Deadly In Stilettos (49 page)

5.
     
What you do think truly happened with Anya and Chauncey that day in his office?

6.
     
Do you think Demi and Makei were meant for each other from the beginning?

7.
     
Is Demi and Tabitha’s friendship a kind of friendship you possess with someone in your life?

8.
     
What are your thoughts about Laurel Cordwright and her confused lifestyle?

9.
     
Why do you think her parents truly wanted her out of the picture?

10.
 
What are your thoughts about Enry Williams and his need to always be in control?

11.
 
Did you think Anya would perish the way she did?

12.
 
Where you shocked when Makei reappeared in the story? Why/Why not?

13.
 
Who do you think Greg Stanley truly is?

14.
 
Why do you think Sidney Kickass disliked Demi so much? Was it something she used to distract herself from her true problems?

15.
 
Did Devin Masters get what he deserved?

16.
 
Would you change the way each other on the list died? Explain.

17.
 
Do Brian and Tabitha seen like the perfect couple or is it all for show to hide something neither of them wants to come to light?

18.
 
What are your thoughts about the name Melvin Bradshaw gave his daughter?

19.
 
Overall, what did you like or dislike about “Deadly in Stilettos”?

Coming Soon!!!!

Except from: Deliver Me from Darkness

Chapter 1

              Another lonely Saturday night, Corrin Angel Ruston, sighed sipping the cool wine she found herself taking refuge in on nights like this particular one. Being alone should have become easier for her by now, but it got harder and harder around this time of year. There was a massive pain and sadness consuming every inch of Corrin’s heart, soul, mind and spirit. The only thing she knew that would comfort her was her wine glass. With another sip, she exhaled, feeling her body relax slightly. Each day for the past three years was the same, work, home, and several emptied bottles of wine. Deep down, Corrin knew she had a serious problem, but she didn’t care. Her life was a mess. No one had experienced such tragedy as she, and would never understand. She was better off alone.

             
When she lost her husband a few years ago to a bad car accident, the result of someone texting while driving, Corrin turned away from God and to alcohol. None of the people she loved knew of this little secret, and she planned to keep it that way, Corrin reminded herself taking another sip savoring the sweet taste going down her throat. The tears stung the back of her eyes as she replayed that horrible day’s events in her mind. The day her life changed, leaving her broken, bitter and in total bondage.

             
She and Charlie woke up to a passionate round of lovemaking as they always did when time allowed. After all, they were still newlyweds. Whenever they were in town at the same time, they took great advantage of their time together. Both traveling excessively, Corrin and Charlie treasured each moment, leaning on them when they were apart. This kept the love and passion for each other fresh, exciting and spontaneous. They never had a dull moment in their short-lived marriage.

             
They showered together, ate breakfast together, that Corrin enjoyed preparing for her husband, and talked about everything under the sun. Cooking was a hidden passion of Corrin’s that only Charlie and her closest friends Constance and her husband Marcus knew of. Her own family had no idea that she could even boil water.

             
A smile escaped Corrin’s sadness thinking of the conversation she overheard her father and Charlie having just before their wedding. “I love my only daughter very much and I would do anything to protect her, but son, you know she can’t cook a thing.” Charlie laughed, knowing that that statement was untrue. He wondered why Corrin never cooked for her parents or two brothers so that the ongoing joking of her not being able to cook could seize.

             
He later discovered that she loved the playtime they had on that subject matter. It was their bonding time whenever they weren’t able to see each other since she and her two brothers traveled a lot for their careers. Corrin loved and adored her older brothers. They had always protected her and to this very day, if she needed them, they would be there no questions asked.

             
Cooking gave her peace of mind. And since cooking was a family pastime, Corrin gravitated to it. At the tiny age of five, Corrin would sit in the kitchen watching her mother and grandmother prepare any dish imagined, taking it all in. She knew what each spice was used for, how to season without using a measuring cup, and even how to mix and match certain spices to create different flavors. By the time she was in middle school, Corrin could make all of those dishes she watched her mother and grandmother prepare and then some she created when she was home alone.

             
In high school, Corrin made extra money by baking any dessert requested by classmates, faculty and other student body. Sometimes on the weekends she catered parties for her friends, although, they didn’t know she was exactly the one preparing the food. They just figured her mother was the one who prepared all of the delicious food and Corrin was the one who served it at the parties.

