Jaden Skye - Caribbean Murder 05 - Death by Deceit Read online

  DEATH BY DECEIT

  (book #5 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.

  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

  PROLOGUE

  While soft ocean breezes wafted through palm trees, no one in Key West was even dimly aware that a brutal killing, filled with torment, had taken place the night before.

  As the sun went down on another day, the body of a beautiful woman, near the water’s edge, rolled softly towards the mud. In the background, musicians started to play, getting ready for the sunset festival, as her shadow dissolved in the fading light.

  Unaware of the dead woman’s eyes, open, staring, streams of people, laughing and dancing, wound their way to the ocean promenade. They did this every evening to celebrate the sun going down and to say goodbye to the passing day. As they ate Key Lime Pie, rollicked and played, no one had any idea that the killer was right among them, laughing, head held up high.

  The drenched body was found two days later, as the sunset celebration was going on. Each day down here was precious, each sunset gorgeous. Nothing could get in the way of that.

  CHAPTER 1

  Cindy looked out over the edge of the balcony at Mattheus’s bare, sun-tanned, rippled chest, working in the garden. He looked so happy to be back in his home in Grenada, especially with Cindy beside him. He’d wanted to share his place with someone for so long. It was like a dream come true, he’d said.

  Mattheus had bought the small house a few years ago, after his wife Shelly had gone missing in New Orleans, six years ago. After over a year of fruitless searching for her killer he’d come down here to recover and work. Cindy understood why he’d chosen this house: it was off the beaten track, isolated, perched at the edge of a cliff, with a fantastic view of the shimmering, azure sea.

  Cindy had been eager to see the house. It was a place Mattheus had talked about often; it meant a great deal to him and he was proud of it. Soft breezes wafted upon Cindy as she watched Mattheus clear the brush to make room for new plantings. There were large rocks on either side of the garden, and incredible trees surrounded it. A winding wooden path Mattheus had built with his own hands gently led down. Although he’d been away awhile, the house had a lived-in feeling, except that the garden was heavy with dead wood that needed to be cleared. Looking around, Cindy wondered what it would be like spending vacation time here alone with Mattheus for a couple of weeks.

  “I want you to love every bit of the house,” Mattheus had said in the cab, after their plane had landed. They’d sat close, pressed together, enjoying their newfound intimacy. Now that they’d taken the next step in their relationship and made love, the strange tension that had always been there, under the surface, was mostly gone. Mostly, not completely. Cindy wasn’t entirely comfortable with her decision to come down to Grenada and stay with Mattheus in his home—everything, she felt, had happened too quickly. Was still happening too quickly.

  It was actually strange coming back down here, to the place where she and Mattheus met, where Cindy had taken on her first case as a detective. It had been right after Clint had died, after she’d discovered her own husband’s murderer. Life was so different then. She had felt so abandoned and alone.

  This time, during their trip down, Cindy had smiled the whole time, looking at Mattheus’s handsome, rugged face. He’d kept his arm around her, pulling her close. What a journey they’d been on, she’d thought. It was hard to believe that not only were they still together, but that their relationship had grown.

  It felt so good being connected to Mattheus now, to let her doubts and questions about him fade. She thought of the moment she’d consciously decided to trust him, as their last case together was ending. Cindy was ashamed how jealous and suspicious she’d become of him. It was as if a storm had hit her and didn’t let up. She’d never felt that way before, and when she finally saw that her distrust was unwarranted, it was a huge relief. As a detective, she needed to be suspicious, but not, she was beginning to realize, in her personal life. She had to learn how to separate the two, or her suspiciousness would tie her in knots she’d never be free of.

  “I want you to feel really at home here,” Mattheus had said as the taxi neared.

  “I’m sure I’ll love it,” Cindy said, “how could I not?”

  People came to Grenada from all over the world to bask in its beauty and be renewed.She deserved to be happy too, didn’t she? She needed to start her life over again.

  “Maybe this will become your home, too?” Mattheus had murmured in the taxi, stroking Ci
ndy’s shoulder slowly.

  Cindy hadn’t responded. She wasn’t sure exactly what he’d meant and didn’t want to jump to conclusions. She’d gotten into trouble doing that with him before.

