Drop Dead Killers: A David Graham Thriller

By Janet Martinez

Washington, D.C.’s legal community is shaken by a sudden spate of homicides. The first to meet his unfortunate fate is a young lawyer named Brad, murdered by a lethal injection in his office on Friday night. Another lawyer in the same law firm is murdered the same way. The difference is that Rick’s murder takes place in his office during a busy work day. Next, another young lawyer from the same firm, Michelle, is found dead in a dressing room at Neiman Marcus. The ill-fated individuals had a history of behaving badly to everyone around them. But their behavior doesn’t seem to be bad enough to warrant murder.

With Detective David Graham in charge of the case, can he and his partner, Alexis Hamilton put a stop to the killings? Unknown to him, however, Alexis has an agenda of her own. She’s in love with David and will do whatever it takes to make him return her affection.

As the riddle unfolds we meet numerous intriguing characters like drop dead gorgeous Cassandra Littleton and David’s best friend, Peter, who sets him up with Cassandra; and Alison Grant, David’s old flame, who is running from her husband, Charles. Charles plans to kill Alison the first chance he gets.

With David following clues to the identity of the killer, will he discover the secrets the people closest to him are trying to hide before it’s too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet Martinez
• Release date: May 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310955280

Janet Martinez

Janet was born in Indiana and raised in Illinois. After twenty-plus years working as a legal assistant and paralegal, she now teaches high school. Her legal experience led the to creation of Drop Dead Killers. There were several lawyers she could gladly have killed over the years.She now lives in Cordova, Tennessee with an obnoxious Doberman, a spoiled cocker spaniel, a mean poodle and a very sweet shih tzu -- and two cats. When she isn't writing, she's walking dogs, grading papers or crocheting baby sweaters for friends.

Book preview

Washington, D.C.

So many women, so little time. Brad leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the corner of his desk. He should have had one of those women tonight. After all, no one spends Friday night alone. He was convinced someone was warning off the secretaries and paralegals. They were no longer interested in being the flavor of the moment.

His office door opened. Kristy? I thought you’d gone, he said over his shoulder.

I’m not Kristy. He removed his feet from his desk and swiveled his chair around so he could see who was there. A beautiful woman stood in the doorway, which brought an immediate smile to his face. She was wearing a calf-length trench coat and a large, floppy brimmed hat. He stood so he could see her face.

Uh, hello, Ms. …. The woman didn’t tell him her name. Did we have an appointment at this time of night on a Friday?

No, no appointment.

Then why are you here? Who are you? How did you get in here?

She returned his smile. I literally ran into your secretary in the garage and took the key card she had just slipped into her jacket pocket. People are such creatures of habit. Everyone carries those annoying little cards in their pockets.

Brad wasn’t sure how to respond. Well, can I help you with something?

No. I’ve come to help you. She removed the hat and dropped it on the floor next to her feet. She shook her head and her mane of long blond hair fell over her shoulders. She unfastened the coat with one hand to let it fall open, revealing small, firm breasts and long legs. Brad caught his breath. The sight of her in nothing but expensive lingerie was more than he could have ever expected. Like a lot of men, he’d had fantasies about being in a situation like this, but he’d never considered the possibility that it might come true.

Is this someone’s idea of a joke? You’re very beautiful, but why would you show up here wearing only. . . that, he motioned at her body, if someone hadn’t put you up to it?

I thought you might want some company for the evening.

He smiled at her again and stepped closer. He slipped his hand inside the open coat and touched her breast. As his hand moved to her waist to pull her closer, he felt a needle prick his arm. He turned his head just in time to see her pushing the plunger on a syringe. What the hell? I don’t do drugs. What did you just give me?

Something that will solve the problems of a lot of people. If I were you, I’d sit down while you still can.

His eyes grew larger. I can’t . . . breathe.

I know, darling. Just sit down and relax. It’ll all be over in a minute.

He dropped onto the couch. Why? he managed to get out.

You should have kept your pants zipped and been a bit more respectful of the ladies around you.

