by Jaden Skye
DEATH BY MARRIAGE
(book #3 in the CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES)
Jaden Skye
About the Author
Jaden Skye is author of the #1 Bestselling CARIBBEAN MURDER series, which includes eight books (and counting). The first book in the series, DEATH BY HONEYMOON, was a #1 Bestseller, and is now available as a FREE download on Amazon!
Also in the series are DEATH BY DIVORCE (#2), DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3), DEATH BY DESIRE (#4), DEATH BY DECEIT (#5), DEATH BY JEALOUSY (#6), DEATH BY PROPOSAL (#7) and DEATH BY OBSESSION (#8). She is also author of the romance A PERFECT STRANGER.
Jaden has always been fascinated with mystery, wrongful death, lies, deception and the power of the truth to prevail. Her romantic suspense/mystery novels feature strong female protagonists who must overcome insurmountable obstacles, and through them, she seeks to get to the very heart of the nature of justice and love.
Please visit www.jadenskye.com to find links to stay in touch with Jaden via Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, her blog, and a whole bunch of other places. Jaden loves to hear from you, so don't be shy and check back often!
Books by Jaden Skye
THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES
DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)
DEATH BY DIVORCE (Book #2)
DEATH BY MARRIAGE (Book #3)
DEATH BY DESIRE (Book #4)
DEATH BY DECEIT (Book #5)
DEATH BY JEALOUSY (Book #6)
DEATH BY PROPOSAL (Book #7)
DEATH BY OBSESSION (Book #8)
THE TOM’S RIVER SAGA
A PERFECT STRANGER (Book #1)
Tap here to download Jaden Skye books on Amazon now!
Copyright © 2012 by Jaden Skye
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
PROLOGUE
He lay there alone, along the back alley of a narrow street that wound through the marketplace in St. Thomas, dipped in a pool of red blood. For a long while, no one noticed. The street he lay on was not well traveled, and the few people who passed through it walked around him.
As the sun rose, bringing the heat of the day, merchants began opening their shops, and shoppers taking their first tentative steps. Suddenly, a shriek broke through the quiet. The shriek sounded fiercely, like the call of a bugle, for a long, long time.
People came running. An island woman, walking through the alley, had stepped on the man. Hands over her eyes, she could not stop shrieking. The dead man’s bulging eyes stared back out at her, only adding to her terror.
“Why me? Why did I have to find this? Lord, Lord!” she screamed, “Have mercy! Mercy!”
The crowd closed in, peering.
“Who is it? Who is it?” they demanded.
But by now his face was so distorted, it was almost impossible to say.
CHAPTER 1
Cindy and Mattheus sat on the veranda of the Grande Hotel, in Grenada, under the palm trees, going over details of the case. They sipped tall lemonades, as the afternoon light faded and soft ocean breezes drifted over them. It had been a long, tiring day. Cindy knew she would have to make a decision quickly, and had grappled with it all afternoon.
Things were moving too quickly, though. She felt caught in a whirlwind that didn’t give her any time to catch her breath, to make wise choices. She had to remind herself that she’d only come down to the island to help Dalia, an old friend, who’d frantically called for help. Dalia’s husband had gone missing and she was devastated, and there had been no way Cindy could say no.
It had been a couple of months since then, an intense, crazy time, which only became more so when Dalia’s husband turned up dead on the beach. When Cindy was the one to finally discover the killer, she had been all over the papers again. Cindy didn’t want the notoriety. But calls came in for her from all over.
Mattheus tilted his head back, tapping his fingers on the table. It was something he did when he was trying to think things out clearly, Cindy had come to learn. He’d gathered lots of information on the new case, but he’d been half an hour late to their meeting, something unusual for him. Cindy had waited for him uneasily, going over everything that had gone on between them since they’d met about two months ago.
She had tentatively agreed to form a private detective agency with him. It was at a moment when she’d felt a particular connection both with him and the work. But what did she really know about him, she now wondered? He was on the police force when they’d met and he’d been a wonderful help in her friend’s case. But people on this island got too close too quickly, and no good ever seemed to come out of it.
Cindy took a long, deep breath. She had both looked forward to seeing Mattheus this afternoon and also felt unnerved about it. Partially, she just wanted to run away, go back to life as she knew it in New York, before her own husband, Clint, had been killed. It had only been months since Clint was gone. She felt odd now spending such intense time with another man.
“I know you can do a great job with this case,” Mattheus continued, his voice full of conviction.
“Mattheus,” Cindy interrupted.
He stopped tapping his fingers and looked straight at her, his beautiful, clear eyes quieting her racing mind.
