Detective Liv DeMarco 05-Fatal Mistake Read online

  Fatal Mistake

  A Detective Liv DeMarco Thriller

  G.K. Parks

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and other concepts are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places, establishments, events, and locations is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without express written permission from the author.

  Copyright © 2021 G.K. Parks

  A Modus Operandi imprint

  All rights reserved.

  Print ISBN:

  Print ISBN-13: 978-1-942710-30-1

  For my mom and dad

  Full-length Novels in the Alexis Parker Series:

  Likely Suspects

  The Warhol Incident

  Mimicry of Banshees

  Suspicion of Murder

  Racing Through Darkness

  Camels and Corpses

  Lack of Jurisdiction

  Dying for a Fix

  Intended Target

  Muffled Echoes

  Crisis of Conscience

  Misplaced Trust

  Whitewashed Lies

  On Tilt

  Purview of Flashbulbs

  The Long Game

  Burning Embers

  Thick Fog

  Warning Signs

  Past Crimes

  Sinister Secret

  Julian Mercer Novels

  Condemned

  Betrayal

  Subversion

  Reparation

  Retaliation

  Hunting Grounds

  Liv DeMarco Novels

  Dangerous Stakes

  Operation Stakeout

  Unforeseen Danger

  Deadly Dealings

  High Risk

  Fatal Mistake

  Imminent Threat

  Lucien Cross Stories

  Fallen Angel

  Calculated Risk

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-two

  Twenty-three

  Twenty-four

  Twenty-five

  Twenty-six

  Twenty-seven

  Twenty-eight

  Twenty-nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-one

  Thirty-two

  Thirty-three

  Thirty-four

  Thirty-five

  Thirty-six

  Thirty-seven

  Thirty-eight

  Thirty-nine

  Note from the Author:

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  One

  The smell of her perfume was intoxicating. Leaning forward, he picked up his drink, tilting his head down and to the side so he could watch her walk across the crowded hotel bar. Her heels clacked against the tile floor, and he focused on the sound, using it to tune out the other ambient noises.

  She was something special. Her glossy brown hair draped over her bare shoulders. The red fabric of her strapless dress clung beautifully to her body. Oh, the things he wanted to do to that body. A familiar stirring came over him, a sizzling sensation that made his blood pound and his mouth water.

  Smiling, he straightened on the barstool and took another sip of his wine. It was something expensive, in red, just like the woman. She crossed her legs, her dress inching up her perfect thigh. Based on her musculature, she worked out. That meant she’d have some stamina. Maybe she’d run. He liked to chase.

  After ten minutes, the man with whom she’d been speaking got up. She slid a hotel keycard across the table to him so no one would notice. With hungry eyes, she watched him walk out of the bar.

  Once the man was gone, she relaxed, sinking deeper into the chair. He swiveled on the stool, pretending to look for someone while he observed her. Based on her actions, he decided she had little real interest in the man who’d gone upstairs. It was just another job to her—a way to get paid.

  She swallowed what remained in her glass and headed to the lobby. He turned to the bartender, removing his wallet and paying his tab in cash. As she moved past him, he closed his eyes, concentrating on her scent and the sound of her heels. Even if he lost sight of her, he wanted to commit her attributes to his other senses. It’d make locating her easier.

  Before going upstairs, she entered the ladies’ room. He followed her, stopping by the gift shop to buy a candy bar and magazine. Then he pressed the button for the elevator.

  The doors were about to close when she called out, “Hold the elevator.”

  Hiding his grin, he stuck his hand out and gave one side a gentle push. As the doors opened, she slipped inside.

  “What floor?” he asked.

  “Nine.” After he pressed the button, she said, “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” He remained facing forward, his hands folded in front of him while he angled his head down.

  When the doors opened, she stepped out and headed to the right. He shifted to the other side in order to watch her walk down the hallway. She straightened her dress, fixed her hair, and knocked on the door to room 904.

  The man from the bar greeted her with a kiss, his hands locking onto her firm buttocks. She giggled, pushing him back into the room. He watched from the elevator, annoyed at the games. Why the façade? This was business. Just another transaction—one of the flesh.

  The doors closed, and he rode the elevator to the top floor before pressing the button for the lobby and riding it all the way back down. Stepping out, he returned to the bar and picked up the pair of cheap sunglasses he’d intentionally left behind, bumping into another woman. She was a little heavier than he liked, but that would make this easier.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled, “I’m a klutz.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  He turned up the charm, using the trick that oftentimes worked with lonely women and men. Gazing into her eyes, he allowed his lips to quirk up in the corners. “I was on my way out, but, please, let me buy you another drink to make up for it.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I’ll feel terrible if you don’t let me.” He held eye contact. He knew that was the way to convince her to trust him. He took a step back, appearing as non-threatening as possible. In his business suit with his tie loose and his top button opened, he looked innocent enough.

