Death by Engagement (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 12)

“Deidre can tell you, she knew,” he went on.

“I knew that you and Shari were in love,” Deidre joined in boldly, coming closer. “And I was happy about it. I was happy for you.”

“Did you know that Shari was afraid of Doug?” Cindy was insistent. If this was true, it was crucial information that turned everything around.

“Of course I knew, how could I not know?” Deidre grew bolder.

Tad looked at Deidre strangely. “Shari told me that no one knew,” he went on.

“What else did no one know?” Cindy focused directly on Tad. “Why was she afraid of Doug?”

“Oh God, this is so hard to say,” Tad mumbled. “I promised Shari I would never say it. I don’t want to shame her, I never did.”

“You’re not shaming Shari by telling the truth,” Cindy intervened strongly. “The truth will bring things to light, you’ll preserve her honor! And you’ll also save others from possible harm.”

“You’re right.” Tad looked up at Cindy, frightened. “I thought of that. There could be more harm on the way.”

“Definitely,” said Cindy. “We can’t let that happen, can we?”

“No, we can’t,” said Tad, growing more stable.

“We don’t want Shari’s death to have been without meaning. We can use it to stop the killer.” Cindy’s eyes began to flash.

“You’re absolutely sure someone killed her?” Tad looked up, alarmed, though momentarily willing to accept the possibility.

“I’m sure someone did, I’m sure,” Deidre piped up loudly. “Tell the whole truth, Tad, tell it.”

Tad sucked in his breath and plunged on. “After Shari and I broke up, even though she got back together with Doug, we still couldn’t stay away from each other. We talked at least three times a day. I kept begging her to come back.”

“And what did she say?” asked Cindy, amazed.

“She wanted to, but she was frightened. She told me that Doug sensed something different

about her this time. He was becoming more edgy and possessive day by day. Then he started going hunting a lot, and telling her about animals he cornered. That scared Shari, she hated it.”

“He was trying to frighten and intimidate her,” Deidre piped up.

“Absolutely,” said Tad, “no doubt about it. Shari even said that during one of their conversations Doug got mad and pushed her, hard.”

“Abuse!” Deidre exclaimed.

“There was even a bruise Shari showed me on her left arm,” Tad mumbled, putting his hand up over his eyes.

That had to be the bruise Cindy saw on the autopsy photograph, she quickly realized.

“Did Shari report the shove or bruise to anyone else?” Cindy asked quickly.

“She was ashamed to,” Tad broke in. “She didn’t want anyone to know about it, especially her family. She said they’d think less of her then.”

“She blamed herself,” said Deidre. “I saw the bruise and I told her over and over to go to the cops with it.”

“She wouldn’t?” asked Cindy.

“No, not at all. That’s the last thing in the world she would do,” Deidre insisted. “But I was furious about it. I had to do something, but didn’t know what. Then it came to me.”

“What?” asked Cindy, terrified.

“I went to Doug about it myself.” Deidre stood up taller now. “I went and told him that I knew what he’d done to Shari, and he could push her all he liked, she didn’t love him anyway. She loved someone else. At first he didn’t believe me, then I thought he would faint. I went on and said he didn’t deserve that, did he? He deserved someone who he could trust.”

Tad stood up from the sofa, horrified. “I had no idea you did that! That’s horrible!”

“It’s wonderful,” Deidre insisted. “If Shari didn’t have the strength to break up the engagement, I did it any way I could.”

“What did Doug say when you told him he couldn’t trust Shari?” Cindy felt shaken.

“He completely froze,” Deidre went on. “He looked at me like I was the enemy, but I couldn’t care less. I said I’m just telling you this for your own sake. Why would you want to be with someone who doesn’t really love you?”

“And what did he say?” Tad moved closer, trembling.

“Doug yelled, Shari loves me, only me, and she always will! I laughed in his face and said he was dreaming. I said Shari told me she doesn’t love you at all and will never be the wife you’re expecting.”

“Was that true? Did Shari actually say that?” Cindy couldn’t believe it.

“Not in so many words,” said Deidre, “but I knew that was how she felt.”

“Oh God, oh God.” Tad started sobbing.

“For a long time Doug wouldn’t believe it,” Deidre went on, “so, finally, I told him she was in love with Tad.”

“You did what?” Tad shouted, horrified.

“I told him Shari was in love with you.” Deidre smiled slowly, now. “And I told him you loved her too, the way a man should love a woman.”