Free Death by Jealousy by Jaden Skye

the Dive Shop with me and the police first thing in the
morning?” asked Mattheus.
    “Yes,
I would, said Cindy, wondering why he thought she would change her mind.
    “Good,”
Mattheus liked that. He seemed to ease up. “This afternoon was busy,” he went
on. “Most of the groomsmen are freaked out about this. They’re a tight little
bunch, who adore Peter. No chink in their armor, all have the same story. They
say Peter’s a great guy and was happy with Allie. Seems like Peter makes a pile
of money working for his father, and a couple of the groomsmen work with him. His
best man Tad’s his right hand guy at work. Peter’s got a cushy deal if anyone
ever had one. He works directly under Mac, the sleazy partner.”
    Cindy
was offended. “What’s sleazy about Mac?”
    “That
guy’s a player if I ever saw one.”
    “Where
do you get that?” Cindy defended Mac.
    “How
could you miss it? It’s written all over him,” Mattheus looked at Cindy
strangely.
    “Mac’s
a great friend to the family and also to Peter,” Cindy said.
    “That
guy’s got his nose in everything,” Mattheus insisted. “There’s not a thing that
happens that he doesn’t know about. He plays people, figures the odds. It gives
him pleasure.”
    “A
control freak?” Cindy was curious about Mattheus’s feelings.
    “More
than that,” Mattheus was adamant. “This guy’s after a piece of the action for
himself.”
    There
was no way Mattheus could know that. And it was unusual for him to take such a
dislike to someone so quickly. Basically, he was just going with a hunch and
taking it to the furthest possible degree. Cindy hadn’t seen him so bitter
before, either. Must be because there was so much money and influence here, she
thought. Could be making Mattheus feel inadequate.
     “Not
only did I speak to the groomsmen,” Mattheus went on, “I got to meet a few
women who aren’t in the wedding party.”
    Cindy
was surprised, “Like who?”
    “Vivien,”
Mattheus filled her in quickly. “A close friend of Peter’s.”
    Cindy
made a sour face. “There’s bad blood between Vivien and Allie.”
    “Vivien’s
gorgeous,” Mattheus breathed.
    “What
has that got to do with it?” asked Cindy.
    “Well,
I can understand why Allie might not have liked her. I’m sure lots of women
would be threatened by Vivien,” said Mattheus. “She’s the kind of woman you
definitely keep away from your man.”
    Cindy
felt her blood boil.  “Vivien was Peter’s ex-girlfriend. Even after they broke
up, they stayed very close.”
    “What’s
wrong with that?” Mattheus wasn’t impressed.
    Cindy
became more heated. “Peter and Allie fought a lot about it. It was a big bone
of contention between them.”
    Mattheus
had no reaction. “Seems like most women need to find something to have a bone
of contention about,” he finally said. “It makes their day.”
    Cindy
recoiled, felt insulted, but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him
that.   
    “What’s
Vivien like? What did you find out from her?” Cindy continued.
    “She’s
got long red hair, groomed to the hilt, sensuous,” said Mattheus.
    Cindy
felt as if Mattheus were throwing little barbs in her direction, trying to make
her feel shaky.
    “Vivien
told me that Allie’s mother hated her,” Mattheus continued, “and that her
mother was incredibly jealous of Allie’s relationship with Peter. Vivien urged
me to talk to the mom.”
    “Vivien’s
suggesting that Allie’s mother killed her daughter?” Cindy was horrified. “That’s
pretty ridiculous. Makes me wonder more about Vivien.”
    “You
never know,” said Mattheus.
    “There
are some things you do know though, “Cindy responded. “You know not to go off
on wild speculations. You taught me that, Mattheus. You taught me to keep a
sense of balance, or things can get de-railed pretty fast.”
    “Right,”
Mattheus conceded, “but getting pulled into wild speculations is an
occupational hazard. But every