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    Fatal Romance: The Fatal Series, #3
    Fatal Romance: The Fatal Series, #3
    Fatal Romance: The Fatal Series, #3
    Ebook210 pages2 hours

    Fatal Romance: The Fatal Series, #3

    By Bob Moats

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    About this ebook

    It was going to be a simple vacation to Las Vegas, then on to New York for Sarah and Dave, after the attack on their lives by a second serial killer in their town. They had to get away. Little did they know that New York would be just as deadly. A man who used the companion ads to date and murder his victims would make their lives far more complicated then ever before. The killer hits close to home and the chase is on for Sarah, Dave and the FBI to find him before he murders the one person who is important to all of them.

    ***********

    FAST PACED, CAPTIVATING, WELL-WRITTEN 
    By RJPP TOP 1000 REVIEWER
    Format:Kindle Edition


    Fatal Romance by Bob Moats is the author's third book in his 'Fatal' series.

    After surviving another brush with a Serial Killer in Fatal Departure, Dave and Sarah are due for a vacation. They set off for New York, with a short stop-over in Las Vegas for a night, where Dave surprises Sarah. In the meanwhile, there is a Serial Killer in New York who is targeting women using companion dating ads. The killer is well organized; killing in one place and dumping the bodies in another, and furthermore, he is leaving no trace evidence for investigators. Within a couple of days of arriving in New York, Sarah's best friend Connie, is taken by the Serial Killer, and with the help of the FBI and local police, the race is on to find Connie and the Killer.

    In astonishing twists, turns and gripping suspense, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I relish the fast-paced stories that Moats writes; he doesn't drag out a story by describing irrelevant scenes. A must read!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBob Moats
    Release dateJun 27, 2014
    ISBN9781501410697
    Fatal Romance: The Fatal Series, #3
    Author

    Bob Moats

    Detroit area resident, Bob Moats, has been writing short stories and plays for as long as he can remember. He has lost most of his original stories, typed or handwritten, in the numerous moves he has made from his hometown of Fraser, Michigan to Northern Michigan, to Las Vegas and back to Fraser, where he now lives. Moats became one of the causalities of unemployment a year ago, and had time on his hands to finally pursue a life long dream of writing a full blown crime novel. Thus was born the first book, "Classmate Murders".What followed was a series of seven books starting with "The Classmate Murders" which introduces the main character, Jim Richards, who has to admit he has become a senior citizen, reluctantly. Richards, one day, receives an email from a childhood sweetheart asking for his help, but by the time he reaches her, she has been murdered. His life turns around and he is pulled into numerous murders of women from his high school who he hasn't seen in forty years. Along with a friend of his, Buck, a big, mustached biker, they go off to track down the killer before he can get to one former classmate, Penny Wickens, a TV talk show host who Jim has just fallen for while protecting her. The killer is also murdering the women right out from under police protection, driving homicide detective Will Trapper crazy, and he slowly depends on Jim to help. There's humor, suspense, wild chases across suburban Detroit with cops, classic cars and motorcycle clubs; murder, mayhem, a good amount of romance and a twist ending.Jim and his crime fighters, continue in the other books, traveling to Las Vegas twice, back to Detroit and out to New York to solve murders involving dominatrix; mistresses; Bridezillas; magic and strip clubs.Book titles: Classmate Murders; Vegas Showgirl Murders; Dominatrix Murders; Mistress Murders; Bridezilla Murders; Magic Murders; Strip Club Murders and Made-for-TV Murders.

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      Book preview

      Fatal Romance - Bob Moats

      Fatal

      Romance

      ––––––––

      By Bob Moats

      ––––––––

      Copyright © 2014 by Bob Moats.

      All rights reserved.

      Rev. 0706141105

      This book is licensed for your personal use only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

      This is a work of pure fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      For information and address:

      Magic 1 Productions

      P.O. Box 524, Fraser MI 48026-0524

      Website: http://murdernovels.com

      Cover by Bob Moats

      My thanks to:

      To Jan Kimball for editing my story. She checked my first couple books way back in 2009, and it took all this time to get her back. She is the comma queen.

      To all the Beta readers, especially Al Norris, who hates all of my books but he still reads them, and makes sure he points out all the mistakes he finds.

      A special thanks to all the faithful readers of my books, without you this wouldn’t be fun anymore, thanks!

      Thou art to me a delicious torment.

      - Ralph Waldo Emerson

      Romance has been elegantly defined as the offspring of fiction and love.

      - Benjamin Disraeli

      Chapter 1

      The plain looking woman entered the bar and sat at the table where she had been instructed to sit. She smiled as the waitress came up and asked what she wanted. She didn't want to drink before she met with her date, so she ordered a soda. The waitress went off and the woman looked around the dingy looking bar. She thought it was a strange place to meet with the man she hadn't met before. She had received a reply to her personal dating ad in the New York Times, from a man saying he would like to meet with her for a social drink. They exchanged information by email, no phone calls, and he suggested they meet here. It was an old bar, probably built in the late twenties. It had ceiling fans and old light fixtures that were most likely shiny and bright at one time.

