Deadly In Stilettos (39 page)

             
Demi apologized to Tabitha. There was something going on with Demi that Tabitha could not put her finger on, but soon that would all change. They both knew they had to find out the identity of the mystery woman, and then make sure she knew who she was dealing with. They would deal with that soon enough, but for now, they had more important matters to discuss.

             
Tabitha went to the bar, mixed two stiff drinks, and returned to the living area to join Demi. They sat there in complete silence, each waiting on the other to speak. Demi took a deep breath, preparing for her journey down memory lane.

             
“Before I begin, promise me you will just listen. I need to get this out. If you stop me, I might lose my nerve to share this in the first place.” Tabitha leaned forward, touching Demi’s hand for comfort and reassurance. She was there for support, not to judge. She too had skeletons in her closet.

             
“It started when I was about twenty years old,” Demi began. “I was so heartbroken. I was alone. My own father did not want anything to do with me. I had just got out of another failed relationship, and I was about to end it all. That night, I sat in my apartment thinking of all the people who had ever treated me badly. I wrote down their names on a sheet of paper, which I have right here. And over the years, I kept adding to it.” She handed over the list. Tabitha looked at it, amazed. She knew most of the names on it. Despite all the questions going through her head, she remained composed, allowing Demi to feel comfortable enough to continue.

             
“My father never wanted me although I loved him despite all the horrible things he put me through. One day when I was in college, I was thinking about him and I called him. He told me he was busy entertaining his new girlfriend. He did not even bother saying he would call me after she left, because he didn’t ask for my number. That night, his name was the first one on it. Still, when I was about to graduate from college, I decided to invite him as another chance to have a relationship with him. Well, after that call, I never called again.”

             
Demi stopped talking, grabbing a tissue from the box Tabi handed to her, crying helplessly. A few minutes later, she was ready to finish her story.

             
“Sometime later, I went to Dallas on a business trip and saw him. He was so drunk, he did not recognize me. I followed him, that day and the next. When I knew his schedule, I left. Each time I added someone to the list, I carefully researched their lives so that when the time came, I could take care of them without any difficulty. I could just get in and out without a second thought. The only person I wasn’t able to do that with Enry, was because he had such an unpredictable schedule. Anyway, a few months ago I set my plan in motion. I booked a flight to Dallas, killed my father, and was on red-eye to Chicago to see the next person on my list in a matter of hours.”

             
Tabitha coughed. She wanted to stop Demi to make sure she’d heard what she thought she’d heard, but took a sip from her drink instead. Demi went on.

             
“Troy Dunbar was my first love. He took my virginity, helped me with money, and bought me my first pair of Manolo Blahniks.” Demi smiled briefly. “I won’t go into what he put me through because you already know that story. I went to his studio one night while he was working on a recording. No one was suspicious, because I guess he was always having a beautiful woman in his company. I killed him with the venom from a scorpion. No one knew anything until I was on a plane to San Francisco. The next name on the list was someone I still truly love deeply.”

             
Tabitha read off the name: Makei Davis. She knew what had happened between him and Demi, because she had been there with Demi the day after she caught him with another woman in her home. Demi went on to tell her how she rigged his weight machine to crush his chest, but even though she thought she’d seen him die, he was still alive. As she already told Tabitha, he had visited her in Las Vegas, saying that he knew who tried to kill him and that person was no longer a threat. Demi broke down then, saying she did not want to hurt Make that she still wanted to be with him. She was frightened that he somehow knew it was her and showed up to make her suffer.

             
The professor was the next name on the list, so Tabitha gathered that the list was not chronological. Demi killed Chauncey Stratton with a poisoned dart form a Ninja blowgun. She’d killed Devin Masters with acid and poisoned Linda DeLacey, which was intended for Enry Williams. The most shocking confession was what she did to Laurel Cordwright. Tabitha sat listening. She couldn’t move a muscle.

             
Demi explained how she drugged Laurel, tied her up with ropes and concrete blocks, and then pushed her into the dark Hudson River to swallow her up forever. It was insane. Tabitha loved Demi with all her heart, but she did not want to know anymore. She was already an accessory to one murder. After listening to Demi’s confession, she was now much more.

             
“What I am going to do, Tabi? I never meant for this to really happen, but after the first name was crossed from the list, it felt liberating. I was alive for the first time. I knew they could never hurt me again. I just wanted that feeling to continue.”

             
Tabitha did not know what to say. Wanting to see Demi happy was the only thing that mattered to her at the moment, but she did not know how much more information she could handle. She would not be able to help Demi now. Her mission as a guardian angel had been aborted at Demi’s first confession. No one could help her. If she wanted her life back, she had to do it on her own. It saddened Tabitha to know that Demi’s soul could be lost beyond eternity.

