Death by Marriage

by Jaden Skye

  “It’s a strong possibility,” said Cindy, “given his background.”

  “We don’t know that,” said Mattheus. “It sounds good on paper but you never know what you have until you meet them in person. He might have an air tight alibi for all we know.”

  Cindy took a deep breath. “He might. Because the police are going on full force with their investigation of Kendra. Brayton contacted her about having lunch with Margot. Cindy said. “Kendra said she’d only do it if I went along.”

  “Smart,” said Mattheus smiling. “She needs protection.”

  “At first Brayton balked,” said Cindy, “but that was the only way Kendra would agree. In fact, the details of the lunch are being set up right now.”

  Mattheus thought about whether or not he should tell Cindy that Margot would be wearing a tape. He decided he had to. They were a team.

  “Margot will be wearing a tape,” said Mattheus then.

  Cindy’s eyes opened wide.

  “Brayton is convinced Kendra knows stuff she’s not saying. You can’t tell Kendra about this though. The truth is the truth, let it all come out.”

  “Do you think I would undermine the investigation?” Cindy seemed offended.

  “I wasn’t saying that. I just wanted to say, let it all rip.”

  “I want to find the real killer as much as Brayton,” Cindy said, unabashed. “I didn’t come down here to assist a cover up.”

  Mattheus was pleased that he and Cindy were on the same page about so many things. She was one special woman, for sure. And, of course, being a detective was different when someone close to you had been killed. After that, each case you handled was an echo of what happened. Your craving for justice couldn’t be squelched.

  “I’m proud of you, Cindy,” Mattheus said then.

  She was silent a moment. “For what?” she said.

  “For who you are.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “I never expected all of this in one woman,” he said.

  CHAPTER 19

  Cindy and Kendra walked to the lunch together. It was to be held at a lovely restaurant across from the main pier in town. A table had been reserved in the rear, overlooking a boat slip that was at the end of the dock.

  Kendra, dressed a white linen suit, with her hair brushed back tight, had a formidable air about her. Her jaw was set and she said little. Cindy wore a simple lime green dress and pearl earrings.

  “I’ve been thinking about why the police want Margot and I to meet so badly,” Kendra said, finally. “Obviously, they’re going to question her about everything I say. And question me about her. It’s an old trick, isn’t it, turning one against the other? They must be hoping that in the heat of the moment one of us will slip up.”

  “Or that one of you will lie,” said Cindy. “That wouldn’t look good, would it?”

  Kendra said nothing then, just fell silent.

  “Are you curious to meet her?” Cindy then asked to break the silence between them.

  Kendra smirked, “not really. “I’m only doing this in the hopes it will help clear me. Who knows? She may be involved with the murder herself. Nothing would surprise me.”

  Cindy took a deep breath. She felt uncomfortable accompanying Margot to the lunch.

  “I’m sure she’s dying to meet me,” Kendra went on bitterly. “But I have no self left to meet. They’ve taken it from me. This is the last straw. And, the truth is, there’s no reason I should validate whatever happened between those two and call it a marriage.”

  “It was a marriage,” said Cindy. “She has the same marriage license you do.”

  “But to a different man, Gregg Kowan. It had to be a fraud.”

  “Paul operated with two identities,” Cindy said, “and who knows how many more?”

  “Whose side are you on?” Kendra snapped back.

  “It’s not a matter of sides,” said Cindy. “Your husband has been killed. So has hers. It’s the same person. The more we know about went on in his life the better chance we have of finding the killer. It’s as simple as that.”

  “Nothing simple about it,” Kendra was exasperated.

  Cindy couldn’t understand why she didn’t feel more sympathy for Kendra, why few people did. Maybe because she seemed so unmoved about what happened to Paul. Cindy hadn’t heard her express sorrow about his death once since she’d met her. But, she’d been pounced on from day one, suspicions about her had never let up. She had every right to be brittle and mad.

  “The police haven’t grilled Margot the way they did me, “Kendra went on. “That pisses me off.”