  She leaned closer to him. “Well, if you insist.”

  He took a seat beside her and gestured to the bartender for another. “I’m Bradley.”

  “Eloise.”

  “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.” He looked casually around the bar before leaning in closer, as if she couldn’t hear him over the crowd. “Do you live here?”

  “In this bar?” she teased.

  “No,” he found the joke trivial but held the grin, “in the city.” Before she could answer, he continued, “I’m here on business, but I want to take in some of the sights. I’m not sure where to begin. I’m not really into touristy things, but I like to explore.” He let the words linger in the air like a velvety dessert.

  “What do you enjoy? Art? Theater? Sports? Food? Architecture? We have it all, right her
e.”

  He let his eyes travel over her body. “I can see that.”

  She giggled. “Well?”

  He let out a thoughtful hum. “I’m looking for something crazy and a little wild.”

  Her pupils dilated ever so slightly, and she blushed. “Aren’t we all?” She turned back to the bar, afraid to be so bold, and sipped her drink.

  He knew what women liked and how to lure them to him. But he backed off, pulling out his phone and searching for nearby clubs. He read them off to her as he went, asking if she’d been to any of them and what her opinion was. While they flirted, he kept his peripheral vision trained on the hotel lobby, waiting for the woman in red to make her escape.

  “Oh, I always wanted to try that club,” Eloise said.

  “We should go.” He tucked his phone back into his pocket and checked the time. “What are you doing tonight?”

  She blushed crimson and covered her mouth to hide her nervous, giddy laughter. “Um…”

  “What am I thinking? Surely, you must have plans. Someone must be waiting for you.”

  “No, tonight’s your lucky night.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Is it?”

  “I mean…,” she blushed again, “I thought…were you asking?”

  He cracked a grin. “I’m just teasing. I’d love for you to join me, if you’re free.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes, tonight.” He caught sight of the elevator opening and scratched his head in order to lean over farther to see the woman in the red dress exiting. He glanced at his watch. Perfect timing. He’d been doing this long enough to know how long everything would take. He had it almost down to the minute. Tonight, he should have been a little quicker, but if they hurried, he could still catch the woman in red. “Let’s go be wild and crazy. Yeah?” He gave her a sexy look while tossing some cash on the bar to cover her drinks. “Worst case, the club’s a crapshoot and we end up back here.”

  The few seconds Eloise took to consider his proposal nearly drove him mad. He couldn’t lose the woman in red. If she had a rideshare or taxi waiting, he might miss her. He didn’t have time for this lonely lady to play hard to get.

  “Okay.” Eloise picked up her purse.

  He grabbed her hand, letting his excitement show. They dashed out of the bar, through the hotel lobby, and out the front door. Inhaling deeply, he caught a whiff of the familiar perfume, and he followed it down the sidewalk, concentrating on the sound of clacking high heels.

  A few feet away, he spotted the red dress. She hadn’t escaped him. Everything dimmed except for her. Eloise tugged on his hand, but it barely registered. He had other thoughts in mind.

  The woman in red continued down the street. “It’s a beautiful night,” he mused, turning with a sexy smile. “Would you mind if we walk for a bit? The moonlight brings out your eyes.” He brushed Eloise’s hair to the side. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She grinned. “I guess that’d be okay.” Lacing her fingers tighter with his, she asked about his work and where he was from.

  He told her the same practiced lie he always used. They walked for several blocks, until the woman in red headed for the subway station. He didn’t need this type of complication, but he’d dealt with it before. He knew exactly what to do. It took only a few seconds to convince Eloise they should take the train, but when his empty transit card didn’t work, he told her to go ahead and wait for him on the platform.

  “I’ll stay here. I don’t want you to get lost,” she said.

  “I won’t.” He pointed to the machines. “I’ll just refill my card and find you.” He looked around, catching a glimpse of the direction the woman in red was heading. “Actually, how about you meet me at the information booth? I’ll definitely be able to find that.” People were moving around them, growing impatient with the holdup in front of the turnstiles. “It’ll just take a minute. Go find out which connection we should make.”

  “Okay.” But Eloise didn’t sound convinced.

  He glanced back to make sure she had disappeared in the throng. Once she was out of sight, he removed a second transit card from his pocket and veered to the left before Eloise had a chance to turn around and look for him. Moving at a fast clip, he went up the stairs to the next platform. The train had just arrived, and his target had already taken a seat near the door. He entered at the other end of the car and kept his eye on her.

  When they reached her stop, she got out. He followed, focusing solely on her. He couldn’t lose her now that he was so close. Once they made it back to street level, the congestion eased. He fell back, trailing her from a distance.

