A Woman to Die For

by Erin Wade

  “I’m thinking maybe a BMW or a Benz,” Katie mused. “Although I do like your Lexus.”

  “We have all day,” Shay reminded her. “You can drive them all.”

  ##

  As Shay had promised, her friend helped Katie breeze through getting a temporary license until a permanent one could be mailed to her new address.

  Shay watched as Katie had her photo taken for the new identification. “No one looks that beautiful in a driver’s license picture,” Shay noted. Her quick, appraising look did not go unnoticed.

  “Now for the fun part of our day,” Shay said as they headed out. “A new car.”

  ##

  Shay lounged in the BMW showroom while Katie took a car for a spin. She was checking her hospital email when David called her. She let the call go to voicemail. She knew he was checking on their dinner plans. I’ll call him when we’re finished with Katie’s business, she thought.

  At the end of the day, Katie settled on a white BMW X5 xDrive50i.

  “White is such a noncolor,” Shay argued, trying to get her to buy a car with a little more zing to the color.

  “It’s nondescript,” Katie pointed out. “Exactly what I want to be. I want to blend into the woodwork.”

  “Humph. You could never blend into the woodwork. You’re too pretty.”

  Katie smiled. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I’m glad you think so.”

  When the salesman asked Katie to follow him into the finance office, she caught Shay’s hand and pulled her along. The sales manager introduced himself. “How would you like to pay for this car, Mrs. Brandt?” he asked. “I have several nice financing packages available right now.”

  “Cash,” Katie answered.

  “Cash?” the sales manager repeated. “You do understand that the vehicle is one of our most expensive?”

  “Yes. If you’ll let me use your phone, I’ll call my banker. You can give him the information he needs to wire you the funds.”

  Shay observed as Katie made the phone call. She asked for a man by name and greeted him warmly when he came on the line.

  “Steven, I’m purchasing a new car,” Katie explained. “I’m going to put you on with the sales manager so you can wire the funds.”

  “His name is Steven Collins,” she informed the manager as she handed him the phone.

  “Good day, Mr. Collins,” he said. “I must speak to someone who has the authority to approve a wire transfer in the amount of . . . Oh, I see. Yes, sir. I didn’t realize you were the bank president . . . Yes, I’ll fax the information immediately.” The man scribbled the fax number on the sales contract and thanked Steven for his time.

  “That’s finalized,” the sales manager informed Katie. “I’ll fax the forms to Mr. Collins, and we’ll have your car serviced and ready to go by noon tomorrow.”

  “I’d like to take it now,” Katie said.

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” the man explained. “We need to check everything and wash the vehicle for you. I’d be happy to have the car delivered to you in the morning.”

  “I can bring you back to pick it up,” Shay volunteered.

  “I’d appreciate that,” Katie said. “Then we’ll see you tomorrow, sir.”

  ##

  “I’d like to buy you dinner,” Katie said as they buckled their seatbelts. “It’s the least I can do after dragging you all over town today.”

  Shay thought about declining but decided to text David and break their date instead.

  “I’d like that,” Shay said.

  They enjoyed the meal, making small talk and discussing all the bells and whistles on Katie’s new car. Both women were worn out from their hectic day, so the decision to skip dessert was an easy one.

  “Did you rest okay last night?” Shay asked as they walked to her car.

  “Not really,” Katie said with a shrug. “I’m still a little nervous. You know, new place and all. Hopefully I’ll rest tonight. I don’t have enough makeup to keep covering up the dark circles under my eyes.”

  “You’re welcome to spend the night at my place,” Shay said. “It’s not a problem.”

  “No, I need to bite the bullet and stay alone, but thank you for offering. You can’t babysit me forever.”

  When they arrived at Katie’s apartment, Shay insisted on walking her to the door and walking through the rooms to put Katie’s mind at ease.

  “I have an eight o’clock appointment in the morning,” Shay informed her. “Then I need to check on my patients. As soon as I finish, I’ll come for you.”

  “That sounds good to me,” Katie said.

  Shay strolled from Katie’s apartment, enjoying the balmy night. The figure across the street was glad to see her leave. Katie Brandt was completely alone.

  Chapter 11

  David Brandt was sitting in Shay’s office when she arrived at the hospital. Shame flooded Shay as she realized she had stood him up last night and hadn’t bothered to call or text.

  “Oh David, I’m so sorry I didn’t call you.”

  David smiled. “It’s okay. I know you’ve been busy. I miss you. That’s all. I stopped by to see if you’re free for lunch today.”

  “I’m not,” Shay said, grimacing. “I promised to take Katie on some errands.”

  “Dinner tonight then? We have a lot to discuss.”

  “Yes, of course.” Shay tiptoed to kiss David on the cheek. “Tonight would be wonderful.”

  ##

  Shay finished her hospital duties and called Beverly Wyatt on her way to Katie’s.

  “Shay, I was just about to call you,” the detective said as she came on the line. “I have the results on Mrs. Brandt’s rape kit.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have good news. There was no DNA evidence. If someone raped her, they wore a condom.”

  Shay groaned. “Thanks, Detective Wyatt. I was hoping for some kind of evidence.”