  The taxi had wound its way up a steep hill towards the craggy, stucco house. For a moment, Cindy had a flash of fear, seeing it perched at the edge of a cliff.

  When the taxi pulled up, Mattheus took her luggage and carried it to the front door. Then he turned around and held his arms open wide.

  Cindy couldn’t hold back another second. It was time to take the plunge. She ran into Mattheus’s arms with abandon. They were warm and encircled her, making her feel as if she wanted to stay in them forever.

  “Welcome to my world,” Mattheus whispered in her ear, “a new era has begun.”

  Cindy flushed. She’d felt that way too, but was nervous for the moment. What would this new era bring? What would it be like for the two of them to be in Grenada, to just spend time alone together without a case to focus on? They’d decided to give themselves a chance to find out. Cindy’s stomach fluttered as she let Mattheus lift her up and carry her through the door.

  After what seemed like a long while, Mattheus slowly put her down and

  Cindy looked around. The living room had two stories, with brick walls, huge glass windows and sprawling plants.

  “The place is magical,” she said, taking it in.

  Mattheus was pleased. He put his arm around her waist, pulled her closer, and walked her through the living room to the open flagstone porch.

  “Time for the grand tour,” he said, and they started walking. “This place has been good to me. I needed to be alone here when I first got here. It’s great to be back here now with you, though.”

  She held his hand tight, thrilled they would now have the time they needed so badly. She wanted to get to know him more, to spend long hours with him on the beach, walk in town, go to the Sculpture Garden, go to the art galleries, sit on rocks near the waterfalls. They’d do all the things she’d never had a chance to do again with Clint, things they’d been cheated out of when he was killed so suddenly on their honeymoon.

  There are second chances, Cindy mused. When one wave fades out, there’s another behind it.

  Mattheus stopped at a tall window.

  “If you look out here you can see seagulls, wild birds, sunsets. Sometimes it feels like you’re the only person in the world.”

  Cindy smiled, the view was breathtaking. They went down a few steps to the den, and the walls were lined with bookcases and shelves holding Mattheus’s mementos, plaques, rocks, awards, and an old, weathered surfboard.

  Cindy winced for just a second. It reminded her of Clint. This was no time to be thinking of Clint. Cindy had done that long enough now, and so had Mattheus. Like Cindy, he’d let his wife’s murder run his life, and when he hadn’t been able to find her killer, he’d become a detective, chasing down one murderer after another. It had become an obsession, and this was the time for both of them to pause and be grateful for the unexpected destiny that had brought them into each other’s lives.

  After the den, it was a few steps up to Mattheus’s bedroom—a guy’s room, filled with a huge, crumpled bed, strewn with magazines. The walls were covered with photographs – some of the ocean, birds, rocks and many photos of a beautiful woman, looking straight out at them. In many photos she was close to Mattheus, nestled in his arms. Cindy stared at her. It had to be Shelly.

  “That’s your wife?” Cindy’d asked. She hadn’t seen a picture of her before.

  “That was my wife,” Mattheus corrected her, glancing at the photos.

  Cindy was taken aback. At first glance, Shelly actually looked a bit like her, with the same auburn hair and freckles.

  “She was lovely,” said Cindy.

  “And the woman I’m with now is more than lovely, she’s ravishing,” said Mattheus, scooping Cindy into his arms.

  Cindy blinked, snapping out of it. She stood there, on the balcony, watching Mattheus working in the garden, she was filled with both love and longing for him. It was wonderful feeling this way again—and terrifying as well.

  Mattheus must have sensed it, because he turned around, looked up and waved. “I’ll be up in a minute,” he shouted.

  Cindy trembled and smiled. “I can’t wait a minute,” she called.

  He laughed, put the rake down and started back up.

  Cindy held her arms out to greet him.

  He rushed into them, lifted her up and carried her as if she were a feather into the living room. He put her down on the couch and turned his full attention upon her.

  “Do you like it here?” he breathed, excited.

  “Love it,” said Cindy.

  “I hoped so,” he murmured. “It’s completely different being here with you. The house feels full.”

  Cindy closed her eyes, taking his warmth in. It had been a long time since she’d felt so wanted.

  “Cindy, this house suits you. It belongs to you, too. I don’t want to be here anymore without you. Will you move in?”

