Death by Betrayal (Book #10 in the Caribbean Murder series)

by Jaden Skye

  “Look Cindy,” her mother suddenly had enough of the little dance they were doing. “All men have times in their lives when they stray. So what? It’s midlife – they need it. I told that to Ann. I said, chill, honey, if he’s gone a little more, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”

  Cindy’s heart pounded more violently now. “Stray? Frank was having an affair?”

  “Call it what you want,” her mother seemed irritated. “A fling, an affair, what’s the difference?”

  “It makes a difference,” said Cindy, unable to believe what she was hearing.

  “Bogus,” her mother’s voice got loud. “Playtime is playtime. Frank’s a good man.”

  Horrified, Cindy had to immediately calm herself down. This could be something her mother was just imagining, something she’d spun out of whole cloth. Cindy couldn’t take it seriously, certainly not without definite proof.

  “What evidence do you have?” Cindy suddenly demanded.

  “None, absolutely none at all,” said her mother. “Just that I know men, and I never knew one that at some time or another didn’t stray. Do you?”

  Cindy felt tremendously relieved, it was her mother’s assumption, that’s all.

  “Ann never said Frank was with someone else, did she?” Cindy had to be absolutely certain.

  “No, of course, she never said that,” her mother quipped. “She may not have had any idea about it even. But she did say she’d gotten a bunch of calls and then hang ups! Now, what’s that?”

  “Could be anything,” said Cindy, unmoved. “People get crank calls all the time.”

  “Or it could be someone Frank was seeing, and the woman was jealous, trying to frighten Ann,” her mother’s eyebrows raised.

  Cindy broke out into a sweat. “Did Ann ever suggest anything like that to you? Anything at all?”

  “No, not directly,” her mother breathed hard. “All she said was that Frank was gone a lot and she felt unimportant. Some women refuse to see beneath the surface, but it was obvious to me. ”

  “Many women feel lonely or unimportant,” Cindy fought her. “It doesn’t mean their husbands are betraying them with someone else.”

  “Why call it betrayal?” her mother was put off. “Maybe Frank wasn’t betraying her, but just getting what he needed for himself. He could do that and still love her, couldn’t he?”

  That was a huge question and Cindy couldn’t get into it now. It bothered her that her mother thought that way, but there was no basis to assume that Frank had someone else. Cindy knew her mother loved to cook up stories, enjoyed a good fantasy.

  “I always believed Frank loved Ann,” Cindy answered quietly. “I always believed they had a solid relationship.”

  Her mother nodded. “They did. And now she was lonely. Ann definitely told Frank how she’d been feeling. She told me he arranged this trip to make up for his time away. He wanted to give her the attention she needed.”

  Cindy’s mother seemed to be glad to be talking about this, getting it all off her chest. Cindy was relieved as well. Now it seemed like the perfect moment for Cindy to take the next step and ask for the password to Frank’s computer.

  “You’re close to Frank, too, aren’t you?” Cindy said then, surprising her mother.

  “Of course I am, for years and years. Why?”

  “Listen, mom,” Cindy repeated, “I need the password to Frank’s computer.”

  Her mother grew pale and her body became rigid. “You need what?”

  “It’ll give me more details about Ann’s death,” Cindy replied quickly.

  “Back with the investigation again?” her mother couldn’t stand it.

  “Let’s stop playing this game,” Cindy suddenly zeroed in. “This is not a joke.”

  “Do I look like I’m laughing?” her mother lashed out.

  “I need to have that password before the police get it or anyone else,” Cindy proclaimed.

  “Why do the police want it?” her mother’s eyes flared with anger.

  “It’s routine - you check the computer of the person closest to a victim,” said Cindy professionally.

  “Then check my computer,” her mother’s voice was flailing.

  “You’re not a suspect,” Cindy shot back.

  “And Frank is?” her mother looked horrified.

  “He was held by the police for questioning,” Cindy’s voice grew louder. “He’s only free because I bailed him out. I need his password and he refused to give it to me.”

  “Held by the police?” her mother looked as if she would faint.

