Cruel Capers on the Caribbean: A Kate on Vacation Mystery (The Kate on Vacation mysteries) Read Free

protested.
    “I insist. It’s on me.”
    Kate looked at Liz’s closed expression and shook her head slightly. “We were going to take a walk first.” She gestured toward her empty plate. “We kind of overdid it here.”
    “Sure, that sounds great.” Cora stood up abruptly, abandoning the still half-full yogurt container and untouched apple.
    Rob and Skip stood up. “Good seein’ you again, Cora,” Skip said.
    “You gentlemen have a great mornin’ now, ya hear.” Cora turned toward the open double doors, pointedly ignoring Clem who had settled in a chair several tables away with a cup of coffee. Kate and Liz followed her.
    Out on the deck, the sunshine was warm. A soft breeze blew off the water. Cora stopped and took in a shaky breath.
    Liz caught up with her. “I’m not really comfortable with you paying for our spa visit.”
    Cora turned to her, the too-bright smile plastered on her face again. “But I in–”
    Kate interrupted in a gentle voice, “We can afford to pay our own way.”
    The woman’s hand flew to her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I’ve offended you. Why, my mama would tan my hide. Can ya ever forgive...” Her face crumpled.
    Kate put a hand on the woman’s arm. “Come on, let’s sit for a minute.”
    Cora nodded, a tear trickling down her cheek. She allowed herself to be led across the deck to a bench beside the railing.
    Kate dug a small packet of tissues out of her purse.
    Cora dabbed at her eyes, then looked up at them sheepishly. “I am truly sorry. I guess I’ve been buying companionship for so long, I don’t even recognize when it’s freely given.”
    “It’s okay,” Kate said. “You’ve had a rather rough twelve hours here.”
    Liz nodded, her expression softening. “Kate told us what happened.”
    “I apologize again, Kate. It just wasn’t right that ya had to be exposed to that.”
    “Trust me. I’ve heard a whole lot worse.”
    Cora looked confused and vaguely embarrassed. “I’m sorry. Did I hit a sore spot? You and that man of yours seemed so lovey-dovey.”
    Liz’s laugh boomed out of her petite body, startling their companion. “She’s a psychotherapist, Cora.”
    “Oh... Well, that explains why you’re so good at sayin’ just the right thing.” Cora’s smile had regained some of its natural brightness.
    Kate returned her smile. “Do you need to talk about what’s going on with you and Clem?”
    Cora shook her head but her eyes had teared up again.
    “Come on, girl,” Liz said. “You might as well spill it. She’s not going to let us go to the spa until you do.”
    “No, that’s okay,” Kate backpedaled. “You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.”
    Cora dabbed at her eyes again. “We had a big row last night. He was mad ’cause I searched the place after the guests left, to make sure there were no drugs in there. We barely spoke to each other at dinner. When we got back to the cabin... I don’t even remember what set things off, but I ended up throwin’ him out. I called our cabin steward. Gave him a fistful of cash and asked him to find someplace else for the bastard to sleep.”
    “Have you been together long?” Kate asked.
    “Almost a year.”
    “But I thought you were still married to that movie producer,” Liz blurted out.
    Cora shook her head. “Bill and I’ve been goin’ our separate ways for quite some time now. But his latest floozy’s convinced him he should marry her, so now he wants a divorce.”
    “So it’s been pretty serious between you and Clem?” Kate asked.
    “Yes. I told him I wasn’t gettin’ married again. This is my third divorce, and I just refuse to be one of those gals who keeps gettin’ married and then unmarried. He’s not a bad guy. He just runs with the wrong crowd. He’s a writer, screenplays mostly. I guess he thinks he’s gotta take on that Bohemian persona.”
    Kate arched an eyebrow.
    “Seriously,” Cora said, “we have, had a good relationship.