  The question came too quickly. Cindy’s mind began racing. Was he serious? She’d hardly spent any time in her own home since Clint had died. This past year and a half it had just been her and Mattheus, traveling, working on cases. The small home she had back in Cove Bay waited for her. Nothing in it had been moved or changed since Clint had died. Even though she’d hardly spent a night in it, she’d kept it as a place to return to. One of these days Cindy thought she’d grow tired of solving cases, would be ready to return and start a new life. Would it be possible to make a life down in Grenada? Was it too soon to move in with Mattheus?

  “That’s quite an offer, Mattheus,” Cindy’s eyes opened wide.

  He smiled, his beautiful blue eyes glued to her deeply.

  “Move in with me,” he said, in a husky tone.

  Cindy knew Mattheus was restless, impulsive. He’d feel strongly one moment and then something else would come up.

  “I’m not changing my mind about this either,” Mattheus added, as if reading her thoughts.

  “This comes out of the blue,” Cindy laughed.

  “Not really,” said Mattheus, “I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while.”

  “Well, I’m glad you let me in on it,” said Cindy.

  “It makes sense,” he said, his eyes sparkling. “We fit together in every way. We’re better people with each other, we’re smarter, stronger.”

  Cindy’s heart began pounding. He was right, they were better with each other. And what was really left back home to return to? Cindy was happy at Mattheus’s side. She loved working with him, sleeping with him, talking, travelling. What was there to lose? She took a deep breath and prepared her response.

  CHAPTER 2

  “Why not?” said Cindy, amazing herself, “let’s give it a try.”

  Mattheus grinned and grasped her hands tight in his.

  “Fantastic! That’s what I love about you—you’re gutsy and daring,” he said. “I never know what to expect. Do whatever you need to really feel comfortable here. Make this your home, too.”

  As the first step in making this her home, Cindy had to do some decorating, take old things down, bring in new touches.

  “Just go slow,” Mattheus pleaded. “This is my life you’re re-arranging.”

  “What about my life?” Cindy joked. “I’m moving in with you. My life’s not only being re-arranged, it’s being pulled apart at the seams.”

  “And put back together in a way that’s far better for both of us,” Mattheus reassured her.

  Cindy always loved the way Mattheus took a sensitive moment and put it in a larger context. It made her feel safe and understood.

  “I’m going out to work in the shed in the back now,” he said. “Just remember, I love you, Cindy.”

  She took a deep, swift breath. It was startling and wonderful to hear him say it so casually and naturally in the middle of an ordinary afternoon.

 
; “I love you, too, Mattheus,” Cindy replied.

  Mattheus went outside and Cindy browsed through the rooms. She loved the new rhythm that was forming between them, easy, relaxed, homey. She hadn’t realized how much she craved this unstructured time together. It was creating a new foundation for their relationship, one they could both depend on.

  Cindy went into the bedroom. It was clear that the first changes had to be made there. The photos of Mattheus and Shelly were everywhere, with hardly any space between them. There were pictures of them in all kinds of settings - at home, in parks, boats, parties, smoky night clubs. It was as if Mattheus had captured every moment of their lives, not willing to forget anything.

  At first Cindy couldn’t look at the photos closely, it was painful to see someone else in Mattheus’s arms. But she had to clear them away, decide which ones to pack, and which to leave around. She went over to the end table first, took the framed photograph of them and looked at it closely.

  Shelly and Mattheus seemed enormously happy together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing. It seemed as if neither of them had a care in the world. Life must have been good to them, then. They looked as if they were riding a wave that seemed to be going in one direction only. The idea that the wave would crash at the shore and low tide come in seemed to be the furthest thing from their minds.

  Cindy remembered Mattheus telling her that he and Shelly met soon after college, and from the first day they got together were hardly ever apart. When they married he was working in his own business as a court reporter in New Orleans, and she was studying to become a counselor.

  Cindy looked at Shelly more closely. Even though they resembled each other superficially, their eyes were different. Shelly’s were huge and green with changing expressions. In some photos she looked charming and intelligent, in others like a stray cat, wily and confusing. In all the photographs Mattheus looked strong and vibrant beside her, as if he had everything he’d ever wanted.