  Two blocks later, she went up the stairs to a fourth floor walk-up. He watched from the street below as she unlocked her door and went inside. His blood pulsed in his veins as he grew more excited. He’d found her. Now he’d do what he wanted with her.

  * * *

  “I’m sorry I’m late.” Detective Brad Fennel inhaled deeply, eyeing the kitchen. “Did I miss dinner?”

  “No,” I stepped away from the front door, “I wasn’t going to eat without you.”

  “You could have. We said eight, and it’s after ten.” Brad shut the door and flipped the locks. “I don’t want you to starve, Liv. I told you that on the phone.” He removed his holster and badge from his belt and placed them on the counter before washing his hands in the sink. “What can I do to help?”

  “Grab the salad out of the fridge.” I opened the oven door and peered inside.

  Since returning from vacation, my mother had been sending over care packages every week, even though I told her I was fine. Emma, my best friend, had been doing the same thing. With all this surplus food, I had dinner guests almost every night to keep it at bay. Namely Brad. We always spent an inordinate amount of time together due to the job, but since I got hurt, he’d been coming over constantly. However, it’d been a few days since his last visit.

  “What kept you so late?” I asked.

  “Surveillance. You know how it goes. Until my relief showed up, I was stuck.”

  “You’d think the guys in narcotics would be better about sticking to a schedule since they had to drag you over from homicide to help them out.”

  “Whatever. It’s overtime. I can’t complain. How was your day?”

  “I spent my morning answering phones in the call center. Detective Voletek’s been hanging around a lot. Did you know he fields calls in his spare time?”

  “Or he said that just so he could hang out with you.” Brad snorted. “He better not be trying to steal my partner. This thing I’m doing is only temporary. I will be back. It’s important you remember that.”

  I snickered. “Okay, Arnold.”

  Once dinner was on the table, Brad asked, “Wasn’t your medical eval today?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well? What did the doctor say? When can you come back at full capacity?”

  “Soon.”

  “How soon?”

  I couldn’t hide my smile any longer. “Tomorrow.”

  A grin erupted on his face, his brown eyes brightening. “Are you serious?”

  “Yep. Medical cleared me. I turned in all the paperwork. Lt. Winston approved it.”

  “That’s great, Liv. The precinct’s not the same without a DeMarco working an investigation.” He speared a cucumber before skewering some lettuce. “What does Emma think about this? I’m sure she has an opinion.”

  “Don’t ask.” I gently touched the tender pink flesh at the back of my neck. “She and my mom ambushed me at lunch with an entire presentation on why being a police detective is a bad idea.”

  “Too late for that,” he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, “unless you’re having second thoughts. No one would blame you for that.”

  “I’m fine, Brad. Stop worrying. I’m ready.”

  “I’m not worried. I know you can handle yourself. You’re Vince DeMarco’s daughter. That automatically means you’ve spent your entire life learning from one of
the best police captains on the force. You’re smart and strong—a force to be reckoned with.” He blotted his mouth with the napkin. “Poor Emma and Maria. They didn’t stand a chance.”

  I arched an eyebrow, suddenly suspicious. “What do you want?”

  “What?”

  “You’re never this nice to me.” I scrutinized his appearance. He’d shown up in a wrinkled suit, which looked like it’d spent time on his bedroom floor. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. For the record, I’m always nice to you.”

  “What’s with the outfit?”

  He glanced down. “Nothing. Since I was running late, I didn’t get a chance to change. I’m not even sure I finished all the paperwork.”

  “Lucky for you, I’m back, which means you can tell the boys in narcotics we need you back in homicide.”

  Swallowing, he shifted his salad plate to the side and helped himself to the pot roast. “Actually, I’ve been reassigned until we close this case.”

  “I thought you were just helping out so you didn’t have to ride a desk. When did this happen?”

  “Recently.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t see much of a point. Winston didn’t want me working homicide without a partner. He didn’t leave me much of a choice.” Something dark passed behind Brad’s eyes.

  He was never this cagey. We told each other everything to the point one might say we tended to overshare. “How long has this been going on?”

  “A few weeks.”

  “Is this punishment from your suspension or something more permanent?”

  “Relax, Liv. It’s temporary. I’m just helping out.”

  “Is the brass forcing us apart after what happened? You didn’t screw up. You weren’t even there when I was attacked.”

  “I should have been,” he muttered. “But as far as I know, they don’t have a problem with us working together. I volunteered. That’s all this is.”

  “If they want to blame someone, it should be me.” But I hadn’t heard anything. Then again, as a DeMarco, I was less likely to get reprimanded, even though neither of us had done anything wrong.