  “I need to learn more,” Cindy moved in.

  “Frank’s life is private. He doesn’t want you snooping in it,” her mother practically shouted.

  “I’m not snooping,” Cindy stamped her foot on the floor. “I’m searching for a killer.”

  “Shut up,” her mother began to tremble. “Your uncles are in the next room. I don’t want them hearing this.”

  “I want you to get Frank to give me his password, or at least to give it to you.” Cindy continued, her voice even louder.

  “I’ll do no such thing,” her mother yelled over her. “Frank is not a killer. And there’s nothing on his computer that could possibly help you, ever.”

  Cindy was startled at how adamant her mother was. Why was she defending Frank so fiercely?

  “Trust me on this one,” Cindy demanded.

  “I can’t trust you on anything, ever,” her mother began wringing her hands. “You can leave now. Get out of here.”

  “I’m not going without the password,” said Cindy.

  “Get out, get out!” her mother started yelling. “How dare you come in here and accuse your own family?”

  The doors to the suite opened and both Ben and Charlie came out.

  “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” asked Ben, agitated, as Charlie stood in the background watching.

  “Cindy came in here and is insisting that I get the password to Frank’s computer,” her mother was practically shrieking by now. “She’s accusing Frank or harming Ann.”

  “I’m not accusing anybody,” Cindy yelled out above the fray. “We have to check everything, there could be leads waiting on it. Leads Frank doesn’t even know about.”

  “Could be, would be!” her mother was trembling. “All she cares about is finding the killer, she doesn’t care a thing about me! She comes in here and upsets me!”

  Ben came over and put his arms around her mother. “It’s better for you to come back later,” he said to Cindy, pointing to the door. “Your mother’s not in any condition for something like this now.”

  “Time is of the essence, Ben,” Cindy said to him as she got closer to the door.

  “Go ask Frank for the password yourself then,” Ben responded.

  “I did and he wouldn’t give it to me,” Cindy exclaimed.

  “Damn it, damn it,” Ben mumbled, distraught.

  “It’s a reasonable request,” said Cindy. “Will you help me, Ben? Will you get the password?” Cindy asked as she was practically at the door.

  “I would if I could, but I can’t do it,” Ben replied. “Your mother would never talk to me again.”

  *

  “Slow down, slow down,” Mattheus kept repeating over the phone as the words bubbled out of Cindy fiercely.

  “I talked to my mother, she won’t help us,” said Cindy.

  “Calm down, Cindy,” was all Mattheus could say.

  “I can’t,” Cindy uttered. “I’m shocked, I’m hurt.”

  “Just calm down,” Mattheus repeated.

  “I don’t think you should grill Frank directly now,” Cindy kept babbling. “It will make things worse, I know it will. And you won’t get anything from him, anyway.”

  “I’m lining up my ducks and then I’ll strike,” said Mattheus. “There’s something I need to do before Frank and I talk. I’ve got the name of a rich hotel owner here from my contacts. He’s good friends with Tony Beggio. I’ll talk to him an
d see what he can tell me about Frank.”

  Cindy suddenly felt tremendously relieved. It was a better plan. They had to circle around carefully. Who knew what backlash could happen if they made the wrong moves in the family?

  “What did you find about Ann and Frank when you talked to your mother?” Mattheus asked.

  Cindy’s heart clenched. She couldn’t tell Mattheus what her mother suspected. It would only add fuel to the fire and could be nothing but her mother’s fantasies. Despite Cindy’s upset with Frank, she didn’t believe he would ever hurt Ann or be involved with anyone but her. Something else led to Ann’s murder, another thread they hadn’t yet discovered.

  “My mother was emotional and nasty,” Cindy finally answered. “I didn’t learn much of value about Frank and Ann.”

  “So, what’s your next step?” Mattheus asked, haltingly.

  “I’m going to meet Tony Beggio next,” Cindy replied. “I heard he’s giving a party at his villa. It should be easy enough to get invited.”

  “Yeah, of course,” said Mattheus. “I’ll see to it that you get in with no problem at all.”

