Free Death by Desire (Caribbean Murder Series, Book 4) by Jaden Skye Page B

have no idea what
relevance this has at all. What in the world difference can it make how Marge
and I felt about our son’s fiancée?”
    “It’s okay, Doug,” Mrs. Crane
interrupted, trying to calm him down. “They’re just doing their job. This sort
of thing is routine.” Then she turned to Cindy and Mattheus. “I actually liked
the girl very much,” she said.
    “We were as close as we needed
to be,” Mr. Crane corrected her.
    “You were happy about the
upcoming marriage?” Cindy turned to him.
    “Tad was happy and that was
all my wife and I cared about. We trusted his judgment about so many things, we
had to trust it about this as well.”
    This was far from a strong
endorsement of Tiffany, Cindy thought.
    “How about the relationship
between Tiffany and Tad?” asked Mattheus.
    “Why they were in love, of
course. Why else would they become engaged to be married?” Mrs. Crane seemed
irritated by the question.
    “I would say they seemed fine
as well,” Mr. Crane chimed in. “I can’t say I thought Tiffany was necessarily
the perfect choice, or even good for him, though. Who knows if the marriage
would have lasted forever?” A muscle under his eye started twitching. “But
these days, first marriages are often simply suitable for a stage of life.
Tiffany wasn’t someone I would have selected, but that’s way beyond a parent’s
role these days.”
    “Why wouldn’t you have
selected her?” Mattheus seemed fascinated.
    Mr. Crane was comfortable
talking to Mattheus. “Tiffany was much too extroverted for Tad. Tad was always quieter,
more thoughtful, reflective. He has an individualistic way of seeing things. Tiffany
seemed the opposite. Quite caught up in the social scene, if you asked me.”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
asked Cindy.
    “Nothing, of course, it just
didn’t match up with Tad. In the beginning the difference between them alarmed me.
I thought she would grow tired of him, drop him like a hot coal. But then time
went by, and they seemed to do well together, so I began to take it in stride.”
    “And she was always quite
lovely to us,” Mrs. Crane joined in, “considerate, friendly, kind. Don’t get us
wrong. There’s nothing on earth she ever did to deserve this. Even my daughter
Cissy grew to care for her. We’re all deeply disturbed.”
    “Of course you are,” said
Mattheus. “And how did you the two of you get along with Tiffany’s family?”
     “They were all a little too
public and noisy for our taste,” Mrs. Crane said, “but the times we spent
together were fine. Perfectly cordial at all times.”
    “Yes,” her husband agreed. “And
beyond this, I have no idea what you want from us.”
    Cindy wasn’t quite sure at
that moment, either.
    “We’d like any ideas you may have
on who might be involved,” Mattheus said directly. “Or who could give us more
information.”
    “I’m afraid that’s way beyond
us,” Mr. Crane stood up, as if to end the interview. “This is way beyond
anything we could ever have imagined. It’s not, and never was in the range of
possibilities for our lives.”
    But, just at that moment, a
slender, young woman with wild, curly hair walked in, wearing jeans and a
ripped T shirt. She had huge brown eyes and flushed cheeks.
    “Cissy, this is Cindy and
Mattheus, detectives on the case,” Mr. Crane said, formally.
    “Finally,” said Cissy. “I heard
two far out detectives came down to the island,” Cissy’s wide eyes were staring
at Cindy and Mattheus. “It’s great that you’re here. Thank God, you’ve come.”
    “Thanks,” said Cindy. Cissy
seemed more relieved to see them than anyone they’d met so far.
    “Looking for leads?” asked
Cissy, edging closer.
    “Yes, we are,” said Cindy. “Any
ideas?”
    Cissy had a smoldering energy,
as if any moment she would burst into flame, or let loose with something or
other.
    “I sure have, “said Cissy. “ First
thing - check out Tiffany’s ex-boyfriend,