  “I know,” Beverly said. “We can only work with what we have. You should probably rethink filing the charges against David Brandt. It’s his word against hers, and she does have a history of mental illness.”

  Shay’s thoughts turned to her patient as she hung up.

  Katie Brandt was funny, cheerful, and interesting. Shay had seen nothing from the beautiful woman to suggest she was anything other than what she seemed. Shay had seen no evidence of mental unbalance.

  Katie was outside her apartment when Shay arrived. Shay watched her walk to the car. Katie’s long, brown hair danced around her shoulders as if delighted to be touching the woman. She wore a blue cowl-necked top that followed the curve of her ample breasts and flat stomach, falling around small hips in tight-fitting jeans.

  When Katie opened the car door, Shay realized she’d been holding her breath. “Hey,” Katie cooed. Her eyes twinkled. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

  They made small talk as Shay drove to the BMW dealership. “How was your morning?” Katie inquired.

  “Good. Well, mostly good,” Shay said as she recalled her discussion with Detective Wyatt.

  “What wasn’t good?” Concern filled Katie’s dark eyes.

  “Nothing important.” Shay forced a laugh. “Just a . . . um, a disconcerting report on one of my patients.”

  “I like the way you get involved with your patients and care about them,” Katie said. “David is so cold and removed from his patients.”

  “That’s probably the way a doctor should be,” Shay noted. “We can’t save them all, and it hurts like hell when we lose one.”

  Katie pulled Shay’s hand into her lap and held it. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

  Shay was surprised to find how comforting the woman’s touch was. She made no effort to move her hand.

  ##

  Katie finished signing the required forms for her car and grinned like a teenager when the sales manager put the fob into her hand.

  “Let’s drop your car by your place, and I’ll take you to lunch,�
�� Katie suggested.

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day,” Shay replied. “I’m starving.”

  “Maybe we can go to a movie or just go for a drive in my new car afterward,” Katie said, her eyes twinkling. “I’m having such a good time.”

  “I . . . I’ve, um . . . got an engagement tonight.”

  “Oh, I see,” Katie muttered. “I’ve monopolized your time. I should let you go. I can drive home alone.”

  “Katie, please don’t—” Shay stopped talking as Katie got into her car and slammed the door.

  ##

  Shay couldn’t explain why she felt like a heel, but her heart was heavy over the way Katie had walked away from her. She knew she had hurt her patient but wasn’t certain how.

  She made a sandwich and turned on her desktop computer. A friend request popped up on her Face2Face page. It was from Katie. She accepted and responded with, “I’m sorry if I upset you.”

  “I was just being a spoiled brat.” Katie added a sad emoji. “I miss you when you’re gone. I feel safe with you.”

  “Would you like me to stop by when I finish tonight?”

  “Yes, I’d like that a lot,” Katie typed back.

  “Around nine okay?”

  “That would be perfect. Don’t eat dessert. I’ll have fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies and coffee ready for you.”

  “I’m looking forward to that.” Shay typed a smiling emoji, turned off the computer, and headed for the shower. She had two hours before her dinner with David.

  ##

  Shay took one last look in the full-length mirror as she slipped into her heels. Her wavy blonde hair cascaded to her shoulders, and the sapphire, asymmetrical-necked sheath she was wearing brought out the Caribbean blue of her eyes. She hoped Katie would like it.

  She was shocked when she realized she was looking forward to coffee and cookies with Katie more than dinner with David.

  Chapter12

  David was waiting outside the restaurant door when Shay parked. He sprinted to her car and opened the door. “God, I’ve missed you,” he murmured as he leaned down to kiss her. “It seems like forever since we’ve had time alone together.”

  “We have been busy,” Shay said as she looped her arm through his and they walked into the restaurant. “Mmm, you smell good. I love your cologne.”

  David chuckled. “I wear it just for you.”

  He waited until they had ordered drinks to engage in conversation. “How’s my wife?”

  “She’s much better,” Shane answered thoughtfully. “Her physical wounds look better every day. Her mental condition seems excellent.”

  “Yes, she will seem perfectly normal until her beautiful mind short-circuits,” David said sadly.

  “What should I expect?”

  “You? Why would you expect anything? You’re not qualified to deal with mental illness.”

  “If there are signs I should watch for,” Shay insisted, “I can get her help.”

  “I have a psychiatrist treating her,” David huffed.

  “But she doesn’t trust him, David. She’s afraid of him.”

  David nodded. “That’s part of her sickness. She’s paranoid and thinks everyone wants to hurt her.”

  “Well, someone did,” Shay pointed out. “Someone almost killed her.”

  “Yes, and she swears that someone was me.” David bowed his head. “You know me, Shay. Do you believe I’m capable of killing Katie?”

  “No, not really,” Shay answered. “Of course, I didn’t even know you had a wife, so when it comes to honesty, you haven’t been a stellar example.”

  “You see what she looks like,” David said. “She’s every man’s dream. I loved her so much. Then about five years ago she began to change. She became withdrawn and secretive. She began obsessing over her projects. As soon as she finished one project, she started another. It was as if she couldn’t get her ideas from her mind to reality fast enough. She had no time for me or anything else in her life but work.”

