Mistaken Identity: A Detective Liv DeMarco Thriller by G.K. Parks

Author:G.K. Parks [Parks, G.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Modus Operandi
Published: 2022-09-29T23:00:00+00:00

Twenty-two

As soon as he was free, he went home to shower and clean himself up. Disgusting, he thought as he scrubbed his face and soaped up his body. The hot spray washed the dirt and grime down the drain, just like it had the blood. He waited for the water to turn clear before stepping out and toweling off.

Eat or sleep, he wondered, checking his reflection in the mirror. But before he could decide, someone knocked on his door.

It was an unfamiliar sound. He didn’t get guests. Confused, he reached for the long-handled axe.

“Hey, it’s me,” Vivica Smaldey called from the other side. “Open up.” She knocked again, more frantically.

He put the axe in the closet, along with his grimy sweatshirt, glanced around to make sure the place was neat enough for the woman of his dreams, and opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

She marched right past him. “You invited me back here the other night, remember? I thought it was an open invitation. Didn’t you say that?”

“Oh, right.” He ran a hand through his damp hair. “Do you want to sit down? I can make you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” She looked ill.

“Viv, what’s wrong?”

“We’ve known each other a long time. You’re one of my closest friends. I always trusted you.”

He smiled, moving to brush a stray strand of hair back behind her ear. “I’m always here for you. You know that.” The hurt, questioning look on her face made him nervous.

“Dan’s dead.”

“So?”

She took a step back, as if she’d been slapped. “So? That’s all you have to say?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I called you that afternoon and told you about the party. I told you I was going with Dan.”

“Viv, you don’t look so good. Sit down. Let me get you a glass of water.” Her questions sounded more and more like accusations. He didn’t like that. He’d done this for her. He’d saved her. Didn’t she realize this was for the best? She should be thanking him, not accusing him. He took her by the elbow and led her to a chair. “Stay right here. I’ll be right back.”

“We made plans to meet up afterward at that bar. But you were late.”

“I wasn’t late. I was waiting for you. We got our signals crossed, remember?”

“What were you wearing?”

His face flushed. She realized what he’d done, and she didn’t sound pleased. Why didn’t she understand? “Um…I don’t remember.”

“You had on a long leather jacket. I’ve never seen you wear that before.”

“You hardly ever see me. You haven’t made much time for us in the last few months, since you started dating Dan. He was never good enough for you. I told you that. Didn’t you see what he was?”

“What was that?”

“Don’t make me say it. You saw his teeth. He wasn’t a good guy. It’s not safe hanging around someone like that.” He returned with a glass of water to find her standing in front of the open closet door. “What are you looking for?”

“The coat you wore the other night.

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