As he took his last breath, the woman dropped the syringe on the floor and refastened her coat. She pulled the collar back up around her face, picked up her hat and put it back on, shoving her long blond hair underneath it. She stepped into the hall outside the office and took a quick look around. There was no one in sight, so she headed for the elevator. The doors opened immediately when she pushed the down button and she rode it to the garage. By the time the doors opened again, she had pulled the hat a little further down over her face and the collar of her coat a little further up around her ears. She walked to her car, head down, careful not to look into the surveillance camera. There was no attendant on duty after office hours, so she slid the dollar bills into the slot at the exit and turned left when the gate came up. In less than five minutes she was away from the building and could begin to relax. She’d been in and out in record time and knew she’d gotten away clean.

Chapter Two

At 7:30 Monday morning Kristy Marshall put her purse and her lunch in the bottom drawer of her desk and hung her jacket on the hook in her cubicle. As usual, she was the first assistant in the office. Brad's door was closed, which made her think he was in his office with another lawyer. The buttons on her phone weren’t lit, so she knew he wasn’t on the phone.

Kristy started the coffee in the alcove behind the reception area. She returned to her desk and addressed the paperwork that she’d left on Friday. She had documents to be filed and a couple of letters for Brad to sign.

When she decided the coffee was ready, she went to get herself a cup and decided to take Brad a cup, too. The week always seemed to go better when she started Monday being nice to him. The man was a prick, but she continued working for him because the money was so good and because no one else would work for him. The staff joked among themselves that it was combat pay for having to put up with the assholes they worked for. One day, though, she’d decide the money wasn’t good enough and tell him to stick his wandering hands and his attitude up his ass.

She returned to her desk and set her coffee on the coaster she used to prevent cup rings from ending up on important papers. Brad’s door was still closed. Holding his coffee, she knocked lightly on the door. He didn’t answer. There was a nasty smell coming from his office and she wondered what he was up to. She knocked again and called his name. He still didn’t answer. She cracked the door open and was overwhelmed by the odor. She pushed the door wide open.

Brad? What is that smell? What are you doing . . . .? Kristy dropped the cup of coffee and backed out of the office. She ran to the restroom where she immediately threw up the bagel and cream cheese she’d eaten before coming to work. After splashing cold water on her face, she raced around to the managing partner’s office. He wasn’t in yet. The only other person who had arrived was the receptionist. Connie, Kristy gasped, call the police.

Why do we need—

Just call them. Right now. Brad’s dead in his office.

What do you mean, he’s dead?

Just what I said. Please, call the cops now.

Kristy made her way back to her desk, but she couldn’t sit still. She stood in the aisle between cubicles; far enough away from Brad’s door that the odor coming from him didn’t reach her as she stared into his office. She could see his feet spread out in front of him and it seemed to her his ankles and feet were swollen. She thought she was going to be sick again. God, the cops had better get here soon.

Lawyers, paralegals and secretaries were starting to arrive and she didn’t know what to say to them. She needed to talk to Charles, the managing partner, but he was still in Richmond. She didn’t like Brad, but she’d never wished him dead. She was going to have to call his wife. She was going to have to find another job.

Chapter Three

David Graham rolled over and hit the button on the alarm before he reached for his ringing cell phone. Graham, he growled.

And good morning to you, too. It was Alexis Hamilton, his partner. We’ve got a case. Lawyer in a big firm over on Pennsylvania. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.

Make it twenty. And bring some coffee. David swung his legs over the side of the bed.

Don’t I always? The phone went dead and he headed for the shower. A lawyer. Well, this should be interesting. He was tired of husbands killing wives, and pimps killing prostitutes, and drive-bys.

* * *

Detective Hamilton, Alexis Nicole Hamilton more formally, had been on the force for five years. She was Alex or Ham to her friends and fellow detectives. She and David had been partners for the past two years. She’d been young and naïve when she joined the force. She thought she could make a difference, save the world—or at least her corner of it. After being promoted to detective and seeing the things people did to each other, she had become cynical about what she experienced in this job. Her first murder had left her nauseous and questioning her decision to become a detective. After two years, though, she’d become hardened to the crime scenes and the bodies. While the smell of a rotting corpse still sometimes made her sick to her stomach, she’d learned not to show it. Blood and brains spattered on a wall or floor no longer bothered her. Now she simply wanted to solve the puzzle, but that wasn’t the best part of the job. The best part was being David’s partner. Seeing him every day, working closely with him, gave her a reason to get out bed in the morning. She kept telling herself that one day she’d work up the nerve to tell him how she felt and they’d live happily ever after, if there was such a thing. Being one of two girls raised and abused by alcoholic parents was enough to taint anyone’s view of how life was supposed to be.