      Her drink came and she dipped into her purse and gave the girl a five. The girl gave her the change, two dollars. The woman thought three dollars was a bit pricey for soda, but she didn't intend to buy another. She glanced at her watch, he was ten minutes late. Maybe he wouldn't even show. Another useless night, she thought, hoping for a man to romance her, wine and dine her. Maybe they'd go back to her apartment for late night love making. She blushed at the thought.

      Thirty minutes later, she was starting to feel foolish, waiting for a man who wasn't coming. She started to stand to leave when the door opened and in walked a man. He stopped just inside the door as the woman sat back down. He came to her and said, I really apologize for my lateness, work and traffic, I hope you understand?

      She looked up to the man; he had deep brown eyes and a handsome face. Her heart skipped a few beats and she said, No problem. I am a patient person, and I understand how life can get in the way.

      Very good, I like you already, he said with a smile that gave her pause and a catch in her throat. She had hopes for a good night. Unfortunately, it would be her last night on earth.

      ~~*~~

      Sarah was having a fit trying to get through the Homeland Security checks at the Sea-Tac International Airport just below Seattle, Washington. She wasn't happy with the intrusion into her life and all the examinations they were doing to her baggage. Dave Chandler, her live-in love and Sheriff of Jefferson County, where they shared a house together, was trying not to laugh.

      If I hear one giggle from you, I'm cutting you off the rest of our vacation, she threatened. I don't like my underwear being searched for explosives.

      Dave had to show his ID to the guard and she noticed his badge, Are you a law officer? the TSA agent asked.

      Yes ma'am, Sheriff of Jefferson County, he replied.

      Well Sheriff, you can go right on to the boarding gate.

      Sarah looked at the woman and said tersely, I'm with him, can I go on?

      Dave leaned to the woman and said quietly, She's my prisoner, I need to have her close.

      The TSA agent smiled and said, Then you should handcuff her. She chuckled and let them both through.

      Sarah at least waited until she was out of earshot of the woman and said, I heard that prisoner crack, I'll let it go this time, but you are on thin ice.

      Can we just get in the plane before you start an international incident?

      I'll be good, until we get in the air.

      That doesn't work either; they can land the plane at the next airport and boot you off. I'm not going on to Vegas and then New York without you.

      Okay, but I'm writing a letter of objection to someone. This is a poor way to run an airline.

      It's not the airline, it's the government, and you can't fight with them.

      I want to fight with someone. So find out who I can complain to.

      I'll do that dear, now take a breath and let's get through this in one piece.

      They went to the boarding gate and showed their boarding passes to the man at the door. He smiled and welcomed them aboard. Sarah held her tongue as they passed through the door and down the corridor to the plane. The passageway in the plane was narrow and crowded, people trying to get their carry-on luggage in the overhead compartments. Dave found their seats, Sarah insisted on a window seat and it was arranged. She slid into the seat and looked out at the tarmac of the terminal where the plane was resting.

      Not a very pretty sight, she said to Dave.

      Wait until we're in the air, I'm sure it gets better. It's going to be a short flight anyway. Our first stop will be Las Vegas, where we will spend a couple days relaxing and losing our money. Then we catch another flight to New York, by way of Minneapolis, Detroit then into JFK. A day and a half of layovers and stale pretzels in plastic bags that are impossible to open. Oh joy.

      Well, you made the arrangements for this trip, blame yourself. I had enough money to fly us first class all the way, but no, you wanted to save a few dollars. She turned to the window as the plane was ready to leave the airport terminal.

      Dave smiled and sat back, he had never been on a plane before so this would be interesting. The plane began to taxi out to the runway and then must have gotten permission from the tower to take-off. Dave held on to the arms of the seat, until his knuckles were white. Sarah put her hand on his and said, Hold on dear, it won't be a long flight. She patted his hand and watched out the window as the plane took off. For the next one hour and forty-five minutes, they sat enjoying the trip.

      The plane descended into McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and landed without so much as a bump. Everyone departed from the plane and went to get their baggage. Dave found their bags and they went out to the taxi stands. They managed to get a taxi and told the man to take them to the Bellagio Hotel where Dave had made reservations. The taxi dropped them off at the entrance and they took their bags, went into the hotel and up to the desk.

      Yes, Mr. Chandler, we have your room ready. Here's a packet of fun things to do while in Vegas. The girl at the desk signed them in and called for a porter to take them to their room.

      The elevator ride was fast and they came out on the tenth floor, as the porter led them to their room for the next two days. Dave tipped the porter and he went off. Sarah was standing in the middle of the huge room looking at all the luxurious surroundings. She turned to Dave and said, I love it.

      Dave went off to the side where the bedroom was and said, Guess what I found?