  “How do you know they haven’t?” said Cindy.

  “It’s obvious. They think I found out about the other wife, and took my revenge. But maybe she found out about me? Why isn’t that equally possible? Why isn’t she shaking in her boots?”

  “Maybe she is,” said Cindy.

  “You haven’t been grilling her either, have you?” Kendra turned to Cindy, swiftly. “Why not?”

  Cindy paused a moment to consider that question. There was truth to what Kendra said. Cindy felt no desire to question Margot further. Margot had seemed so devastated when she’d found out about Paul that Cindy didn’t doubt her. She didn’t like her much, but she didn’t doubt her either. It was interesting where suspicion landed and the reasons for it, Cindy thought.

  “So give me a clue as to why I’m the bad one?” said Kendra, fitfully.

  Cindy turned and faced her as they were about to enter the restaurant.

  “Did you love your husband?” Cindy asked. “Or was it over a long time ago?”

  “Go to hell,” Kendra muttered. “You think I’m paying you for this?”

  “Paul led a double life. You had to sense something. He couldn’t have been there much for you. How could you not hate him?”

  Kendra’s face flushed, then turned ashen. “It’s a complicated,” she finally said. “Did I love him? Depends what you mean when you say love. And hate, that’s a strong word. You have to care a lot to hate someone. Maybe, all the embers between us had just died.”

  “Things don’t just die,” said Cindy. “People hurt each other a lot first.”

  “Are you crazy or something?” asked Kendra, “pushing me up against the wall?”

  “I’m pushing you because I want to clear you,” said Cindy. “I want to get everything out on the table, turn it over in daylight, find out why it went on. The best way to be free is to honest – especially with yourself.”

  Kendra turned to her. “You go be honest with yourself,” she snarled between perfectly formed, small, white teeth. “Why the hell are you down here on the island, poking around, way out of your league? It was a mistake to ever hire you.”

  Cindy felt punched in the gut. At the same time it was fascinating to see how Kendra could turn on someone who was on her side, trying to help. Maybe she wanted to be found guilty? Maybe she actually committed the crime?

  The restaurant was only half filled when they walked in, as it was still early. The moment Cindy and Kendra walked in, the Maître D was ready for them, and showed them to a table in a half lit alcove in the rear, set away from others.

  Kendra sat down and looked around anxiously. “Figures she wouldn’t be here yet,” she said. “It’s extremely rude of her to make us wait. What kind of woman would make us do that?”

  “We’re a little early,” said Cindy. She’d pulled herself back together, decided to be entirely professional, not take anything this woman said personally in anyway.

  Their water glasses were filled and they were given a wine list before the waiter left them alone.

  “Why did you ask me if I loved Paul?” Kendra looked at Cindy oddly. “Are they thinking that Margot loved him and I did not?”

  “I have no idea what they’re thinking,” said Cindy. “I do think she loved him, though.”

  Kendra shuddered. “Do you know how that feels? Hearing your husband was loved by another woman who t
hought she was his wife?”

  “It has to be awful,” said Cindy.

  “Infuriating. I loved him in the beginning,” said Kendra. “He changed over the years. So did I. We had a daughter, we had a home. I knew he wasn’t perfect. But his having another wife and son is not something I ever imagined! It sticks in my craw. I’m not ready for this kind of public humiliation. The idiot ended up making me into a fool.”

  Cindy felt badly for her. “I’m very sorry,” she said.

  “So, if I’m agitated about this, I have a right to be,” Kendra continued.

  “You certainly do,” said Cindy.

  At that very moment they looked over and saw a woman in a blue silk dress, graceful, perfectly coiffed, walking towards them haltingly. Around her neck, she wore a ruby necklace.

  “There’s the bitch,” Kendra muttered under her breath. “And what the hell’s she wearing?”

  Both Cindy and Kendra stared at the necklace.

  “That’s mine,” said Kendra. “It’s the one I bought that the police couldn’t find.”