Her looks, she thought, had caused most of the problems she had growing up. Her father told her she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen as he climbed into her bed in a drunken stupor and raped her. Her mother, seeing her as competition for her father’s attention, beat her at every opportunity and told her how ugly she was and that no man would ever want her. She learned to dress in a masculine fashion. Her normal uniform was Dockers, a jacket, and flat, ugly black shoes. She wore her hair short so the thick, auburn mane would not draw the attention it did when it was longer. She rarely wore make-up because that was something else that might draw attention to her. Her efforts to disguise her looks also had the less desirable effect of making her seem like one of the guys. She didn’t mind that so much except when it came to David. She wanted him to see her as a beautiful woman, but she knew he didn’t see her that way.

Alex usually dropped a step behind David at a crime scene so she could watch him as he walked ahead of her. He was the type of man women found attractive. His olive complexion, black hair and dark brown eyes drew attention from every woman who saw him. His eyes seemed to droop a bit at the outside edges, which gave him a sad little boy look. That look made women want to hug him and reassure him that everything would be fine. Then they wanted to take him to bed. He never seemed to mind the more gritty details of this job. He was laid back and friendly with a quick smile that put people, especially women, at ease. His easy rapport with women came from being raised with three sisters and an Italian mother who doted on him. They had catered to his every whim and he should have been one of those men who had a sense of entitlement. He had long ago learned to use his good looks and his lopsided grin to get what he wanted from women. All that was tempered by the time he spent in the military. Women were in the minority in the military and had their choice of dates. Good looks weren’t enough to keep the women interested. It was his ready laugh and being a gentleman that did it for them. He now dressed in chinos and pullovers, which suited his personality and made him appear approachable.

Women loved David at first sight and once they discovered he was soft spoken and gentle, he could usually get whatever information he wanted from them. Alex was much better at dealing with the men. They would usually tell her everything she wanted to know and some things she didn't want to know. Despite her efforts to look as masculine as possible, more than one had asked her out while they were being questioned. She found this unnerving. She’d confided in David that she couldn’t understand why someone being questioned as a possible suspect in a murder case would have the balls to ask for a date. He’d simply chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

Alex arrived at David’s apartment building fifteen minutes after her call to him. He hadn’t come down yet, so she sat in the car at the curb and waited. Seeing him for the first time every morning made her day. She wished she could wake up with him.

The car door opened and David sat in the passenger seat. Where’s the coffee? Alex handed him the cup and a bag with a muffin in it. Here you go, grouch.

He inhaled the strong aroma of the coffee, carefully removed the lid and took a sip. He closed his eyes and smiled. Sometimes I think this is the only thing in the world worth living for. The only thing better is having that first cigarette in the morning with the first cup of coffee. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t quit.

Well, I’m glad you did. Your smokes made me smell like an ashtray.

Alex pulled away from the curb and David returned his attention to his coffee and muffin. It was an old argument that he wasn’t going to start again. He was never going to be the perfect man she’d built up in her mind. And since they only worked together, he couldn’t see any reason to try.

Chapter Four

They left the elevator on the tenth floor and headed through the double glass doors at the end of the hall. The receptionist didn’t try to stop them, but only pointed them toward the left. As they rounded the corner, they were met by yellow crime scene tape stretched around an area about four feet square. Kristy’s cubicle and a couple of those closest to her were taped off as part of the crime scene, so the secretaries who worked in them couldn’t get to their desks. People were gathered around trying to get a look inside the office. Some held their noses, but the smell didn’t seem to bother others. The patrol officer was trying, without much success, to convince the lookie-loos to go back to their offices.

They showed their badges to the officer at the door and signed the log. "What’ve

Reviews for Drop Dead Killers

[kylaurel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good mystery! It's not one that you have to figure out who the killer is, but more one of figuring out the why of what is done. I liked the main character, David Graham, and I'm looking forward to more stories starring him.