      Sarah was looking out the window at the strip of casinos and hotels and said, What?

      A very large bed, shall we kick off our vacation to a good start.

      Sarah turned and ran to him. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

      ~~*~~

      The man was studying the New York Times newspaper classifieds for any personal lonely hearts posting. He read down the list of ads and wrote down a few of them on a pad he carried. He studied the names and picked one he thought would be a good choice. Lonely, plain, hard up and willing, the kind he liked. 

      He sat at his desk and opened the laptop to reply to the first one he decided on. A woman named Lisa, in the Bronx. He typed out the reply to her ad and then when he was satisfied, he sent it. Now it was time to get rid of the last body he had, the woman from the bar.

      He stood, went to his garage and opened the trunk of his car, looking to the body laid out all nice and silent. The way he liked his women. He closed the trunk, opened the garage door and drove out. It was just getting dark as he went up the South Belt Parkway to Spring Creek Park, just off Jamaica Bay. It was marshy and secluded where he turned off and pulled his car to a stop. He got out and was looking around the area for anyone else wandering the park. He saw no one; it was a bit chilly for anyone to be near the water. He went over to the area he had used many times before. It was damp and full of reeds, covering the bodies he had dumped there before.

      He went back to his car and looked around again. No one was watching, so he opened the trunk and took the woman out, carrying her to his dump spot. He placed her in the reeds and spread her out so she could decompose quickly. Her naked body lay on the wet ground as he pulled brush from the ground and covered her with them. He heard the roar of the jets from JFK Airport, just north of where he stood. He watched the massive planes leaving and arriving at the huge airport, going and coming from places around the globe.

      He didn't care, he liked his own little space he created, his little grave yard of women he used and threw away. He smiled and went back to his car, back to his home to check his e-mail for the next victim.

      *

      Chapter 2

      Sarah and Dave took a breather from the hotel suite bedroom and dressed to go out. It was now about four in the afternoon, and they were hungry. They went down to the Picasso Restaurant in the hotel and waited to be seated. Dave was holding Sarah's hand and she was swinging his hand, like a schoolgirl in love.

      Mr. Chandler, your table is ready. This way please. The Maître D' led them to a nice table, that was fairly secluded from the rest of the room. Dave tipped the man and he went off. Dave pulled Sarah's chair out and she sat. He sat and picked up the menu as a girl came up, asking if they'd like something from the bar.

      I'll have a beer, Heineken, please. Sarah? he asked.

      White wine please, anything will do.

      Bring a carafe, please. Dave said.

      Yes sir, the girl said and went off.

      A carafe? Are you trying to get me drunk? Sarah said with a laugh.

      Drunk in love, yes. Now what would you like for dinner? He studied the menu and said, I don't see steak and eggs.

      Sarah laughed thinking about the great steak and eggs they would get back at the Halfway House Restaurant in Brinnon. She settled on filet mignon and put the menu down.

      Sounds good to me, he replied and set his menu on hers.

      They sat looking around the restaurant at all the Picasso paintings on the walls and the collection of his ceramic pieces on display. It was a bright and pleasant room done in blues and browns, with plenty of flower arrangements.

      The waitress came and took their order and went off, just as the girl came up with their drinks. She set them out and went off.

      This is all so beautiful, such a wonderful place to be, Sarah said reaching to Dave's hand across the table.

      I even have a little surprise, at the end of the dinner. But don't ask.

      Oh thanks, make me wait.

      You'll be pleased. I just like to tease.

      Oh, I can tease too. But you won't get any surprises from me.

      ~~*~~

      About 2,570 miles away, in New York City, a car drove down the highway on its way to a bar in the Bronx. The man driving was grinning about what was going to happen tonight. He was on time this time and pulled into the parking lot on the side of the building. He entered the bar and let his eyes adjust to the low lighting, even though it was dark outside. He saw her at the table he instructed her to sit and went to her.

      Hi, are you Lisa? he asked.

      Yes I am, thanks, and you are Greg? she replied.

      I am, he said, but knowing it wasn't his real name. No sense in giving away details that could get him caught. He sat and turned to the waitress and called to her. She came and smiled, asking what they wanted to drink. They gave her their orders and she went off.

      So why does a beautiful woman like you need to use the dating ads? he started the conversation.

      Not hard to explain, I got tired of the bar scene, too many creeps out there. The classifieds allow me to find out about a person through e-mail, not like being picked up in a bar. Bars are hit and miss. Then, we meet for simple drinks to see how it goes from there.

      Makes sense, have you tried speed dating?

      Oh man, that was a trip. Having less than five minutes to get to know someone, worse than being in a bar. I didn't go back for either. I liked the e-mails you sent and so I took a chance. Besides what could go wrong, it's all risk-free through the paper. They monitor the people posting. Right?

      The man sat back and grinned, "Yes, they are careful who they let post an ad, aren't they? I'm sure they wouldn't want

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