“It’s natural to be scared,” he said.
“That’s not it,” Cindy replied.
Surprisingly, Cindy did not feel scared of tackling another murder. Actually, she felt invincible at the thought of taking another case on. It was that feeling of power and service that drew her to the work. It made her feel more of who she really was.
“What is it?” Matthew asked, a small smile curling at the edge of his mouth.
“It’s a huge choice to start an entirely different life,” she said.
“Yes, it is,” he answered calmly, “but sometimes a new life chooses us. And you’re not the only one. It will be a new life for me, too.”
He looked up at her fleetingly, then looked away.
“I’ve gathered articles and reports about the case. It’s fascinating,” he continued, switching focus. “Kendra, the wife, called after reading about you in the paper. She sounded
desperate. Said she wants a woman detective on the scene, someone who’ll understand her point of view.”
Cindy perked up.
“There aren’t too many of them down here on the islands,” Mattheus cocked his head to the side. “Especially as thoughtful and as smart as you.”
Cindy smiled.
“And daring,” he added, “and beautiful.”
Despite herself Cindy laughed. “You’re buttering me up.”
“I’m speaking the truth. I’ve been thinking about our new company.”
“I wasn’t even sure we meant it,” Cindy said hesitantly.
At that Mattheus leaned forward.
“I meant it,” he said, with no hesitation. “I mean what I say.” He looked at her searchingly. “How about you?”
“You’ve been a police officer for years,” said Cindy. “I have no training.”
“You have an instinctive gift. You’re unstoppable. Let’s go over the details of this new case before I say anymore.” He pulled out a file. “This woman’s husband, a well know criminal attorney in St. Thomas, the father of a daughter. He was murdered and thrown like garbage into an alleyway, behind the open markets.”
“Horrible,” said Cindy.
“The police are focusing in on the wife. She’s terrified. Not only by the loss of her husband, but by being interrogated night and day. Her entire world has been ripped apart. You can imagine why she’d love to have a woman helping.”
“Of course I can,” said Cindy.
“She insists that she’s completely innocent - knows nothing at all about what happened.”
Cindy suddenly felt as though she were hearing an echo from the past case she’d worked on. Dalia had also proclaimed her innocence, right up to the end. It was startling for Cindy to realize that her natural trust in people was disappearing fast. Her first reaction now was to doubt and to question.
“What else do you have to do that’s more important than this?” Mattheus honed in on her, refusing to let go.
“Nothing,” said Cindy. “Except going back home and resuming a normal life.” Even as she said it, she was aware that her life could never be normal again.
“Every life is normal if you’re doing what you’re supposed to,” Mattheus replied.
Cindy remembered then why she respected him so. Her heart warmed.
“We’ll go together. I’ll back you up - you won’t be alone. We can call the company C and M Investigation,” he laughed. “We work well together. We’re a good team.”
Cindy could not deny that.
“The woman in St. Thomas needs an answer right away,” Matthew was insistent. “It’s almost hurricane season there and they have to work as quickly as possible now to gather all the evidence. There are lots of lives at stake here, the woman, her family, and who knows who else? Could be a killer is on the loose.”
“I hear you,” said Cindy. “I hear everything.”
“I’m surprised you’re not jumping in.”
“Give me an hour or so,” Cindy said, her head suddenly reeling. It was too much for her take in all at once. She needed just a little while to walk on the beach, be with herself, and make sure this was the right decision. It was not only about working on the new case, it was joining forces with Mattheus, creating a private detective agency. Cindy looked at him sitting there, handsome, confident, rugged. It was as if he’d always been in her life. But he hadn’t. Just five months ago, she’d been married to Clint, going off with him on their honeymoon. They’d had a home and friends they’d loved. She’d worked as an investigative reporter and had hopes of having a family one day-- not tracking down killers in the Caribbean.
Cindy pushed herself away from the table and Mattheus stood up as well.
“Take as much time as you need,” he said calmly.
“I’ll let you know in an hour or so,” she said.
Mattheus smiled and so did Cindy as the wind in the trees began blowing up, tossing Cindy’s hair into her face.
“It’s just that everything is happening so quickly,” said Cindy, pushing her hair away.
“I know,” Mattheus nodded, “New beginnings are often like that.”
*
Cindy left her sandals at the edge of the beach and walked barefoot through the soft, white sand up to the water’s edge. The light was fading and it was definitely cooler as the wind tossed against her face and arms. Cindy reached out her hands as if to hold onto the breeze. Would she ever get home? Would she ever again be the person she was? A few small sandpipers flew to where she was standing and looked up at her. Cindy smiled. The islands had taken everything from her, but then had also given her one gift after another, in the most unusual ways. Could it be that this was to be her new home?
