Deadly In Stilettos (34 page)

“Greg…Are you listening to me?”

The look on Demi’s face told him she was concerned about their relationship. He was trying to listen carefully, but he had other things going on in his head. Someone was playing a sick joke. At that thought, an image of Anya Bankston popped into his head. Was she the one behind it? He knew from an earlier conversation before with Demi that she had once been friends with Anya. He hadn’t told her about his own relationship with Anya, but knew that when Demi returned, he would have to explain. Anya had been released from the last mental hospital on good behavior. She was out there somewhere. Greg hoped he got to her before anything else happened or before his secret was exposed. Demi would never forgive him if she knew, and that was something he never wanted to happen. He loved her and needed her to trust him with her life. Did Anya know he and Demi where involved? Could that be the reason for the package? Demi called his name again. Greg gave her his undivided attention.

             
“Would you like to come with me?” she asked. “If you don’t believe what I just said, you can tag along.” Demi wanted Greg to trust her and if having him come with her to Las Vegas was the way to do so, she didn’t care that he would invade her personal space. When Greg said he had other things to tie up she felt somewhat relieved, yet disappointed that she had to spend a few days without seeing him. They prepared dinner together that night, laughing as if nothing had happened. The news featured more coverage on Enry’s life. His dirty secrets were starting to come out, damaging his character more and more each day, just as he tried to do to her. How ironic? Demi thought. It was as if no one cared he was dead. The police didn’t even seem particularly interested in finding the person responsible for his death. But a detective did call Demi, asking her to come in to the police station the next day to make an official statement.

             
Greg accompanied her the next day. Demi answered many questions about her and Enry’s past relationship, and the recent attack on her life. Surprisingly, Dr. Brian Staples provided her with the perfect alibi, stating that she had been with him at his office during the time the police suspected the perpetrator had been in Enry’s room. Her friend Tabitha Winlock had been there with them. The detective thanked Demi for her corporation and sent her home with well wishes. Greg stayed at the precinct, closing the case he had pending against Enry. There was nothing more he could do. Enry Williams was now a memory. All the dirt he’d carried around had finally caught up with him, and he had paid with his life. Greg almost felt sorry for him, but knowing the horrible things he’d done to Demi, he had no sympathy for the man. He then realized that Enry William’s death had been long overdue. And, he got just what he deserved.

Chapter 23

             
THE PLANE landed in Dallas right on schedule. The weather was sunny and warm. The city was in full swing. Demi was ready to leave the place just as she stepped out of the plane. She hated being in the city where she was caused so much pain and despair in her youth. The driver of the car she ordered held a sign with her name on it. She gave the driver her bag, instructing him to be careful with it. Its contents were worth over ten grand. Demi adored both pair. She planned to cherish them for a long time.

             
Before she got into the car, she saw Greg. He had not seen her, but she was scared that he was onto her. She wanted to finish what she had come to Dallas for and leave before sundown. Demi knew Anya’s schedule thanks to Brian, so it would not be hard to complete her task. Greg passed by her car, walking in the opposite direction. Looking back, Demi saw him get into a car with a beautiful woman wearing sunglasses, who he kissed on the lips after he closed his door. Demi’s heart sank. She felt betrayed. The pain was not too hard to deal with, because deep down she had known he was too good to be true. But she still wanted answers. Who was the woman kissing Greg? Preparing herself early on in their relationship for things to go badly was all that kept her from leaping from her car and confronting Greg right there.

             
Demi sighed and gave her address to the driver. Anya was at home, but what Demi had in mind for her was easy yet deadly. All she had to do was get to Anya’s car, make a few adjustments, and leave undetected. She had given the driver the address of Anya’s next door neighbor. When he stopped in front of that house, Demi paid him, grabbed her bag, and got out. As she watched the car disappear, she walked next door to Anya’s house. Her car was sitting in the driveway on the side of the home. Demi was relieved. She did not have to worry about anyone seeing her tamper with the car. She jimmied the lock on the car and then removed from her bag a beautifully wrapped box. She placed it carefully in the backseat and kissed it before closing the door again. Hating to part ways with her treasure, Demi almost cried. She was glad she bought them, but would have loved to keep them for herself. Knowing that when Anya opened the box, she would lose it, she smiled. It was not so bad leaving them when she thought of never seeing Anya Bankston again. Truly a win-win situation!

             
Demi got down on the ground in front of the car careful not to ruin her shoes. She wore a pair that would make Anya do a double take. The L.A.M.B. Rhett—gray ruffled suede, with a T-strap and buckled side strap, a one-inch platform and four-and-a-half-inch stilettos—were gorgeous in every way. Demi had known she had to have them when she saw them in a store window on Madison Avenue while shopping with Tabitha. That was also when she picked up the special gift for Anya.

Demi gathered her thoughts. She had to hurry. Taking out her wire cutters, she found the brake pads and cut them completely away. She also cut the wires to the brakes, making sur
e Anya did not escape the terrible tragedy soon to come. Once her mission was finished, Demi dusted herself off, checked her shoes for any scratches or dirt, and walked up to the front door of the house and rang the doorbell. The look on Anya’s face was priceless.

