Death by Jealousy by Jaden Skye Page A

any enemies .   Don’t you love me,
Allie? Can’t you do this for me?
    Don’t
you love me, Peter? Allie
wrote back . Why can’t you understand my feelings?
    Don’t
I love you? I give you everything ,
Peter sounded upset.
    But
I need more ,
Allie was pleading. Why can’t you understand that?
    That
string of emails came to a quick halt then. Another string began between Allie
and Mac. Mac asked about errands he could run for Allie, and whether Peter
needed anything else that Mac didn’t know about. Those emails seemed friendly
and natural. There was another string of emails though, that bothered Cindy. It
was from Nora, stuck in between the rest.
    Allie,
I’m warning you, cut it out! If Peter’s parents find out, it won’t be good . Love, Nora.
    Get
off my back ,
Allie replied.
    Cindy
was startled. This was a completely different tone from all the other emails.
    I’m
only warning you for your own good, Nora
sent back another email to Allie once. For all you know, word’s getting
around. Two people mentioned it to me this past week.
    You’re
totally paranoid, Nora, Allie
replied. I can’t stand that about you, especially around my wedding time.
Please, be happy for me!
    I
am happy for you! I’ve always been happy for you. I just want you to be
careful, Nora
said.
    An
hour later an email came back from Allie . Don’t worry, I’ll be very careful
about it, she replied .
    Cindy
sat there in the moonlight, reading that string of emails over and over. What
was Nora warning her about? How was it possible that the warning hadn’t caught someone’s
eye? What was it that Allie had to cut out? Cindy suddenly wanted to call Nora
and ask her about it. She decided to do so the next morning.
    Cindy
went back to bed discombobulated. She wanted to read through Peter’s email
account as well, but the company had his password. She and Mattheus had to get
clearance to enter and read them.  Mac could help with that, for sure. As Cindy
tossed back and forth in bed before she fell asleep she wondered again why
Mattheus disliked Mac so much? She’d actually found Mac to be a fountain of
strength. He only wanted to help them steer through what now beginning to look
like very murky waters, indeed.
    *
    When
Cindy woke in the morning, Mattheus was not in the room. His bed was left
unmade, and it seemed he just got up and got out of there, fast. Probably
downstairs having breakfast, she thought. Or, maybe talking to some of the
other wedding guests. Mattheus was a light sleeper and often got up very early,
especially when on a case. When things were better between them and they shared
a bed, he slept more soundly, never just got up and ran out on her like that.
    Cindy
got up, showered, put on fresh white linen slacks, a lovely lemon shirt and
threw a light sweater over her shoulders. Then she pulled her hair back and
tied it gently. It wasn’t even eight thirty yet. This was a new day and despite
all that had gone on, she felt refreshed and ready to tackle whatever came
next.  The first thing on the agenda was that she and Mattheus were going to
the Dive Shop with the police today. Once dressed, Cindy, texted Mattheus,
asking him where he was and when they were leaving.
    Mattheus
answered immediately. I’m downstairs in the coffee shop with Douglas and
Lance, the two officers we met originally. They’re personally taking us to the
Dive Shop. Get down here as soon as you can. You may have a hard time seeing us
- the place is getting crowded – people are pouring in for the festival,
tomorrow. You’ll find us at the first table near the window.
    Cindy
remembered the Batabano festival that was about to start. It would be a Mardi Gras
with floats, booths, dancing, singing. All to celebrate finding the traces of a
turtle. The crowds and commotion could make it harder, though, to find the
traces of a girl lost at sea.
    *
    The
ride to the Dive Shop only took about fifteen minutes.  It was actually nice to
see Douglas and Lance, who