Deadly In Stilettos (20 page)

                                               ~~~
 

While Demi and Greg were sharing a beautiful kiss, Linda DeLacey was back in her hotel room dying a slow and painful death. She did not
know what hit her, but she knew something was completely wrong. Since she left the party, she had already vomited and shit herself several times. Her stomach was in knots and she couldn’t stand or sit. She lay in her bed in a fetal position as tears streamed down her pale face. A few times, Linda had drifted in and out of consciousness only to be woken up again in excruciating pain.

             
The concocted liquid Demi made was a combination of a common medicine and mineral oil, used to treat ailments in the olden days. The mineral oil slowed down the effects of the medicine, but the results were deadly when consumed too much. Without getting to the hospital within a certain time frame after consumption, no one would survive. As Linda DeLacey suffered greatly, taking her last breath, the only person that came to mind was Deminis Bradshaw.
‘
That little Cunt
’
, Linda thought before being consumed into complete darkness. The bitch had finally gotten her.

             
Meanwhile, Demi was in her own hotel room admiring her shoes before placing them in a designer hat box. They would remain there until she got them home to their designated spot in her closet, which she would have to make especially for them. All the other shoes she wore on one of her tasks would also be stored away in special places. Looking at the clock, Demi picked up her cell phone and called Anya. It was just past midnight in Dallas, so there was still time to speak with her about her call earlier. She also wanted to know why it was so important that they speak tonight.

             
Anya had always been strange when they were friends, but to Demi, she was a good person. Whenever she needed her, she could just pick up the phone and Anya would make her feel better or come get her. Demi was sorry she left without saying good-bye, but how could she have known Troy would leave her stranded in the desert. Of course, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

             
When Anya picked up on the first ring, Demi knew something was wrong. “I was beginning to think you forgot about me,” Anya said.

             
Demi was somewhat annoyed and exhausted. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. Now she was listening to Anya and her bitching. “I said I would call you back. Now what’s so important that you want to discuss with me this time of night?”

             
Apparently sensing the irritation in Demi’s tone, Anya got straight to the point. “We have a little problem, Demi. Someone saw you come out of your father’s house the night he died, so is there anything you want to tell me?”

             
Demi was now fully alert. Anya now had her undivided attention. “I do not know what you are talking about, and frankly, I do not appreciate your accusing tone. He was not my father, just the man who fucked my mother and got her pregnant, or did you forget that?”

             
Demi thought about that night. She noticed a shadow outside the house when she was leaving. Thinking it was nothing, she dismissed it from her mind. Now she regretted not checking into it further. Anya Bankston was becoming a pain in her side, and she would have to be dealt with. If she went to the police with the information, Demi would be in great trouble. Greg would hate her. She took a deep breath, calming herself. She did not want Anya to think she had her trapped. She put some humor into her tone, hoping that would annoy Anya.

             
“Girl, what do you mean, you saw me leaving my father’s house? I was on a plane to Chicago that night for a business meeting. You should really think about that before you try to accuse me of something so serious. We have known each other for years, and do you really think I would come all the way to Dallas without contacting you first? More importantly, do you think I would go anywhere near my father, and that house that caused so much pain in my life? Come on, Anya! You should really know me better than that. And to think I thought we were friends.”

             
Anya thought about what Demi said and decided she must have seen someone else or been mistaken by the whole idea. But how would she explain being in San Francisco, Paris, and now New York? Chicago could in fact be true, but she doubted it. Anya cleared her throat, realizing now was not the time to confront Demi with all the information she had. Tomorrow she would go back to her old tactics, disguising her voice when she called. That would get Demi’s attention more anyway. It always worked. They chatted a few more minutes about inconsequential matters and then said good-bye.

             
When Demi hung up the phone, she thought about Anya and their friendship. Actually, the more she thought about it, they hadn’t really been friends. In fact, Demi remembered how devious Anya could be. Several other people warned her, but she refused to believe them, giving Anya more credit than the others did. Now she knew for certain that Anya Bankston didn’t and hadn’t meant her any good then and definitely not now. As Demi walked into the bedroom, she thought back to several times when she had seen Anya. The more Demi thought about it, the more she realized Anya was always around. The first time she seen Anya in college, she flat out told her she was not who she thought she was.

At first, Demi had been sort of happy to see
her, but when Anya pretended not to know her she stopped believing they could resume their friendship. When she was in San Francisco with Makei, Anya was at the club as well. Demi was beginning to wonder just how much Anya really knew about her life. She had also seen Anya on other occasions, but never thought anything bad about it until now. What was Anya up to and why was she always in the same places as she? Come to think of it, Demi noticed Anya at the Cordwright home, but when she was about to approach her, Laurel pulled her into the ladies room. When she returned to the party, Anya was nowhere in sight. Demi was now disturbed and pissed.

             
Anya Bankston would have a lot of explaining to do when Demi found her. Knowing Anya was somewhere in the city and very close, Demi put her game face on times a million. Anya was now added to her infamous list. She too would soon expire. Demi would never let her get away with trying to blackmail her or bring her down. Anya was certainly not the one to do so. Not now, not ever!

             
After changing into her pajamas, Demi turned out the lights and got into bed. Sleep was knocking at her door, and she was ready to let it in when the room phone rang. Wondering who was calling so late, Demi quickly answered. It was Laurel. She was hysterical.

