Death by Request (Caribbean Murder #11)

Cindy was tremendously relieved that they could engage with him so directly, that he was so involved and would be of help. “Yes?” she asked intensely.

“Firstly,” Owen continued, “I think it could have been one of the local nurses down here who hate the rich. Could have been a totally inside job.”

Cindy was startled by the thought of it.

“It’s a good possibility, too,” Owen insisted, speaking in a conspiratorial manner. “One night my eyes were closed as I was resting in the chair near Tara. The main nurse, Alana, must have thought I was asleep. Another nurse on the floor, Betty, dropped into the room, and the two of them started talking. Neither of them had any idea that I heard every word they said.”

Owen paused and looked at Cindy and Mattheus to make sure they were both listening.

“Go on,” said Cindy, unable to contain her curiosity.

Owen grimaced and continued. “Alana said it was a sin to keep Tara alive so long like this, hanging between two worlds. Tara’s spirit needed to leave, but her selfish husband wouldn’t let her go, was hanging onto her for dear life. I was shocked to hear that, believe me.”

“What did the other nurse reply?” Cindy was spellbound.

“She agreed, said the rich don’t have any feelings, all they care about is money and power. They don’t know God is watching them.”

“Oh dear,” said Cindy.

“Did you report this conversation to the police?” Mattheus stepped in.

“I tried, but was cut down flat,” Owen said. “They said it was all hearsay, I had no proof of it, so it didn’t amount to anything.”

“They didn’t interview Alana or the other nurse?” Cindy was horrified.

“Not that I know of,” Owen replied. “Once they found poison in Tara’s blood, and learned that I was going to inherit lots of money it was all they needed to hear.”

“An easy way out for them,” Cindy remarked.

“And for the hospital, too,” Owen insisted. “It’s privately owned and run; they don’t need trouble like this. It could take them right down.”

“You think the hospital is in collusion with the police?” Mattheus asked.

“Could be,” said Owen. “You’ve got to check into all of it.”

It all made sense to Cindy, perfect sense. There was definitely a lot of work to do and Cindy wanted as many leads as possible.

“What about Tara’s family?” Cindy took the discussion in a different direction now. Owen hadn’t said a word about them yet. “Your wife’s family is here, they visited her, they also had opportunity.”

Owen threw his head back then, suddenly empowered. “Absolutely,” he commented. “Thank God, someone’s finally bringing them up.”

“The police didn’t talk to Tara’s family?” Mattheus seemed surprised.

“Sure they talked to them,” Owen spat out, “the family sobbed and cried and carried on the way they always do, and the police believed every word they said.”

“What did they say?” Mattheus was insistent.

“They carried on about how much they loved Tara, how great she was, what a horrible loss. What the police didn’t realize is that this family knows how to put up a terrific front. Behind their front, they love to keep secrets. You never really know what they’re thinking of you, in fact it changes day by day. You’re as good as your last gift to them,” said Owen bleakly.

“How did the family feel about you? Cindy wanted more.

“Who the hell knows, really?” said Owen. “I was the sugar daddy, gave them everything, so naturally they were nice enough on the surface. But once in a while, Tara’s creepy brother Hank let something slip that made me feel different.”

“Like what?” Cindy was fascinated by everything about Owen. He was eloquent, smart and unafraid to face life as it was.

“Hank once said that Tara’s father, Ralph, was pissed with me. Ralph felt lousy that I took Tara away from the family and gave her more than he ever could,” Owen replied.

“There was rivalry there,” Mattheus commented.

“Yeah, at first I just thought there’s rivalry everywhere, isn’t there?” Owen replied.

“Some places more than others,” Mattheus replied.

“Well, there’s rivalry in this family big time, though you’d never know it,” said Owen.

“What about your own family, Owen?” Cindy broke in. “Where are they? Did they come down here as well?”

“I don’t have a family,” Owen replied, looking at Cindy strangely. “Tara was it, she was everything. I was orphaned when I was nine. Raised by an aunt who’s dead now. I earned everything I have in life on my own, built my kingdom from scratch.”

“Whew, that’s impressive,” said Mattheus. “So, Tara’s family was your family, too.”

“I guess you could call them that,” said Owen. “Tara always said they were my family, but in all truth, I never bought into it. There was always this weird barrier between us. And look, now, is one of them fighting to get me out of jail? Not one of them.”