Death by Jealousy Read Online Free Page B

Multi-culturalism at
its best.”
    “I
wouldn’t have thought that would be something you’d be proud of,” Mattheus
commented.
    Edward
stopped short. “Why not?”
    “Most
wealthy folks are only interested in keeping their own clan safe and secure.”
    Dana
pulled her chair back from the table, offended.
     “Excuse
me, but my husband runs the largest charity on Long Island. He’s a well-known
benefactor, concerned with the needs of many.”
    Dana
wasn’t getting through to Mattheus and Cindy jumped into the breach immediately.
    “I
told Mattheus, what a fine family you all were, how proud I was to know you,” Cindy
exclaimed.
    Dana’s
face flushed as she reached out her hands for Cindy.
    “Thank
you for that, Cindy,” she said, “thank you so much.”
    Edward
stood up from his chair then and pushed himself away from the table.
    “I
believe it’s time for us all to go to the Interrogation room now,” he said. “They’re
questioning Peter again right now. It’s time for you to join them and see for
yourself.”

CHAPTER 4
     
     
    The
Interrogation room was a long, narrow conference room on the Mezzanine. One by
one the guests and wedding party had been called down here to be interviewed by
the police. Peter was called down every day and kept there the longest.
    When
they entered, Cindy saw a tall, handsome, lanky guy sitting at the front of the
table, his head in his hands. Dana and Edward immediately sat down at the
opposite end of the table, near the door.  Clearly, the police had been
informed that they all would be here.
    Cindy
and Mattheus walked up to the front of the table where two police officers were
sitting across from Peter.
    “C
and M Investigations,” said Mattheus, introducing himself and Cindy.
    The
two police officers looked up and nodded.
    “We
heard from Lance that you guys had arrived on the Island,” a small, heavy cop
said.
    “We’d
appreciate the chance to talk to Peter alone,” said Mattheus.
    The
cops looked at each other. “Okay,” the small one said, “you got half an hour
with him, that’s all.” They started to the door. “You want his parents in the
room while you’re talking to him?”  
    “They
can come back in half an hour, too,” said Mattheus.
     
    As
soon as they all left, Peter took his head out of his hands and looked up. He
was a handsome, clean cut young man with chiseled features and large, green
eyes that looked dazed and forlorn.
     “Really
glad you’re here,” he said, “the cops are driving me crazy. They keep asking
the same things over and over. Do they think I’m some kind of a fool?”
    “They’re
trying to break you down,” said Mattheus, “that’s how they get you to tell them
things you’re hiding.”
    “I’m
not hiding anything,” Peter looked bewildered.
    “We’re
all hiding something,” Mattheus interjected, “even if we don’t realize it at
the time. “When we go over things again and again, something new turns up.”
    Cindy
looked closely at Peter. He had a direct, forthright quality about him, and she
liked him immediately.
    Mattheus
paused. “I’m sorry we have to go through all this again,” he said to Peter, seemingly
feeling the same way Cindy did.
    “I
don’t have anything new to add,” Peter remarked, plaintively. “I have no idea
what happened to Allie, none at all. I wish I did.”
    “Tell
us what you can,” said Cindy, eager for Peter to have a sympathetic ear.
    “Allie
and I went down for a dive the evening before the wedding,” Peter spoke as if
he were suddenly picturing it all again. “Night dives are beautiful. The sun
going down creates a glow under the water that you can’t even dream of up
here.  This time was different, though, there’d been strong winds all day long.
The winds and late hour made visibility poor. Sometimes at this time of year, you
get nor’ Easters.  It wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t good.”
    “Why’d
you go diving in those conditions?” Mattheus