Page 112 of Seven Deadly Sins

Sirens wailed outside, then stopped. Seconds later, two paramedics rushed into the store. “Excuse us, Detective.”

“Wait.” Margie held up a hand to stop them, her gaze still on Harper. “Is Stephanie going to die?”

“Not if she does everything she’s told.” Harper turned and moved away so the medics could work.

“Find out anything?” Liam asked.

“Lucy took the friend. Shot the victim when the friend, a Stephanie West, refused to go with her. Did you get anything out of this lot?”

“I’ve only interviewed one. He said the same thing the victim did. I assumed it was Lucy.”

“Let’s split up and get through this. I’ll take this side of the room.” Liam headed to the men by the beer, leaving Harper to a handful of women, two who swore they didn’t know about the curfew. The rest only needed to stop for one little thing.

“Curfews are set for a reason. That woman wouldn’t have been shot if she’d heeded the curfew.” And, Harper would have to write them all a ticket. Ignorance was no excuse for breaking the law, and there was no way the chief wouldn’t know about these people because of the report. “Let’s start with your names.”

Between each interview, Harper would check the live feed. Stephanie Long sat, shoulders slumped, on the very cot Reynold had spent so many nights on. She couldn’t help but wonder whether the woman had a husband, a family, people watching the feed with dread. All questions which might be answered when Harper returned to the office.

She glanced over at Liam. He wasn’t the only one who didn’t like losing, and there hadn’t been a lot of winning lately. Except for Reynold and Becky. They were safe. Not because Harper and Liam found them, but because Robert and Lucy still had some heart in their cold chests for children.

After getting as much information from the witnesses she questioned, which wasn’t much more than the victim, Harper waited by the front door for Liam. His easy-going manner, kind, but firm, had most people more than willing to talk to him. Add in good looks and you had the whole package. An FBI agent people liked. She gave a short laugh.

What would it be like to be his? Kissing, waking up next to him, not barely getting any sleep before being called out again. Did she really know him outside of the job? Maybe not, but she really wanted to.

Movement caught her eye outside. Two men in hoodies were trying to pry open a car door. She stepped outside. “Hey. Drop the crow bars.” She flashed her badge.

“What’s a woman cop going to do against both of us?” One of them sneered and took a step forward.

Harper tied her hair into a ponytail. “I’m not alone, but I’m pretty sure I could take you.” She smiled, ready for a fight. Something she could actually see end with these two behind bars. All he had to do was hit her, and she’d have him on assaulting a police officer.

Not wanting to make the first move, Harper stood still, smiling, and waited for the young men to approach. Her hands curled into fists. She had a lot of anxious energy to work off. Still, she was a good detective and needed to at least try to talk them out of hitting her.

She opened her mouth to speak as the man who’d spoken threw the first punch.

~

Liam turned from the man he’d questioned in time to see a street thug connect a strong right hook to Harper’s jaw. He darted out the door and to her side, throwing a punch of his own that knocked the young man to the ground.

Hauling him up by the collar of his shirt, Liam spun him around, slammed him against the wall of the store and cuffed him. He then motioned to the other guy who shook his head and ran. “Watch him,” Liam ordered Harper before taking off after the one trying to flee.

He wasn’t hard to catch. Soon, both thugs were cuffed.

Liam gripped Harper’s arm and pulled her to the side. “Mind telling me what was going on?” His gaze fell on a bruise forming on her chin. The hit had cut her lip. “Are you okay?”

“He sucker-punched me.” She dabbed at her lip with the back of her hand.

“Here.” Liam handed her a napkin he’d stuffed in his jacket pocket at some time.

“Thanks. I spotted them trying to break into a car. The one in the navy hoodie threatened me. I accepted the challenge.”

“Are you crazy?” He frowned. “You were outnumbered.”

“Don’t be silly. I can take two.” She leaned against the jeep. “We should call Annie to pick these guys up. I don’t want them in my automobile.”

He continued to stare at her.

“What?” She shrugged. “I had some things I needed to work through. Fighting a couple of jerks seemed like a good way to do so.”

“How about going to the gym and punching a bag?”