Page 109 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Really?” The corners of her mouth drew down. “Do I do anything special with her?”

“Try not to stress her out. Otherwise, she might throw a fit.” He shrugged. “At least that’s what my cousin does.”

She cursed.

The little girl looked up. “That’s a bad word. You’re a bad woman.” She started rocking again.

“I’m a very wealthy, bad woman.” Lucy whirled and marched up the basement steps, refusing to get into an argument with a child on camera.

“Great job, Robert.” She fell onto the sofa. “You took a special needs kid.”

“What?” The hand holding a glass shook.

“Autism or something according to the boy.”

“We can’t keep her.” He paced the living room. “I didn’t see anything on the woman’s feed that referred to her child being special. This is not my fault.”

“Figure out how to return her.” Idiot. She pulled up the live feed. The child still rocked and hummed. “I’ll find out the woman’s address. Reynold can drop her off tonight when it’s dark.”

“Good idea. Guess that’s why I pay you the big bucks, because it sure isn’t because you have a great personality.”

“How you wound me.” She rolled her eyes. “Just do your homework better next time.”

“Why don’t you find the person for the envy sin, then? The salon was good, the child could’ve been sensational. These are the types of things that will get people to watch the live feed. It won’t be long until I have a whole new group of people willing to follow me.” He downed the whiskey in the glass.

The man was nuttier than peanut brittle. “I’ll have a target by tonight. When Reynold is returning the child, I’ll take her replacement.”

~

The chief set an eight o’clock curfew in place. The only time anyone would be allowed out after that time is if they were headed to or from work. Liam agreed to an extent, but most of Robert’s crimes took place in broad daylight.

A glance at the clock in the bull pen showed way past quitting time. If he had a normal job. One where he wasn’t trying to catch a mad man.

Harper jingled her keys in front of him. “I’m going to drive around town before heading home. Want to join me?”

He’d like nothing better. “Are we out looking for curfew breakers?”

“Just looking.” She smiled. “Giving the other officers a bit of help.”

He took the keys and led her to the jeep. She didn’t have to ask him twice to spend time with her. Sure, he stayed at her house, but the night hours were long with her in another room. Each morning, he bounded out of bed like a puppy whose human had just come home.

Two squad cars pulled out of the parking lot ahead of them, ready to patrol the streets. They’d waited until eight thirty to allow people time to remember a curfew was in place.

Liam stopped the vehicle next to an elderly woman walking a poodle. He rolled down the passenger side window. “Ma’am, are you aware of the eight o’clock curfew?”

“A curfew? No.”

“A special announcement was made on the news.”

“I don’t have a television, son. We’ll head home right away.”

“She shouldn’t be out so late alone anyway,” Harper said. “Not while Robert is working his way through the sins, anyway.” She rolled the window back up. “I’m going to check the feed.”

“Let me know anything important.”

“You tell me if this classifies as important. Reynold is walking down a sidewalk with Becky.”

“Yeah, that’s important. Any idea where?”