             
Demi searched Tabitha’s demeanor, trying to gauge her reaction. Her friend sat frozen, though. No expression, no movement, nothing at all. Was she thinking of a way to inform the police? Or was she trying to find the right words of comfort? Tabi was her one and only true friend. She did not want to lose her too. Although, she loved Tabi, Demi would never allow her or anyone else to take her freedom. It was totally up to Tabi how this whole scenario would play out, because Demi was not about to let another person dictate her future. If Tabi turned her back on her, she would understand, but they would become enemies. With Sidney and Greg having been placed on the list recently, Demi did not have a problem with adding another name.

             
As if she knew what she was thinking, Tabi said, “Stop thinking about putting my name on the list. I would never betray you again. We will figure this out together whether you like it or not, I do love and care for you, Dem. And please, let us not forget about Enry. I chose to help you. In fact, it was my suggestion to ruin him. You’re a very special person to me, Deminis Bradshaw, and one day I hope you can put the past behind you so that we can move on with the future.” Demi felt relieved. It meant a lot knowing Tabi was still in her corner.

             
“First,” Tabi went on, “we have to find out about this mystery woman, then let Sidney and Greg in on who not to mess with. Believe it or not, Demi, we are in this together until that list of yours is complete.”

             
Touched by Tabi’s love for her, Demi moved closer to Tabi, put her arms around her, and cried like a baby. All of the sadness drained from her body. The worries she once had washed away like debris in a flood. At that moment, she knew that her life would now be perfect. The two women brainstormed on their next plan while eating their room-service dinner. Once they’d perfected the plan. Tabitha hugged and kissed Demi good night. As she left Demi’s room, she checked to make sure no one was watching. In the lobby she walked over to the front desk, where a friend was working. After getting the information she needed, Tabitha left the hotel. As soon as she got to her car, she phoned Demi. The woman was still at the hotel, and she’d checked in under the name of Sidney Kickass. She was expecting company later that evening and instructed the front desk to give a key to someone named Greg Stanley.

             
Demi was beyond angry at first, but decided this would be the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. Tabitha agreed completely. If Sidney and Greg wanted to play games, then that is exactly what they would get, and Demi would be known as the Olympics, winning all gold for her team, called
“
her futur
e
”.

Chapter 29

THE NEXT day, Greg checked his messages as soon as he landed in New York. He had several missed calls from Demi, Sidney, a couple family members, and
one from a guy he did not know. He replayed that message to make sure he clearly understood it.

             
“Greg, you do not know me, brother, but I am good friends with your girl Demi. She is a great woman. If you do anything to hurt her, you will regret ever meeting her. I will be seeing you. And tell that crazy girlfriend of yours to back off if she knows what’s good for her. Nice chatting with you. You will hear from me again soon.”

             
Greg rubbed his chin. Why was this man threatening him? How much did he know about his and Sidney’s relationship? If only he had ended it when he said he would. He loved Demi and wanted to spend to rest of his life with her, but he also cared for Sidney. She was different. She was outspoken, sexual, and would do anything he wanted in the bedroom—or anywhere else.

             
On the other hand, there was Demi. She was sexy, passionate, and had a mysterious quality that he loved. She was always there for him, she made time for him. Sidney demanded his time and gave nothing of her own unless it was to benefit her. Demi was fragile. Sidney was ruthless. Demi loved fully. Sidney did not show her emotions. He knew just by looking into Demi’s eyes the depth of her love. Sidney showed her love in other ways, mostly sexual. Just thinking of the things that Sidney did aroused him. She was just the person to help him with that. He would see Demi tomorrow. As far as she knew, he wasn’t coming back to New York until tomorrow anyhow. Greg had to admit, juggling two beautiful women was a lot of work, but he was glad he was the man doing it. He would play the game a little while longer, reaping all the sexual benefits.

             
Greg’s cab entered Manhattan, heading for the Plaza Hotel. The city was beautiful, a light snow was falling, and the pedestrians were all bundled up. He let down his window, taking in all the scenery and the cold air. The holiday season was in full swing, with Thanksgiving in a few days and Christmas right on its heels. Speaking of heels…Greg thought of Demi and the sexy ones she always wore. They made her already beautiful legs look even more beautiful. They revealed the ray of confidence she possessed, commanding everyone’s attention in her presence. He knew the perfect gift to get her for Christmas. He redirected the cab to Barney’s on Sixtieth Street. After paying the cabdriver, Greg grabbed his carry-on and hurried into the massive department store, out of the elements. The snow was falling harder and the air was dreadfully cold.

             
The store was unbelievably crowded. He almost turned around to get out of the madness, but Demi was worth the effort. Making his way to the women’s shoe department, Greg sought help from a clerk. The woman was wearing a pair of stilettos, so Greg knew she would be perfect in helping him find the best shoe choice for Demi. The only question in his head was what he should get Sidney. She did deserve something. She loved shoes too, so should he just buy two of the same pair and call it a day? No, that would be deadly. No two women wanted to have the same shoe, especially when they were both sleeping with the same man. Maybe he would get Sidney some perfume. She always smelled great when he was with her, and several bottles of perfume filled her bathroom. Yes, perfume was a great choice for Sidney, but right now his focus was on Demi.