  Chapter 14

  After speaking to her mother Cindy felt agitated. The last thing she felt like doing was dressing up and going to a party in a villa, smiling at everyone, pretending to be having a wonderful time. Tony Beggio’s party was the following evening, though. That would give her time to rest up during the day and slowly get ready. Cindy needed rest badly, she felt it in every bone of her body. The enormity of what she was up against suddenly struck her from head to toe. The entire equilibrium of her family had been shaken to the core. What would happen if they actually found out something disturbing about Frank, something no one could live with? Would her mother go off the deep end then? In a flash Cindy could lose everybody. The hope of ever living a normal life would be completely taken from her. It would just be her and Mattheus then, drifting from case to case in the Caribbean.

  Cindy couldn’t even begin to let herself think about it. In his own way Frank had been a pillar of strength and stability not only to Ann, but to the entire family. Their long standing relationship had provided a measure of calm and continuity that no one else in the family had on their own. After Cindy’s father died years ago, her mother never settled down, but dated one man after another. Perhaps that was why she was so cynical about men now, Cindy suddenly realized. Perhaps she’d had married boyfriends of her own. The thought of it disturbed Cindy tremendously, but right now it would be better to put all of this out of her mind. Cindy needed to get a good sleep and start the day fresh tomorrow.

  *

  First thing the next morning, after breakfast in her room, Cindy went to her closet and looked through the clothing she’d brought with her, wondering what to wear to Tony Beggio’s party that night. Fortunately, when she’d packed, she’d thrown in her staple, black, silk, sleeveless evening dress. It could be dressed up beautifully with the right jewelry and go anywhere. Cindy stared at the dress, wondering what she would wear with it? She could go to the world class jewelry store in the mezzanine of the hotel and buy a new sparkling necklace, or just throw on her old strand of long pearls. Cindy was tired of the pearls, it would pick up her spirits to wear something new. She decided to go down to the store, see what they had, and try to approach the upcoming evening in the best frame of mind possible.

  *

  The jewelry store was richly carpeted with soft music playing in the background. Sales people, elegantly dressed, stood behind ivory tables with cases displaying magnificent jewelry. Cindy walked over to the case with necklaces. A lovely saleswoman behind it smiled at her. There was a dazzling ruby necklace, a fine amber one, a thin diamond choker. Cindy stared at them all, her eyes drifting to the diamond choker which suddenly reminded her of the small rhinestone she’d found in Ann’s room. Ann had never much liked jewelry, and rhinestones certainly weren’t something she would choose. Cindy had picked up that rhinestone when she’d gone to Ann’s room and kept it carefully. Once again Cindy wondered where that rhinestone had come from, upset that she’d forgotten about it all this while.

  “Would you like me to take out these necklaces, so you can look at them more closely?” the lovely saleswoman asked in a melodic tone.

  “How much is the ruby necklace?” Cindy suddenly responded, fixing on that one. The warmth of the rubies made her feel warm and alive.

  The saleswoman gave Cindy a price which was startling. But Cindy seldom purchased jewelry for herself, wasn’t familiar with what a necklace like this would cost.

  “It’s beautiful,” Cindy murmured, drawn to it.

  “I’ll take it out, so you can hold it,” the woman said, pleased.

  Cindy wanted to stop her, but also suddenly wanted to hold the necklace in her hands.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  Cindy cradled the necklace in her hands. Holding it gave her a sense of aliveness and power and it would go beautifully with her black dress tomorrow. But the price was certainly high.

  “This necklace has been one of our favorites,” the saleswoman spoke softly. “We actually have a few more on order. I believe this is the last one we have in stock.”

  Cindy wanted to say, “I’ll take it,” but held back.

  Suddenly she felt someone come up behind her and looked at the necklace over her shoulder.

  Before Cindy could turn around, a male voice said, “Take it.”

  Cindy spun around, Mattheus was standing there.

  “Take it,” Mattheus repeated softly. “It’s a gift from me - almost as beautiful as you are.”