  Cindy was completely startled. “Obviously Paul gave it to her,” she said.

  Kendra’s mouth hung open. “The bastard took my necklace from the safe and gave it to his other wife. He deserves to be strung up!”

  Margot came closer to the table.

  Cindy stood up, and extended her hand. “Hello, Margot.”

  Margot gave Cindy her hand.

  “Kendra, this is Margot,” Cindy introduced them.

  The two women stared at each other for a moment as Margot sat down. Cindy wished she could get away. The tension was so thick it ran up over arms and legs. For a second she could hardly catch her breath.

  “That’s an incredible necklace you have there, said Kendra,” staring at it with fire in her eyes. “Where did you get it?”

  Margot lifted her hand and touched it lightly. “Gregg gave it to me for our anniversary,” she said.

  “It’s my necklace,” said Kendra.

  ““What are you talking about? I cherish it,” said Margot clutching it tightly.

  Thankfully, at that moment the waiter came back with a wine list for Margot and they ordered a bottle of red wine.

  “We have more important things to talk about,” said Cindy, trying to deflect the tension and bring the lunch back on course. It was clear these two had never spoken.

  “We have a common purpose being here,” said Margot icily, “to find the person who killed Paul.”

  Kendra stiffened. “Why did he give you my necklace?” she murmured, staring at it. “It was mine. I bought it for myself.”

  “You bought yourself jewelry?” Margot looked shocked. “He didn’t buy it for you? He bought me every piece I have.”

  “Who knows what else he stole it from?” said Kendra.

  “Let’s leave this for later, please,” said Cindy. “This lunch could help find the killer.”

  “I’ve been the main suspect, right from the start. You know that, don’t you?” Kendra turned to Margot disdainfully.

  “That’s what I’ve been told,” said Margot.

  “Been told? It’s been in all the papers.”

  Margot pursed her lips. “We don’t really pay much attention to news on St. Thomas,” she said quietly.

  Kendra grimaced. “You didn’t see any of the photos of Paul in the paper?” she asked bitingly. Clearly, she was off her game with Margot. The two of them were worlds apart and seeing the necklace on her had really thrown Kendra.

  “No, I hadn’t seen any of the photos in the paper,” Margot answered, her eyes suddenly filling with tears.

  Kendra stared at her deeply. “You had no idea your husband was married to me?”

  “Did you have any idea he was married to me?” Margot countered, bristling.

  For a flashing moment, the two of them looked straight in one another’s eyes.

  “I thought he might be cheating,” Kendra held back no punches. “In fact, I thought it was likely. I always suspected he had a lover that he met regularly at the bar.”

  Margot trembled at that thought. “Did he?” she asked faintly, aghast.

  “Yes, he did,” Kendra said. “I’m convinced of it now. A woman named Heather.”

  Margot gasped. “A mistress?”

  “Someone who must have wanted him all to herself. No one could have him all to themselves though, could they?”

  “I thought I did,” Margot said.

  “You thought he was faithful to you?” Kendra was incredulous. She also seemed to enjoy seeing Margot squirm.

  “Yes, I did think that,” Margot said, forcefully. “Why should I believe you?”

  Kendra leaned her elbows on the table. “How could you really imagine that you were the only one, with all his nights away?”

  “It was part of his work,” said Margot, “a lifelong pattern. He told me he loved me, over and over. I believed what he said. I had no reason not to. None at all.” She looked up at Kendra then, her mouth quivering. “Did you believe that he loved you?”

  “This is twice today I’ve been asked that question,” said Kendra. “We’d been married for years. What has love got to do with it?”

  Margot did not smile. “We were married for years as well. We have a son.”

  Kendra stopped and took it in. “I know. I heard it, but it doesn’t compute.”

  “A son he loved tremendously,” said Margot. “A son who meant the world to him. He coached his games when he was around, took him snorkeling, brought him all kinds of gifts.”

  That silenced Kendra. “He had a daughter he loved very much too” she finally said slowly. “Seems he was quite the family man.”

