Baring it All (part 46) Devastating Discovery Danesha and Travis sat talking over breakfast. "I've enjoyed spending these days with you Trap. It's been just like old times." Danesha "Yes, it has. We wasted so many years D. I'm glad you are back in my life." "Travis, I've made a decision and even though I know Sheila isn't going to like it I wanted to tell you first." She said "What is it D? Don't tell me you are thinking of breaking up with her. You and Sheila belong together." Travis said His words shocked the both of them. "Big Brother, are you saying that you approve of our relationship?" she asked Travis pushed his eggs around his plate for several minutes before answering. "I approve of love D and although I don't understand your relationship I do understand the power of loving someone. Most of all I want you to be happy and I know that Sheila had done that for you." He finished "Thank you for saying that Trap. It means a lot to me." She said "I'm sorry D, here I am interrupting and going on. What decision have you made?" "I'm quitting Chocolate Paradise." She said quietly Travis stared at her stunned. He had planned to talk her into doing that very thing but since she'd been there he'd never really gotten around to it. He couldn't hide the surprise in his voice when he said: "You are D? I mean I'm happy but I don't understand. Is it because of the murders?" "That's only a small part of it. The girls deaths have affected me but my decision to quit dancing is much deeper." She got up and put her plate in the sink. Then she took Travis' plate and put it there as well. "Let's go sit on the porch" she suggested. Travis followed her outside and they sat down on the swing. The morning breeze was warm and relaxing. They both sat quietly enjoying the serene before Danesha spoke again. "I went to the cemetery yesterday. I went to visit Momma and Daddy." Travis looked over at his sister but did not speak. He knew she still had a lot more to say. Danesha told Travis about her visit. She told him how she'd laid roses on their mother's graves and gladiolas on their father's. She'd gone to make peace with the parents she'd loved so dearly and to let them know she intended to make them proud of her again. She told Travis that she'd only taken the job at Chocolate Paradise to please Sheila. Over the years she had enjoyed it but often dreamed of the kinds of dance she grew up doing. Sheila discouraged her from auditioning anymore saying that the producers would never hire an exotic dancer. Danesha had finally given up her dream, and had been content to be the background to Sheila's foreground. "That's not enough for me anymore Trap" she said. "I want to dance, even it's just community theatre or leading a group of 10 year olds I want to really dance." She said, "What we do at Chocolate Paradise is have sex to music. I didn't take 15 years of grueling dance classes to do that." She finished. "So when are you going to tell Sheila?" Travis asked "In just a little while, I want you to drive me home." She said. Just then a police car pulled up followed by an unmarked cruiser. Detective Sellers stepped out of the cruiser and walked towards the porch. The officer got out of his car and stood by the door. Travis and Danesha stood up as Detective Sellers reached the porch. "Detective, what are you doing here?" Travis asked. "We've found Claude Rivers Reverend. He was arrested last night." "That's great." Danesha said, "Has he said why he did it? Do you have any other details"? "Ms. Leo, Reverend, I think maybe we need to go inside. There's more that I have to tell you." "Noooooooooooo! Nooooooooooo! Nooooooooooo! Danesha screamed over and over. Travis tried to hold her, to comfort her but it was no use. She cried and screamed uncontrollably. Detective Sellers had just told them of Sheila's murder. The scene was identical to the murder scenes of Lisa and Monica. She had been stabbed in the doorway of her apartment. There were several stabs wounds to her body. The knife was left at the scene. Travis managed to get Danesha to sit on the couch. "Why didn't I go home last night…she wanted me to come home…I should have been there…I should have forced her stay here…why is this happening…why…why?" Danesha continued to cry and rant hysterically as she rocked back and forth. Travis went into the bathroom and searched through the medicine cabinet. He found the sedatives his doctor had given him last year after he sprained his ankle. He broke the large pill in half and filled a glass with water. He brought the pill to Danesha and after several attempts he was able to get her to swallow it and drink the water. He told her to lie down and he covered her with a blanket. The sedatives were extremely strong he knew she'd be asleep within a few moments. He sat down beside her stroking her back and wiping her tears with a tissue. "Rev. Leonard May I see you a moment outside?" Detective Sellers said. Travis had completely forgotten he was still there as he tried to calm his sister. He followed the Detective out on the porch and closed the door. "Reverend Leonard there's more." He said. Travis quickly thought of Marissa and prayed she was still safe at Granny's. "What detective? What else could there be?" "We didn't book Claude Rivers. We questioned him for several hours then we released him." He said Travis could not believe what the Detective was saying. "What do you mean? How could you just release him?" "Rev. Leonard the murder weapon has been left at each crime scene. All 3 of the women were stabbed with a Titan hunting knife. The same fingerprints were on each knife. Those are not Claude Rivers' fingerprints and he had an airtight alibi. We had no reason to hold him." He said "I don't understand Detective. You are not making sense. I thought he was seen fleeing the scene of Monica Satterfield's murder." Travis said. "Rev. Leonard, I've said too much already. To say anything more would not be principled at this point. I just wanted you to be aware so that you can keep your sister and her other friend Miss Rogers safe. By the way, I thought she was staying here with you." "She was. I mean is she's out right now but she'll be back soon." Travis answered. "Rev. Leonard all of these deaths are connected and the dots all lead back to Chocolate Paradise somehow. If you want I can make sure that an officer is positioned here 24 hours a day." "Yes Detective. Thank you. Right now I need to get back to my sister." Travis walked back into the house. Danesha was still awake but appeared to be calmer thanks to the sedative. "Do you need anything D?" he asked. Danesha stared straight ahead as she answered. "Sheila." She whispered.