Free Murder in Barbados: An Anna Winters Cozy Mystery (Murder in Paradise Book 4) by Penelope Sotheby Page A

spat. “You’re under arrest.”
    “Oh, sweetheart.” Monica howled. “I’m already gone.”
    Tossing a flash bomb to the side, Monica covered her eyes and began to run. Anna headed toward the woman as the bomb went off and she couldn’t see a thing. A few seconds later, her eyes cleared and she fumbled around to find Detective Jensen and hung onto his arm.
    “Flash bomb.” he replied through clenched teeth. “I should have seen it coming.”
    “She’s going to get away.” Anna whispered. “We need to bring her to justice.”
    “Let’s be real.” Detective Jensen sighed. “She was always meant to be on the run. Our chances of ever catching her are slim unless she wants to be captured.”
    “So, she just gets to escape and keep on committing crimes.” Anna asked. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
    “Real life isn’t like the movies.” Detective Jensen replied. “There isn’t a happy ending all the time. She’ll eventually be caught. Maybe not here, perhaps in New York or in Rome. All we can do is our jobs and just hope that it all works out in the end.”
    “I just wish it had worked out differently.” Anna sighed.
    “Now, I’m obviously going to be tied up with paperwork for a few hours but let’s plan for dinner tonight.” Detective Jensen said. “Go get washed up and relax for a while. I’ll take it from here.”
    Anna smiled and nodded. She hugged the man before she turned to leave. Turning the corner in the hallway, she saw Pauline crouched on the floor praying. Anna crouched beside her friend.
    “You never quite get used to that.” Anna shrugged.
    “Seeing someone die or having a gun pulled on you?” Pauline asked.
    “Both.” Anna replied. “Each time, it affects you a little less. Does that sound cold?”
    “Most people get used to death when it fills their life.” Pauline offered. “You’ve investigated a number of murders and have seen so many dead bodies. You were bound to become numb to them eventually.”
    “I suppose so.” Anna agreed. “You were always right and I am so sorry.”
    “I was right?” Pauline asked.
    “Cassandra.” Anna cringed. “She’s in on this. Graham was dodgy with his responses. There is someone on our team helping these killers. I know in my heart it isn’t you. It could be Pierre still, I won’t say I haven’t entertained the thought of him being a criminal mastermind. But Casandra seems to be the most probable.”
    “Pierre is incredibly stupid.” Pauline chuckled. “I know you like him.”
    “No, I liked him.” Anna responded. “Past tense. I’m really fond of Detective Jensen. Right now, I am going to take things slow with him and see where we stand.”
    “Just be careful with your heart.” Pauline smiled and squeezed Anna’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
    “I won’t.” Anna promised. “But, for now, we need to start getting ready to go. Another island awaits us.”
    “But how are we going to stop Cassandra from killing again?” Pauline asked. “If we give her access to the food, she is certain to poison someone else. Can’t you tell your cop boyfriend she was in on this?”
    “Everything we have is circumstantial.” Anna sighed. “We need to step it up and get something concrete. Just knowing she is guilty won’t be enough. We need a vial of poison with her fingerprints. We need to see her place the poison in the food. There needs to be a witness. If we went up to an officer and claimed our friend was killing people, they’d need proof. So we need to find it.”
    “So, someone else is going to die.” Pauline replied through clenched teeth. “It doesn’t feel great knowing that, does it?”
    “Our hope to catch Cassandra shot himself in the head.” Anna shrugged. “It’s an image I’ll never get out of my head either.”
    “At least you aren’t as rattled as you would have been a few months ago.” Pauline offered. “That is something to be happy about. Right?”
    Pauline opened her