Her mind flew forwards to the woman on St. Thomas whose husband had been killed and dumped in a back alley. Cindy could only imagine the pain she had to be going through - the loss, confusion, and the police grilling her daily. A sense of outrage and strength flushed through Cindy’s veins. She’d been there. She knew how urgently the woman needed someone she could trust. Cindy also knew that somehow she was the one to do it. She was able to navigate her way through this kind of maze, sense what was brewing beneath the surface, cut through the lies and find justice. Cindy never realized before how important justice was to her. Life wasn’t worth living without it, she realized, as the water rushed up between her toes.
She took a long moment, then to breathe deeply, enjoying the moment. There was no need to linger any longer. Clint’s death had propelled her into a new place. She couldn’t go back home and rest when another person was going through the same torture she had. Clint would have made the same choice that she did, to fight for justice, find the culprit, stop the killer from striking again.
She had no choice. She had to say yes.
CHAPTER 2
Cindy braced herself as the sea plane dove in low for a landing. The vast stretch of shimmering blue green water beneath them stretched out forever, calm, reassuring and beautiful. Cindy spotted a small boat, in the distance, waiting to take them to shore.
Mattheus had spent the plane ride going over his notes on the case. Cindy had spent it looking down at the water below.
“Her name is Kendra,” Mattheus reminded Cindy as the plane flew closer to shore. “The wife. She’s greeting us herself. A little unusual, but interesting. She must be extremely eager to meet you.”
Cindy turned and looked at him. His beautiful eyes were focused on her. But Cindy merely nodded all business at the moment.
It was a little awkward between them now, flying off into this business partnership, knowing so little about one another. It was one thing, Cindy thought, to do fabulously together on one case--but another to sustain their connection. Mattheus had left his job on the police force without hesitation. He’d been thinking about it for a while. He told Cindy he was ready to take on his own cases. And, he thought it was a great idea to have a male and female detective agency; each would bring a different point of view and relate better with different people.
Cindy’s stomach suddenly fell as the plane began to descend without warning. She’d never landed on the water before, or felt the movement of the plane so intimately. It reminded her of the water rides she used to go on as a kid in the amusement park.
As they landed, and floated on water, Cindy felt as if she were back in the amusement park, or in a dream. The plane bobbed gently for a few minutes until the small boat rode up to the plane.
Cindy and Mattheus got up and went to the exit, then slipped out of the plane onto the boat. Mattheus got out first and reached his hand out for Cindy who held it tight for a few seconds. Once safely on the boat, she let go.
Mattheus laughed. “We did it. We’re here.” He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying both the landing and having Cindy beside him. It was a short boat ride to the shore and felt good to be on water, in the strong heat of the day. As they got closer Cindy could see a small group of people clustered togeth
er, waiting for them to arrive.
As the boat pulled up, Mattheus and Cindy got out and a tall woman, with long chestnut brown hair, rushed over. She was in her fifties, slender, with large blue eyes, dressed in a paisley sun dress, with several colored bracelets on her wrist.
“Finally, you’re here,” the woman breathed.
“Kendra Johnson?” Matthew stepped forward.
She looked at him briefly and then turned and put the full force of her attention onto Cindy.
“I read about the amazing work you did on Grenada –and also in Barbados,” she said. “I’m so thrilled you chose to come down here and help me.”
“Glad to meet you,” Cindy said. She was eager to get to know Kendra, but also wanted to keep things simple, not foster unrealistic expectations.
Kendra looked quickly back and forth between Cindy and Mattheus then, confused for a moment.
“We’re a team,” Cindy said. “C and M Investigations.”
“Well,” Kendra said, “there’s plenty to investigate.”
Cindy was glad Mattheus was with her. She could feel how they balanced each other, kept Kendra’s aggression at bay.
Kendra seemed uneasy. “But I’m glad you’re here. It’s urgent.”
“It must have been a terrible time for you,” Cindy said.
“Must be? It still is,” Kendra replied, rattled.
“These things have a way of going on and on,” said Mattheus.
Kendra looked at him briefly with appreciation, but turned once again to Cindy.
“I’d like to take you home with me now,” she said. “We can talk better there. I have a car waiting.”
“Great,” said Cindy.
“There’s a lot to do before hurricane season,” Kendra went on hurriedly, as she led them to the car. “We only have a couple of weeks to go. Once the storms come, everything is impossible, things get put on the back burner, buildings are boarded up and evidence gets washed away. Criminals get away with everything then. I’ve seen it happen.”