  Margot did not smile at that. It seemed hard for her to even realize that Kendra and Paul had a child together. “This is completely grotesque,” she said finally. “Those nights he was away, he was with you?”

  “Some of them,” Kendra replied. “Who knows who he was with at other times?”

  “I was completely fooled,” Margot said in a small voice then, “fooled for years.”

  “Conned,” said Kendra.

  “So were you,” Margot looked at her sharply.

  “You can say that if you want to,” said Kendra, “but, just because he was an idiot, I don’t see myself as a victim. I lived a good life. I did what I liked.”

  The waiter brought the wine, poured it in their glasses and all together they took a long, drink. Cindy then took it upon herself to order for all of them, a large salad, and mushrooms. No one else seemed to be in shape to look at the menu.

  “What do you want to know about me?” Kendra asked Margot boldly then. “I know you came here to find out about me. So, go ahead, ask away.”

  Margot could barely speak. “Nothing,” she said under her breath. “I just want you to go away.”

  “Why? He’s gone now,” said Kendra. “We’re not sharing him anymore.”

  “We never shared him,” Margot burst out.

  “Are you crazy?” asked Kendra, “Of course we did.”

  “He belonged to me alone!” said Margot, her voice suddenly raising an octave. “You had to just be something extra. He gave me the necklace, not you.”

  “I bought that necklace for myself. He stole it from my safe and gave it to you. It’s stolen property you’re wearing.”

  “Please, go away, I beg you,” said Margot, trembling.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” said Kendra, in a dark tone, “particularly not to jail. Paul might have been a rotten liar, but I didn’t kill him.”

  Margot stared at her. “I want to wake up and find this was a bad dream. I want my life back the way it was.”

  “So do I,” said Kendra, “but that isn’t happening. And it’s not a dream, is it? Here we are, flesh and blood. Do you have any idea who killed him?”

  Margot looked aghast. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to.”

  “Not even you?” Kendra prodded.

  Margot looked at her
disdainfully. “Of all the women he could have chosen, why in the world would he have chosen you? I’ll never understand it. Never. I can understand why you’d have to buy your own jewelry, why he didn’t get it for you. What could you have given him that I didn’t?” She seemed totally bewildered and overwhelmed.

  Suddenly, Kendra perked up.

  “I know he married you first, but when I met him he was handsome, exciting and told me he was single. And he couldn’t leave me alone. We spent incredibly passionate nights together.”

  Margot put her hands over her ears, “Stop.”

  “I can’t even imagine how he could have been married then. He was totally available.”

  “He wasn’t available,” Margot cried out. “He was married to me.

  “But what kind of marriage did you have?” Kendra was pitiless, ripping away Margot’s memories, one by one.

  “Our marriage was quiet, loving, content,” said Margot gasping.

  “It isn’t possible,” said Kendra. “Not the way he was with me, hungry like you can’t believe.”

  “Shut up, you’re disgusting,” said Margot. And we had a bond that was unbreakable. He always told me that. You were just something extra.”

  “Far from it!” Kendra leered. “He couldn’t do without me. Not even for a day. Wherever he was he’d call me.”

  Margot stood up trembling. “I hate you,” she hissed.

  “Sit down, Margot,” said Cindy, trying to calm both of them.

  But Kendra wasn’t finished. She leaned towards Margot ferociously, “Did you really love Paul? Was he good to you?”

  Margot jumped back, startled. “I loved him very much. He was wonderful,” her voice rose an octave. “How about you? Did you really love him? Tell me the truth!”

  “I loathed the bastard,” Kendra uttered, “and I loathe him even more now.”

  Margot gasped and so did Cindy.

  At just that moment, Cindy saw a young woman walking over towards the table, Kendra’s daughter, Nell. Cindy was stunned to see her.

  “This is our daughter,” said Kendra as Nell grew closer. “She wanted to meet the woman who was married to her father all these years. What do you think this is doing to her?”