             
The demand for her food became a hit throughout the city where she lived, but surprisingly, her parents never found out about it. Even her brothers didn’t question her when they came home and told her about someone wanting her to call them about food for a party. Secretly, Corrin knew her brothers was well aware of her hidden talent, because a few times she was in the kitchen, she let them sample a few new creations, which they loved.

             
She knew that if they did know, they would keep her secret as long as she wanted them too. That only made the bond they had much stronger and trustworthy. Suddenly, the joking about her not being able to cook wasn’t as much the topic of conversation during family gatherings, which Charlie told her on one of their phone conversations. Corrin smiled missing her brothers but quickly drifted back down memory lane. It was if she was there, on that particular day, not just reminiscing about it. Tears fall endlessly down her cheeks.

             
After she kissed Charlie tenderly, with great admiration and desire, they went their separate ways to their places of employment that horrendous day. Charlie was a Construction Development Engineer, and Corrin, a Freelance Writer for several nationally known newspapers and magazines. This gave her freedom to travel with Charlie whenever he had to leave the country. That is, when she wasn’t traveling somewhere herself.

             
In fact, they met in Europe while Corrin was doing a piece about the fashion industry in France, and Charlie was overseeing a development not too far away. They walked into an overly crowded restaurant and after waiting almost an hour for a table for one, decided to dine together. They hit it off like old friends and the chemistry between them was intoxicating. Exchanging numbers, they noticed that they lived in the same city. Barley was a small town just outside Jacksonville, Florida. “What a small world,” Charlie said smiling shyly. He knew that she would indeed become his bride.

             
When they got back to the states, they made plans to get together for dinner. Corrin couldn’t remember who called first, and it didn’t matter so as long as the call was made and she received a husband out of it. She and Charlie had many things in common, even having attended the same college and having a few mutual friends. All the memories Corrin shared with Charlie, overwhelmed her and she found herself unable to stop crying.

             
The day the police came to her office downtown, which she shared with her friend Constance, was one that changed her life forever. Corrin relived that painful, tragic day as if it were yesterday. She was in her office working on a political piece featuring the first black family to live in the white house. Being so inspired and excited to write the piece for Time magazine, Corrin jumped right into her work. She had been so deep in concentration, close to completing her draft to send over to the magazine for approval; she did not notice the two police officers walking into her office with Constance. Clearing her throat, Constance walked around the desk to stand next to her. Corrin knew at that moment something terrible had happened.

             
Corrin replayed the entire conversation in her head. “Constance, what’s going on?” Turning from Constance to the officers, Corrin offered them a seat. “No thank you,” one of the officers said barely able to look her in the eyes. “What seems to be the problem then officers? If you don’t mind, I have a close deadline, so can we please make this quick so that I can get back to work?”

             
By that time, Corrin was scared, rudeness being her defense mechanism. Although she didn’t mean anything by it, she hated being left in the dark, especially when she had more important things to do. Both officers removed their hats. Taking a deep breath, the first officer tried to speak, but the other one took over sensing his inability to say the evitable.

             
“Mrs. Ruston, there has been a terrible accident. We need you come down to the morgue to identify a body. We believe that it is your husband Charles Ruston.” Corrin laughed despite the butterflies swarming in the pit of her stomach. “I don’t think so Officers. I have a lot of work to do today, besides, Charlie is at work. In fact, I just spoke with him about an hour ago. So the person you think is my husband couldn’t possibly in.” Corrin’s voice was firm, but the officers spoke on.

             
“There was a horrible accident on the expressway this morning and your husband was involved. I am sorry to have to tell you this, but he was killed instantly. The other driver was text messaging on her cell phone, crossed a few lines and hit him head on.  I am pretty sure he didn’t suffer. I am truly sorry. There were also others involved in the accident. There were a total of four fatalities. We found your husband’s wallet, and now we are here. Your number was also listed under wife in his cell phone.”

             
Corrin couldn’t breathe. What was the officer saying? Her Charlie was at work. She immediately picked up the phone on her desk. After only receiving his voicemail, panic arose inside her. Constance reached for her hand to calm her, but there was nothing anyone could do. “I don’t believe you. How could you come in here and say such things about my husband? I want both of your names! I am going to report you for playing this sick joke!”