. Owen was handsome and dashing for sure. The two of them had taken a liking to one another. Was Mattheus simply reacting to that? Was it clouding his judgment?

  “We’ll learn more when we check the hospital records and talk to the nurses,” Cindy went on. She wanted to focus off Owen, it was a distraction and a waste of time. “We have to find out exactly who visited Tara and all the medical personnel involved with her case.”

  “Right,” Mattheus agreed. “And, we’ll get a good start tonight at the hospital party I told you about.”

  The police had arranged for Cindy and Mattheus to attend a cocktail party at an expensive club in town. The hospital administrator and board of directors would be present and Cindy and Mattheus would get a chance to meet them all. The police must have figured that any questions Cindy and Mattheus had would be quickly put to rest that way.

  “I’m looking forward to the party,” said Cindy.

  “So am I,” said Mattheus as his phone suddenly rang. “Yes?” he picked it up abruptly and then grew silent. His face grew stiff as he listened to the person on the other end spoke. “Yes, I hear what you’re saying,” he replied.

  “Who is it?” Cindy asked, perturbed by his reaction.

  Mattheus held up his hand, not wanting to be distracted. “I’m sorry you feel that way,” he finally went on.

  Cindy grew uneasy as the conversation continued. Obviously, Mattheus was disturbed by whatever was being said. Who was it? Was he going to be pulled into the grip of something that tore them apart again?

  “I understand how you feel,” Mattheus suddenly said then, his eyes clouding over, “but I am not returning to Anguilla.”

  Cindy felt her stomach clench. It had to be either his daughter or the mother, Petra, calling Mattheus back to them.

  “Is there more trouble?” Cindy breathed loudly.

  Mattheus shook his head no slowly and sadly, both to Cindy and the speaker on the phone.

  “Listen,” he said finally to the caller, “my home is with Cindy, wherever we are. Yes, I’m positive, there’s no question about it.”

  Cindy’s heart started beating intensely. Mattheus was positive he belonged with her, was making a clear declaration.

  “Let me repeat it,” he replied clearly again on the phone, “Cindy is my family now. I am not going back to you and your mother. I care for you, I want the best for you, but Cindy and I are together.”

  Mattheus hung up the phone looking wiped out.

  “Was that your daughter?” asked Cindy.

  Mattheus nodded yes, slowly. “She wants me to live with her and her mother forever. She said I went away once and can’t go again.”

  A wave of sorrow and bitterness engulfed Cindy. “I’m so sorry, Mattheus,” she said.

  “It’s hard, it’s sad,” said Mattheus, “but I’ve made my decision.” He reached out for Cindy and took her hands. “I’ll certainly visit her from time to time, but you’re the one I love. It’s you I am building my life with now.”

  Chapter 7

  Cindy slipped on a short, black, sleeveless cocktail dress. Then she piled her hair up on her head and put on long, silver earrings and high heeled, strappy sandals for the party at the club tonight. It felt good changing into something different, shaking up her usual look.

  When she walked out into the main room to go, Mattheus stared at her in amazement.

  “Excuse me, who is this?” he asked, grinning, unable to tear his eyes away. “You’re breathtaking if you don’t mind my saying so. You look like a model who stepped off the cover of a top fashion magazine.”

  Cindy didn’t mind his saying so at all, In fact she enjoyed Mattheus’s reaction, loved having him see the many different aspects of her. “Just dressing for the occasion tonight,” she quipped lightly.

  “Well, we have to have many more occasions like this. I feel like I’m going out with a brand new person.”

  “It’s still me,” Cindy laughed softly.

  “Not that who you were wasn’t wonderful also,” Mattheus quickly filled in.

  “Well, that’s a good thing to hear,” Cindy murmured as she reached for her little silver evening bag. “It’s good to shake things up a bit and see what comes of it. We’ll get more information out of the people we meet tonight that way, too.”

  Mattheus walked over and put his arm around Cindy. “Information or no information,” he said, “I’m thrilled to be your date for the night.”

  “Is that all you are, my date for the night?” Cindy played coy.

  “I’m your date for tonight and every night, forever more, from here on in,” Mattheus grew emotional.

  Cindy was thrilled to hear it, but didn’t want to go into it further then. Despite the dazzling club they were going to, they had to remember what they were going there for.

  *

  The Scopus Club, one of the most elegant clubs in Jamaica was situated behind bright lights, overlooking the city. A trendy, expensive, well known night spot, it attracted tourists from all over the world. Along with Reggae music, dancing and dinner there were rooms upstairs for private parties as well.

  As soon as they arrived Cindy and Mattheus were greeted by a valet at the door and immediately ushered upstairs to the Flamingo room on the second floor. The yearly party for the Ranges Hospital was being held there.

  The Flamingo room which was full by now was decorated to the hilt with huge bouquets of flowers, buffet tables of food and live music playing. A well dressed, elegant crowd milled around, talking to one another, congratulating each other and generally enjoying the evening. As soon as Cindy and Mattheus entered, a tall, attractive, well dressed Jamaican man in his mid-forties walked over. He appeared to be on the lookout for them.

  “Cindy and Mattheus?” the Jamaican man said, glancing approvingly at Cindy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Konrad Dalskin, hospital administrator.”

  “Thank you for having us here with you,” Mattheus replied.

  “Of course,” Konrad said pleasantly. “You chose a perfect time to come to town. This is our yearly party, a time to thank and honor those who’ve contributed to making the Ranges Hospital the wonderful, well known medical facility it is.”

  “I’m pleased to hear that,” said Mattheus as Cindy
looked Konrad overly closely. He was definitely an impressive figure, both his voice and demeanor commanded attention.

  “The Board of Directors are seated at the table over near the window,” Konrad continued, “I’ll see to it that you are introduced to them all. We’ll also be having speeches tonight and good press coverage. It’s an important occasion.”

  “Thanks for including us,” Mattheus seemed impressed.

  Cindy wasn’t impressed though. The party was clearly a PR event, a way to garner public opinion and raise funds. She didn’t guess that this wouldn’t be the time or place to speak to any of the guests about Tara’s death.

  “Will some of the nurses be present?” Cindy asked, just to make certain.

  “No, of course not,” Konrad smiled, a bit condescendingly. “Why do you ask?”

  “I wanted to speak to them as well,” she said.

  Konrad’s face wrinkled. “You can speak to them at the hospital, if you care to. They’re always available, we’re not hiding anything.”

  “Thank you,” said Mattheus.

  Cindy wondered why Konrad would even have that idea. She’d never said anything about their hiding anything.

  Konrad turned to Mattheus then. “When the boating accident took place it was on the front pages of the news for days. It was a relief when people finally began to forget about the unfortunate patient laying in a coma in our hospital, waiting to die. This isn’t exactly the kind of news tourists want to read about when they’re down in Jamaica on vacation.”

  “No, of course it isn’t,” said Mattheus, siding with Konrad and currying favor.

  “Finally, she passed. We thought it was over and now this!” Konrad seemed exasperated. “As soon as Owen was arrested for euthanasia the story flared full force again and the reporters are now on it double time. We don’t need this kind of publicity. It doesn’t sit well with anyone, the public or the private donors that keep our hospital going.”

  “I can certainly understand that,” said Mattheus.