Death by Betrayal (Book #10 in the Caribbean Murder series) by Jaden Skye Read Free Book Online Page B

“I’m working on the
case, mom.”
    “No,
you’re not,” her mother snapped. “Enough, enough, get right up here this minute. 
I’ve got to see you immediately.”
    Cindy
was filled with horror for the entire family. “I’m on the way up,” she replied.
    As
Cindy stepped into the elevator and pressed the sixth floor, she realized that
she hadn’t seen or spoken to her mother since Clint had died, almost two years
ago. How could so much time have elapsed without either of them being in touch?
But it wasn’t surprising. Even during all the years growing up, Ann had stepped
in and filled in the gap. For as long as Cindy could remember Ann had been both
a big sister and a mother to her.
    As
the elevator climbed to her mother’s floor Cindy thought about her. She remembered
how when Clint had died, her mom had been horrified that Cindy wouldn’t return
home to Wisconsin and live in the bosom of the family again. When Cindy had
chosen to become a detective, her mother went crazy. There was no understanding
Cindy, her mother had told Ann, there never was and never would be. Ann hadn’t repeated
that to Cindy, Frank had. Frank always seemed to enjoy telling Cindy the inside
story of what was going on in the family. Frank seemed to enjoy the fact that
Ann was the favorite daughter and Cindy had always been the black sheep.
    Cindy
got off at the sixth floor and walked down to the room where her mother was
staying. She stood outside it a moment before ringing the bell. Would her
mother want her to take on Ann’s role now? Was she going to insist that Cindy
move back home again?
    Cindy
rang the bell lightly. In a flash of a moment, the door was pulled open and
Cindy’s uncle Ben stood there. He looked flushed and worn to the bone.
    “Come
in, come in,” he uttered, waving her in.
    The
room was similar to Cindy’s, elegant, well appointed, airy, certainly not a room
to mourn in.
    Cindy’s
mom, tall, beautiful and as well groomed as ever, stood up from the round chair
she’d been seated on. For a second Cindy thought her mother would run over, embrace
her, sob with her. But the moment passed. It didn’t happen, never had. Instead,
her mother simply started pacing back and forth. Except for the glassy, crazed
look in her azure eyes, she didn’t look a bit different than she had two years
ago.
    “Your
mother’s beside herself,” her uncle Ben half moaned, before going back to sit
down again on the couch. Cindy looked over and saw her other uncle Charlie
seated there as well. Cindy had rarely seen Uncle Charlie all the years growing
up. Charlie was her father’s brother, someone her mother never wanted around. Cindy
was amazed to see him here now.
    Charlie
looked over at Cindy, interested to see her, as well.
    “Wonderful
of you to come so quickly,” Charlie said, standing up and offering his hand.
    Cindy
moved a step closer and took his hand. “Good of you to come, too,” Cindy
replied.
    Charlie’s
weather beaten face creased as he smiled in appreciation. “Your Uncle Ben
called me and told me about this as soon as it happened. He asked me to come,
I’m not sure why. But of course I said I’d be here immediately. It’s great that
you’re on the case, Cindy.”
    “What’s
great about it?” Cindy’s mother broke in sardonically. “One daughter dead and
another in danger? Not that Cindy has ever actually been a daughter to me!”
    Disturbed,
Ben jumped up again and ran to Cindy’s mother. “Your mother can’t stop thinking
the worst,” Ben explained to Cindy. “She hasn’t stopped pacing since we got the
news, either. I told her she’ll get a heart attack herself if she doesn’t calm
down.”
    “What
difference does it make if I live or die?” Cindy’s mother’s voice was both
shrill and breathless. “Is it true? Is it possible that Ann is gone?” she
glared at Cindy then, as if Cindy herself was responsible for it.
    “We’re
looking into every detail,” Cindy decided to assume a