Sunday, September 2, 2012

Book Spotlight: Teri Riggs' THE EYES DIE LAST

THE EYES DIE LAST
by Teri Riggs



Kindle Edition
Kindle Price: $2.99
File Size: 516 KB
Print Length: 293 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B005Z5FZGE



Book Synopsis:

The Las Vegas Mayoral race is heating up, and the incumbent doesn’t have a prayer. Wealthy real estate speculator Nick Campenelli, who wants to legalize prostitution in Clark County, and former pastor Louis St. Louis, running on a 'clean-up-Vegas-by-getting-rid-of-the-whores' platform, are the front runners.

They’re also front runners on the suspect list for a string of murders. Kennedy O’Brien, four-year detective with cop blood running in her veins, and her partner Wilder “Wild Thing” James, a veteran, are determined to find the man who’s murdering prostitutes who work the wrong side of the street, and they don’t care how important or politically active he is.

The killer is a man with a mission. He stalks the women before he kills them, leaving a “BEFORE” photo on their bodies, and sending an “AFTER” shot to the local news hound. Ed Hershey, an aging newscaster with just the right amount of grey in his hair, is determined to turn this story into a network gig, and his interference, along with the LVTVS legal team, are making Kennedy and Wilder look bad. Campenelli’s good looks and charm, and St. Louis’ vitriolic hatred of prostitutes are muddying the waters too, and now the killer seems to have taken a liking to Kennedy.



CHAPTER 1


The calm midnight sky did little to lessen the brutal and unrelenting Las Vegas heat that engulfed him as he stood watching from the shadows. Sweat, mixed with anticipation and fear, made his cotton dress shirt stick to his back. Adrenaline pulsed through him, blurring the flashing neon lights in his peripheral vision into distorted, iridescent streaks of color dancing across the sidewalks. He rubbed his clammy palms together as he watched a woman step from a Mercedes onto the littered curb.





With a quick tug on the rough denim, she straightened her tight, micro-mini skirt and, placing a hand on each side of her jewel-trimmed halter top, jiggled her size double-D‟s into position. Smiling, she tucked a wad of bills into her tiny purse and waved as the dark sedan sped away.

His heart pounded an erratic rhythm in double-time against his chest wall and small beads of perspiration dotted his forehead. He wiped his moist hands on his pants and approached her, head down, shoulders hunched.

“How much for twenty minutes?” He tipped his head in the direction of the alley. “Over there, standing up.”

Her eyes widened, bright purple eye shadow sparkling in the light of a passing car. “Standing up? You like it a little dirty, do you?”

He eyed the creamy breasts overflowing from her halter top. “Don‟t we all?”

The woman shrugged, and for a few seconds he could see the boredom in her gaze. She looked down at the sidewalk and back up at him. Then she smiled.

“You‟re in charge, boss. Twenty minutes, fifty dollars. Cash up front and I have a strict policy about condoms. I only use my own. A girl‟s gotta protect the merchandise.”

He closed his eyes, savoring the moment that would propel him into greatness. When he opened them again, he could tell by the look on her face she thought he was mulling over the price. He‟d go along with it. “Fifty dollars up front?”

“Take it or leave it. Hooking this side of the county line is illegal, you know. I‟m taking a risk.” She ran her hands slowly over her double-D‟s and wiggled her ass. Her voice purred, “As you can see, I‟m not a damn blue-light special.”

He looked down one side of the street, and then the other. He studied the alley for a moment, and then looked her over again, slowly.

“I‟m worth every penny.”

Did the whore actually think he’d find that sexy?

“Yes, love. I can see how much you‟re worth.”

“Well then make up your mind.”

He pulled a fifty from his pants pocket and handed her the cash. “Of course I‟ll pay you what you deserve.” Pushing past her, he walked into the dark alley, rolling up the long sleeves of his once neatly pressed dress shirt.

“Thanks, sugar.” She folded and then tucked the cash into her purse.

He looked over his shoulder at her. “So how about you get that sweet, fifty dollar ass of yours over here?”

She followed willingly and when they stopped, stood face to face with him. The stink of cheap perfume smacked him in the face and his stomach muscles tightened. His voice roughened.
“Turn around. I want to do you from behind.”

She turned slowly and snuggled her ass up against him.

His body responded instantly to the warm, curvy feel of her.

He smoothed her perfect blond hair behind her ears, lifted it off her neck and pushed it to one side. Massaging the nape of her neck, he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“There you go, love. Just loosen up, I‟ll handle everything. Close your eyes.”

With each small circle his hands made, he felt her body relax a little more.

“You like that?” He kept his voice deep and hypnotic, maintained his gentle, steady movements.

“Oh, yes, sugar, I do. Mmmm, that feels wonderful, but I‟m supposed to be making you feel good.”

“Don‟t worry, love, my turn will come. Stay real still for me.”

He let go of her neck, instantly missed the warm feel of her skin, and a low grunt escaped his lips. The smooth sound of metal sliding against metal as he unzipped his pants echoed in the empty alley.

“Condom time.” The woman reached for her small handbag and he grabbed her arm roughly. He felt her tense.

“Not yet, love. I‟ll tell you when you‟ll need that.” Letting go of her arm, he repeated, “Stay still like I asked.”

His hands resumed their steady, soothing massage and he felt her body go lax once more. He stroked her neck while his fingers encircled it, keeping the pressure slow and erotic. She tilted her head back, allowing him further access.

It was time for her to earn her money.

He tightened his grip on her neck. She tried to wiggle free, but failed. Gagging harshly, she clutched at his wrists. His grasp tightened as he began rubbing himself against her backside, kneading and squeezing her neck firmly. When she began to struggle in earnest, he kept his grip on her neck with one long fingered hand and bent her forward, roughly yanking up her skirt with the other. He pulled down her panties and jammed inside her, holding her hip with one hand and crushing her throat with the other.

Gasping for air, she began to fight harder to break free, driving his excitement to a new high. Her movements were frantic as she clawed at his hands, his arms.

“That‟s right, love. Fight me. That‟s what I like.” His voice had gone raspy. “I told you you‟d love it. Now, you‟re earning your money.”

Her frenzied movements slowed against him, and he felt his climax begin, deep in his belly, exploding as she gasped her last breath.

He tipped his head up and moaned loudly as he spilled himself into her body.

When he was satisfied that she was dead, he let her limp, inert body drop to the ground with a thud, grimacing at the urine and something darker that splattered the ground when she fell.

Taking a quick step back, he tucked himself away, zipped his pants and buckled his belt before using one loafer clad foot to roll her over.

Holding his hands in front of his face, he studied them for a moment, first one side and then the other. The power he had over life and death was like nothing he‟d ever experienced before.

Bending over her body, he used his hanky to slip an envelope inside her skimpy halter top. He smoothed her hair back into place, and then snapped a picture of her with his small digital camera. He‟d print two copies. One for himself. One for his soon-to-be new best friend. He picked up her tiny purse and tucked it into his back pocket.

Before turning to leave he took a lingering last look at her body. Her eyes, frozen in death, stared blankly up at him. Could she still see him? Strangely fascinated, he leaned in to get a closer look.

“I‟ll be damned,” he said. “The eyes die last.”





1 comments:

Anonymous said...

The book is 2.99, not 4.99 :)

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