  “And every project completed made her wealthier,” Shay said.

  “Made us wealthier,” David pointed out. “We were partners. But I wanted more out of life than money. I wanted a wife and children and vacations and time to make memories.”

  David downed his scotch. “Our home was littered with diagrams and mathematical equations. The walls of her office were covered with scientific notations. She was constantly building more powerful computers to handle her projects.

  “She was driven. Then she began to lose her grasp on reality. She gave away money almost as fast as it came in. Food shelters, hospitals, animal shelters, and women’s shelters were given millions.

  “We never missed the money. It was as if the world couldn’t throw money at her fast enough. She didn’t even care about the money. Our financial advisors recommended that we go public with our company and let a board of directors manage everything, but Katie refused to give up control. She believed her inventions would be used for nefarious reasons if they fell into the wrong hands.

  “Then one day she changed. She was the woman I married—loving, full of laughter and excited about life. It was like someone flipped a switch and turned her into a normal human being. Six months later I was living with obsessed Katie again.”

  David signaled the server for another drink. “You haven’t touched your wine.”

  “No, I . . . I’ve been enthralled by your story,” Shay admitted. “She seems so different from the woman you’re describing.”

  The waiter placed David’s drink in front of him. “Would you like to order, sir?”

  “I’ll have the chopped dinner salad,” Shay said.

  “I’m not really hungry,” David muttered.

  “Honey, you really should eat something,” Shay insisted, placing her hand on top of his.

  “Just bring me some cheese sticks,” David said.

  The waiter scribbled their order on his pad and walked away.

  “You believe me, don’t you?” David pleaded. “Just be careful, Shay. She isn’t who you think she is. She’s a danger to herself and possibly anyone around her.”

  A tremor ran through Shay’s body as David’s ominous words registered with her.

  “Why did you take her out of the hospital?” Shay asked.

  “She begged me to. She cried and pleaded.” Misery weighted David’s voice. “I didn’t have the heart to leave her there.”

  “How long had she been home when the attack occurred?” Shay asked.

  “A week. I fell asleep and she left the house. I thought she was sedated, but I later found her pills under her bed.

  “I called the police and was frantically searching for her when the hospital called.”

  The waiter brought their order, and they ate in silence.

  “Are you working tomorrow?” David finally asked.

  “Yes, I need to check on my patients, but then I’m taking the rest of the day off.” Shay pushed her empty plate aside. “And you?”

  “I’m off. I thought you might want to take the boat out.”

  “I think I’ll just stay home and take care of some personal things.”

  David reached out and caught her hands. “Shay, this doesn’t change anything between us. I still want to marry you. I love you.”

  She shook her head. “David, you’re married. I don’t see how we can plan—”

  “We’re getting a divorce. She’s filed, and I won’t fight it.”

  “How do you know?” Shay asked. “You haven’t seen her.”

  “Her attorney served papers on me this morning.”

  While we were picking up her new car, her attorney was serving David with divorce papers, Shay thought. I can’t believe she failed to mention that.

  “I’m so sorry,” Shay murmured. “Have you spoken with her?”

  “No, I’ve turned everything over to my legal team.”

  “Legal team?” Shay barked. “You make it sound like you’re preparing for battle.”


  “I am, Shay. I must fight her. She’ll take everything I own.”

  “Surely not,” Shay said. “She doesn’t seem like a vindictive woman.”

  “She thinks I raped her and then tried to kill her.” David fought back tears. “Wouldn’t you get even with me if you were in her place?”

  “Let me talk to her, David. Maybe I can make her understand you weren’t her attacker. She seems totally rational right now.”

  “What do I have to lose?” he said, shrugging.

  Shay’s cell phone dinged a message. It was from Katie. She tried hard not to smile as she read it.

  “I really should be going.”

  “Is there any chance I can spend the night with you tonight?” David pleaded

  “I don’t think so,” Shay said. “With all that’s going on it wouldn’t look good.”

  Chapter 13

  Shay exited the restaurant parking lot, watching in her rearview mirror as David drove the opposite direction. She pulled to the curb and reread Katie’s message: “Hot chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven.”

  “On my way,” Shay sent back with a smiling emoji.

  Shay was ten minutes away from Katie’s apartment when she received another text message. “Someone is trying to get into my apartment,” Katie wrote.

  “Almost there,” Shay replied. She accelerated, praying a patrolman would pull in behind her, but there was none in sight. She skidded into the parking space and ran to Katie’s apartment.

  The door was open. Shay approached carefully in case the intruder was still there. She walked through the three rooms and found no one. Chocolate chip cookies were cooling on a plate on the table. A familiar scent drifted through the room—one she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

  A noise in the bedroom startled her. She eased back into the room and looked around. There was no one. She heard the noise again and realized it was coming from the closet. It was a woman crying.

  Shay slowly opened the louvered doors. Katie was in the deepest corner of her closet, hugging her knees to her chest. Her eyes were tightly shut, and she was shaking violently. “Please don’t hurt me,” Katie begged, never opening her eyes.