Page 125 of Seven Deadly Sins

“What would be a success is if Robert showed up.” Her teeth flashed in the dim light. “Unfortunately, he’s too smart to think it to be anyone but us setting a trap.”

“Yep. But, since he’d need a credit card to place an ad, he can’t set one up to refute ours. Anyone following him that’s seen the ad will think it’s him.” He leaned against the counter.

“Sounds too easy.”

“Yes, it does.”

All they could do now was wait.

Chapter Eight

Harper jerked toattention as the front doors open. She peered over the edge of the counter.

Two men entered. They paused right inside the door before heading for the chairs.

“We must be early,” one of them said, looking at the time on his phone.

“No, it’s nine exactly.” The other one lowered onto a chair. “Most likely, he’s waiting for his people to arrive.

His people. Harper scrunched her nose. This man wasn’t God. Not even close.

Liam put a finger to his lips as more men arrived. A few minutes later, two women.

After twenty minutes and no more arriving, Harper counted heads. Ten bodies sat waiting for a man to arrive who wouldn’t. Ten more minutes later, and all those in law enforcement came out of hiding.

“What is this?” One man jumped to his feet before the others.

“I’m Detective Scranton of Oakdale PD. This is Special Agent McConnell. We’re taking the lot of you in for questioning.” They had nothing on them, not enough to hold them indefinitely, but every minute…

Those waiting for Robert started throwing punches. Harper grinned. Now, they had something to hold them on. Assaulting law enforcement.

One of the women’s right hook caught Harper in the jaw. She lunged forward and twisted the woman’s arm behind her back while unhooking her handcuffs. Within minutes she had the woman cuffed and sitting against a wall. “You should’ve come peaceably. We couldn’t have held you longer than a night. Now, you’re under arrest.” She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth, wiping away the blood from her cut lip.

Liam cuffed the last struggling man and dragged him outside to one of the waiting vans.

“Let’s go.” Harper pulled the woman she’d fought with to her feet.

The woman struggled but couldn’t do a lot with her hands behind her back. By ten p.m., they had them all in the vans and headed to the office.

Harper had no idea where they would put them all. “This night was a success. Ten stupid fans off the streets.”

Liam nodded, turning the jeep into the office parking lot. “I’m sure there are more out there, but this is a great start. I think you should do another press release tomorrow. We want Robert to know what we’re doing. He’s bound to make a mistake at one point.”

“And then we’ll have him.” She grinned, the gesture pulling at her lip. She touched the spot and winced.

“It’s not bad. Not too swollen.” Liam reached over and squeezed her hand before turning off the jeep. “You’re as beautiful as always.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.

She widened her eyes, surprised at how natural he’d made it seem. Clearing her throat, she opened her door. “Might as well start booking these folks.”

“Okay.” He chuckled. “But, one of these days you and I are going to talk about us.”

She froze. Us? Did she dare hope there could be something? She’d have to think long and hard about whether she’d leave Oakdale if he asked. This had been her home since childhood.

She glanced over her shoulder. For Liam she would probably uproot herself. Her gaze met his warm one. Quite possibly. She smiled and stepped from the jeep.

After those they’d arrested were fingerprinted and mugshots taken, the task of interviewing them one-by-one stretched in front of her. She’d thought about her and Liam dividing the fans, but decided against it. Two minds were definitely better than one in regard to anything that had to do with Robert Thompson.

She took a seat in the interrogation room across from the woman who had hit her while Liam lounged against the wall. The woman might respond better to Harper rather than an imposing FBI agent. “Let’s start with your name.”