  “What are you doing here?” Cindy was jolted, the last thing she’d expected was to see Mattheus here.

  “I was looking for you,” he replied softly, “and actually, the head of room service was in the elevator with you when you came down. I happened to run into him and asked if he might have known where you were; he mentioned you got off on the mezzanine.”

  The saleswoman smiled. “How charming.”

  Cindy was touched, not only that Mattheus had been looking for her, but by his generous offer.

  “You chose the perfect necklace,” Mattheus continued. “I want you to have it, truly.”

  “So, shall I wrap it up then?” the saleswoman asked.

  “Definitely,” Mattheus nodded, “wrap it up.”

  Cindy looked over at him, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. “Are you sure, Mattheus?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” Mattheus murmured. “How about you? Are you sure?”

  Cindy suddenly felt nervous. “Sure of what?”

  “Sure that you love that necklace,” Mattheus quickly replied, “that it’s the one you really want?”

  “Yes, it’s beautiful, thank you,” Cindy said softly. “I’ll always love it, and I’ll wear it at Beggio’s party tonight.”

  “You’ll be the brightest spot there,” said Mattheus. “I’m grateful you’ve allowed me to get it for you. It means as much to me as it does to you.”

  *

  Cindy returned to her room with the necklace, and Mattheus took off to speak to some people who knew the hotel owner he was meeting with that night. Mattheus wanted to know everything he could about Beggio’s hedge fund and network. And, he had to find out whether Frank was involved somehow.

  Cindy sat down and opened the box the necklace was in and stared at it for a long time. This was the first gift Mattheus have given her, and it was all she could have possibly hoped for. It had happened so naturally and casually that Cindy felt flustered. She knew that when Mattheus had said he was sure, he was talking about more than the necklace. He’d also asked her if she were sure. Cindy felt upset that she couldn’t have answered more directly, given him the assurance he wanted. Was he asking if she sure that he was the one she wanted to live her life with? It was a haunting question to consider right after her sister had been killed.

  Cindy took the necklace out, put in on now, and felt it
s intense energy and beauty flow through her body. As it did, she couldn’t help feel that Ann had been somehow involved with this, too. Was it possible that Ann’s spirit was here with all of them now guiding the events that were happening? Ann had always wanted Cindy to take care of herself, buy beautiful clothing and jewelry. Cindy usually resisted, only did it when Ann was around. Cindy smiled a little as she raised her hand to the rubies at her neck. Ann would certainly have loved this necklace, she would be thrilled that it belonged to Cindy now.

  *

  Cindy had a few free hours left in the day before getting ready for the party. Before getting dressed she decided to go down to the pool in the hotel for a quick swim. The pool occupied a large, sprawling area with trees surrounding it, lounge chairs, and areas with private nooks. Right now the entire area was mostly empty, including the lounge chairs surrounding the pool. This was the place Frank had claimed to be swimming in when Ann had been killed. Cindy could easily see how he could have gone for a swim and be unobserved by anyone.

  She jumped into the pool, splashed, swam a few laps, returned to a lounge chair and wrapped a large towel around her. She was relieved that the place was so empty and she could enjoy the privacy. This past day the hotel had been really filling up, probably in preparation for the races coming up shortly. Frank had always enjoyed boat racing, though he and Ann never owned a boat of their own. Cindy wondered if he was aware of the upcoming races, if anything like that mattered to him at all now. The warm air on Cindy’s body was soothing and reassuring, normalizing the day. Life went on, she sadly realized. Even after a horrible disaster, the sun rose and shone and the water was still there to heal and soothe the heart and body.

  *

  Cindy returned to her room, had lunch and took a brief nap. Usually, by now Mattheus checked in with her about what he’d found that day. So far she hadn’t heard from him. He must be busy and productive, Cindy though, possibly caught up with new information, it boded well. Cindy looked forward to their checking back in with each other after Beggio’s party, tomorrow morning.

  Soon it was time to get ready. Cindy got up, bathed and carefully dressed for the luxurious party in Beggio’s Villa, not far from the hotel.