Read Death by Betrayal (Book #10 in the Caribbean Murder series) for Free Online Page B

anymore.”
    “That’s
one way of looking at it,” Trage said.
    “I
should be grateful I’m hot and sweaty,” Cindy continued. “And, if a hurricane
came, at least I could watch the waves get wild and beautiful. Ann will never
see that again.”
    “Cindy,
I’m staying beside you as you view your sister,” Trage remarked as the car
turned a corner and drove up to a long, low, flat, stucco building, which
housed the morgue, and parked in front of it.
    “It’s
not necessary,” said Cindy, turning to him. “I need time with my sister alone.
You can wait  outside.”
    “I’m
not waiting outside,” Trage seemed deeply uneasy. “I’ll wait in the office up
front.”
    Cindy
shrugged, “Wait wherever you like, but I want to be alone with Ann.”
    “It’s
not the way you think it will be,” Trage remarked, anxiously. “I’ve seen
families come to view bodies –it’s heartbreaking and nerve wracking.”
    Cindy
nodded, “Of course it is,” she whispered, trying to open the car door to get
out.
    Trage
put his hand on hers and stopped her. “Family members don’t usually go in
alone,” he continued quietly. “Relatives aren’t allowed to touch or hold the
body in any way at all,” he emphasized.
    “Of
course not,” Cindy continued for him, “that’s in order to preserve any forensic
evidence that may still be present.”
    “Exactly,”
said Trage.
    “Let’s
go,” Cindy shook his hand off. She was eager to get out and into the building.
    Trage
wasn’t ready yet, though. “Cindy, your sister’s being held in one of the
refrigerated drawers. You’ll only be able to look through a curtained window at
her face.”
    Cindy’s
entire body trembled.
    “I
don’t say this to disturb you,” Trage’s voice caught in his throat. “I want you
to be prepared.”
    “I
am prepared,” said Cindy.
     “No,
you’re not, you just think you are,” Trage was insistent. “Everything’s
happening too fast; you jumped into the role of a detective without having had time
to take it all in.”
    Cindy
wondered why Trage cared so much.
    “I’ve
received a call from a friend of yours back home, Pastor Mallord,” Trage went
on as if hearing her unspoken question.
    Cindy
smiled slightly. “He’s a wonderful man,” she said softly.
    “Mallord’s
worried about you. He told me all about you, said they don’t make women like
you anymore.” Trage continued. “I promised I’d watch over you for him.”
    “Thank
you,” said Cindy, touched.  
    “Mallord
told me to tell you you’re in his prayers,” Trage went on, uncomfortable.
    Cindy
nodded. She needed his prayers now and so did Ann. Trage was right, Cindy
hadn’t had the time to absorb any of this, but what difference did that make?  She
had to find Ann’s killer and clear Frank right away. What good would it do
anyone for Cindy to sit alone now and sob?  Grieving was a luxury she couldn’t afford
right now.
    “Come
on, let’s go,” said Cindy. “It’s enough, I get it! I want to see my sister
now.”
     
    *
                 Cindy and Trage got out of the car and walked into the building
that housed the morgue. The ceilings were low and the walls made of stucco. In contrast
to the moist heat outside it was incredibly cold in here. Cindy shivered
terrifically.
    As
they walked to the front desk Trage said a few words to a thin lipped British
woman at the desk, who nodded somberly. She wore no makeup and looked at Cindy
oddly before she picked up the phone to call for an attendant.
    “The
attendant will take you to the waiting room where families sit before they view
the body,” explained Trage.
    “Ann’s
not a body, she’s my sister,”” Cindy replied.
    “Of
course she’s your sister,” Trage backed off.
    “Something
else could have happened to her,” Cindy went on. “And only I would recognize it,
because I know every little thing about Ann. If there’s an unusual mark that
wasn’t there before, I’ll make note that it