             
“Surprise!” Demi said. “You don’t look happy to see me. May I come in?” Without giving Anya time to answer, Demi walked passed her. She could tell by Anya’s expression that she was shaken to the depths of her soul, scared that Demi was going to kill her. Anya had done well for herself, considering, Demi acknowledged, looking around her home. It was gorgeous. Not better than her own, but it had potential. The more she looked around, the more she enjoyed the flow of the home. Suddenly, it dawned on her. The home was decorated almost the exact same way as her own. That infuriated Demi. Anya was sick. She had somehow gotten into her home, or someone told her how her home was laid out. How else would she know how she had decorated it? Who would do that, though?

             
“Deminis, what are you doing here? I told you I was not going to try anymore. I should have never tried in the first place. I am so sorry! It was not even my idea. Please, forgive me.”

             
Demi smiled. She had Anya just where she wanted her. “I came to tell you that it is over,” she said in a gentle tone. “I have found someone that truly loves me and I love him. We are happy together. I will not let anyone, least of all you, come between us. I forgive you Anya, but if you ever try to cross me again, you will suffer greatly. Do I make myself clear?” Anya nodded, indicating she did.

             
“I just have one question to ask you,” Demi said. Anya looked up, “Where did you find that rug? I’ve been looking for one just like that for years.” Anya cleared her throat. “I got it from a man I used to date long ago. He bought it for someone else. I stole it from him because I did not want her to have it.”

             
Demi stared at the other woman. Anya said nothing more, but Demi knew the rug had once been intended for her. She remembered seeing the rug in Italy when she and Chauncey were there. He had promised to buy it for her. When she never received it, she’d figured someone else purchased it before he got the chance. Well, now she knew the truth. Without another word, Demi picked up her bag, walked to the door, and left. Anya called after her. Demi ignored her. That was the last time she would see Anya Bankston. She walked down the street to the grocery store on the corner to call a cab. Demi was on her way back to the airport within minutes, where she would continue on her way to Las Vegas. It was time she went home. Looking down at her phone, she saw that she had several missed calls. A few were from Greg. One was from Tabi. The last one was from Anya, apologizing again for everything that happened between them. Demi didn’t both listening to the entire message. She simply pressed delete.

             
Greg wanted to know if she made it safely to Las Vegas; Tabi wanted to tell her that someone murdered Laurel Cordwright. Someone had found a body part floating in the Hudson. After analyzing it, they learned that it was in fact from Laurel. The police were now searching for the rest of the body, but so far nothing else had been found. Demi smiled. Her plan worked. Laurel didn’t deserve a proper burial, or to have the courtesy of being placed in one box. Demi just hoped the fish and other water predators didn’t die from feasting on such an impulsive liar, because Laurel Cordwright had turned out to be poison.

             
While Demi was boarding her flight to Vegas, Anya Bankston was getting in her car on her way to see her doctor. As she turned to back out of her driveway, something on her backseat caught her eye. When she picked up the box, she was shocked. As Anya slowly opened the box, a big smile formed across her face. Inside was the most beautiful pair of shoes she had ever seen. Anya admired the shoes before she realized where they came from. The Manolo Blahnik stilettos, made of red leather with an open toe, back zipper, and ankle strap, were perfection. Demi still cared about her, Anya thought. She took off the shoes she was wearing, replacing them with the new ones from the box. They fit as if they had been made just for her. She smiled for what seemed like forever before composing herself enough to drive. As she backed out of her driveway, Anya felt extremely happy for the first time in a long time. All the fear she’d had because of Demi’s visit disappeared. She knew they would be friends again, getting past this. She was ready to make it right this time around between them. Only this time, she was not going to lose Demi to anyone, ever again. The hurtful things she once wished and inflicted upon Demi, Anya regretted them. How could she allow someone to make her hurt her friend? Not anymore.

             
Doing something she never did, Anya waved at her neighbors. Life was just getting better for her. They had better get prepared for the new and improved, healthy and happy Anya Bankston. No more allowing others or medication to dictate her actions. The drive to her doctor’s office just outside the city would be a breeze, now that she had Demi back in her life. The shoes on her feet had a lot to do with the joy she felt. Anya did not know anyone other than Demi who loved shoes as much as she did. In fact, it was Demi who introduced her to her first pair of stilettos. Since that day, Anya was hooked. She looked forward to going shoe shopping with Demi when they were in high school. Now she would experience that joy again.

             
When Demi left, Anya’s love for shoes died off, since she missed the companionship and harmless competition of her friend when they went shopping. It took her many years to get over Demi’s nonexistence in her life. But once she found Demi again, her love for shoes emerged as if it never disappeared. In therapy, Anya learned to appreciate the life she had. She learned that her life was special, and becoming someone else would only cause problems that would lead to medication and being secluded from the outside world. Years of searching and following Demi had got frustrating. The more Anya thought about it, the more she realized it was just plain silly. Each person was meant to have a life of their own, and Anya now knew how to make a better life for herself. She was excited to share that with her old friend. Once upon a time she had practically wanted to be Deminis Bradshaw, but now that she knew all the pain and hurt that went along with that, Anya was accepting her own life more and more each day.