[wickedtmc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Over all, this was a good story. It grabbed my attention from page 1. I have given it 4 stars because I felt the ending was rushed. It was pretty disappointing compared to how much I enjoyed the rest of the book.I am definitely interested in reading the next book in the series. I was given yhis book in exchange for my review. Happy reading!

[jlynnp79 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really good book, I loved that the action started right at the beginning with no delay. If you love mystery and murder, this the book for you. David Graham is seemingly oblivious to the amount of danger that he is in throughout the book, even as he investigates the crimes of the killer. This story unfolds at a steady pace throughout the book and does not disappoint. Since there are more books coming in this series, I cannot wait to read them.

[georgiann-4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fast paced Murder Mystery. David Graham is a police officer investigating a serial killer. The killer targets high profile attorneys in Washington D.C. But blinded by lust David can't see his new girlfriend is dangerous. He is more concerned about fending off a past girlfriend . If you enjoy mystery/ murder stories i highly recommend you read Drop Dead Killers

[librarian42 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant!! I never usually read this kind of genre but I really enjoyed it!! It was a real page turner!!

[iris3039 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I appreciated the opportunity to read the book, but did not much enjoy the book. None of the characters was remotely likeable (not even David Graham, who I don't care to get to "know better" in more books in the series) as they appeared to care for no one except themselves. The killing of individuals for petty transgressions (rudeness, taking things from others) was disturbing to me, but met with little emotional response by characters in the book. I couldn't wait to be done with the book but not because I wanted a resolution to the mystery, but because I didn't want to read about any more bloody murders.

[jwals-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received a review copy of this book from the authorA very quick and easy read, with not a lot of effort required. It is a rather stark, and plot driven novel with only limited description given when necessary.There is very little depth to most of the characters, even the hero, homicide detective David Graham is only covered superficially to keep the story moving, even though he is to be the hero 0f the mystery/ thriller series.Sometimes a quick read is a good read

[veronica.sparrow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. It is the first book in a crime thriller series featuring a cop named David Graham. I was drawn in from the beginning and really enjoyed the book. I found it to be a fast and easy read with a number of twists and turns. Although I realized who was responsible the crimes quite early on I found the book to be very interesting and I actually stayed up to finish it lol. I thought it would be like along the line of a Sue Grafton(kinsey Milhone) book but found it more comparable to Ed McBain's 87 Precinct series. I am looking forward to the second book in the series.

[sheriawilkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Drop Dead Killers: A David Graham Thriller (David Graham Thrillers)by Janet Martinez David Graham is a police officer investigating the case of a serial killer. This killer is targeting high powered Attorneys in Washington D.C. But David is blinded by lust and can't see that his new girlfriend is dangerous. He is more concerned about fending off a past girlfriend. A fast paced murder mystery. I liked David, he is not perfect, he is flawed, which makes him more real(in my opinion). I highly recommend to those who like murder/mystery stories.

[doseofbella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Drop Dead Killers (A David Graham Thriller)By: Janet Martinez Pages. 192. 2014Copy Courtesy of Librarything Members GiveawayReviewed by: tkDavid Graham is a good guy with a dark past. Little does he know how dark its going to become. Detective David Graham and his partner Alexis Hamilton are called to investigate the murder. A syringe on the floor, a dead body on the couch, everything pointing to suicide. During this investigation, more murders are taking place. Could it be a serial killer? The chief of police would like this solved fast. These attorney’s are from the same firm…someone has to have seen or heard something. Still no clues, the two detectives must find something, anything that can tie these murders together, and point to the killer.Janet Martinez is going to take you on an incredible ride of betrayal, jealousy, and murder to an outstanding conclusion. From beginning to end this fast paced page turning story will leave you in shock and disbelief. It will amaze you to the length that someone can hold on to a thought of revenge. The planning of the murders have taken years of thought and patience. Once the killing begins…there will be no stopping the wave of human emotion and hidden secrets that mount to the final conclusion. A story of extreme imagination. Boundless twists and turns will keep you enthralled in David and Alex’s investigation. A spectacular who-done-it. Although the author does give you the who…it is the why they did it that will leave you amazed, and wanting for more. A highly recommended read. 5/5