             
Laurel was putting on her best performance. She needed Demi to believe her and knew that playing the victim she would get sympathy from her new friend. In order for her plan to work, Laurel needed someone in her corner and who better than Deminis Bradshaw, a world-known fashion icon and buyer, and deadly assassin. Yeah, Laurel knew everything about Demi, even the deep dark secrets she fought hard to rid herself of. Having money and status provided information people never thought anyone would find out about their lives, and Deminis Bradshaw would prove to be any different once she was finished with her, but she needed take the bait Laurel was dangling at her. She was definitely the right choice. Having a boyfriend that worked for the justice system was a plus in choosing her as an ally.

             
Demi sat up in the bed with great concern. “Laurel, is everything okay? You sound terrible. What is going on? Where are you?”

             
Laurel sounded petrified. Finding out someone wanted you dead was one thing, but learning it was your own parents was another. What Laurel was going to do, Demi thought. But why would they hire someone to kill her? A million questions flooded Demi’s mind. She cleared her head as best she could and gave her undivided attention to Laurel, who was talking a mile a minute in between sobs.

             
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, breathe. I can’t understand anything you’re saying, Laurel. Take a deep breath and relax. I’m here for you, but I cannot help you if I don’t understand what’s going on.”

             
A few seconds of silence lingered over the phone before Laurel spoke again. “Demi, I am truly sorry to call you this late, but I really need a friend. I am in big trouble and might need your help. Do you mind if I come up?”

             
Demi was concerned but annoyed at the same time. Laurel was already downstairs in the lobby so she couldn’t say no. Swinging her legs out of the bed, Demi slipped on her robe and slippers.

             
“Just wait downstairs. I’m on my way.” Demi wanted to see Laurel before allowing her inside her room. She quickly tied her robe and hurried downstairs.

             
Laurel looked like a lost little girl when Demi reached the lobby. She was pacing back and forth like mad woman. All Demi could do was put her arms around Laurel and comfort her as best she could. She knew how being betrayed by a parent or any love one felt. If she could help someone going through the same thing, she would do her best. She and Laurel took a seat in the corner, for more privacy. Laurel was distraught. She took off her dark glasses, revealing dark circles and puffiness around her eyes. Demi could tell she had been crying for quite some time. She stood patiently, waiting for Laurel to gather herself. Demi knew that sometimes it was best just to be there and not speak, rather than to speak before listening.

             
Suddenly, out of the blue, Laurel spoke. “Demi, they want me dead! How could my own parents want me dead? What am I going to do, Demi?” Before Demi could respond, Laurel was crying again. The front desk clerk gave Demi a look of both sympathy and disapproval, and she knew he would inform security if any of the guests complained about them. Demi took Laurel by the hand and led her to the elevators. Her hotel suite would be more private and comfortable for Laurel than the hotel lobby, and no one would interrupt them. Laurel would also be able to speak openly without worrying that what she said would find its way to the media. She was from an influential and powerful family, and tabloids would have a field day with that.

             
Once they were in the suite, Laurel thanked Demi for being there for her. Demi felt their friendship had just reached another level of sincerity. She always wanted someone other than Tabi and Sidney to visit and talk with. Laurel was turning out to be that for her. Laurel began her story. “When I was fifteen years old, my mother let my father come into my bedroom night after night because she was suffering from female problems. She told me it was my responsibility to take care of him when she could not, and I believed her. In return, they gave me everything I wanted. When my brother came home from college on summer vacation, he found out. That night there was so much chaos in the house, the police were involved. I told the police my brother was making up lies because he did not like my father. You see, my brother and I do not share the same father, but my father raised him as his own up until that day.”

             
Demi nodded, understanding. Laurel took a long pause and then started speaking again. Demi could tell from the look on Laurel’s face that the story was about to get much worse.

             
“A few days later, my brother and father had a big blowout. Later that night, my brother went into my parents’ bedroom with a gun to kill my father for what he had done to me. I heard the gunshots and ran to see what happened. When I reached the room, I saw my brother lying on the floor with blood everywhere. He had been shot in the chest. When I asked what happened, my parents told me that my brother tried to kill them and was shot by my father in self-defense. But they made me tell the police that my brother told me that he was going to kill my father. After that, I was sent away to boarding school, my brother’s body was cremated, and what happened was never talked about. When I came back things were different, and my brother was never mentioned again.

             
‘Whenever anyone asked about the real story, I just shut them out of my life in fear that my parents would do the same thing to me. Now my worst nightmare is coming true. But the thing is, Demi, I don’t know why they all of a sudden want me out of the picture. My brother was killed over ten years ago. I’ve never told anyone about that night. Well, no one except you. I am so confused right now, but I have to find out why they want me dead. I know it’s true because someone was at the house tonight. He watched me all night and I even over heard an argument between him and my father. They think I am naïve, oblivious to it all, but Demi, I am smarter than most people seem to think.”

             
Demi could not believe her ears. All these years, she thought she was the only one who’d had such horrible experiences in life. Now here Laurel was, sitting right in front of her, reliving her nightmare. Demi felt terrible and relieved at the same time. She now knew that she was not the only one who’d been through a rough childhood. Knowing now what Laurel had gone through all these years, Demi had a new level of respect of her. She would do everything in her power to help Laurel find out why her parents really wanted her dead, and make them pay in the process. Her list had just gotten two names longer.