Page 151 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Nothing. He’s a wannabe.” Liam fell into a chair as Harper joined them.

“Ready for another needless drive around town?”

“Sure. We could grab something to eat.”

“You think about food more than anyone I know.” A slight smile teased at her lips. “How do you keep from getting fat?”

He followed her outside. “I keep my girlish figure by staying active.”

“Well, this case will sure help, then.”

Liam headed for the few streets that made up downtown. He hated stakeouts, but he’d take one over mindless cruising. They picked up burgers and ate in the car.

“This town isn’t that big. We’re bound to run across a real follower of Thompson’s.”

Liam cut her a quick glance. “We’ve switched sides.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re now the optimistic one.” Having a strong feeling that Amber Barker wouldn’t make it out of this alive, had robbed him of his optimism. He eyed those strolling down the sidewalk. One of them could be Thompson. Or the man could have a sniper on a rooftop. He or Harper would be dead before they need it.

She shrugged. “One of us has to be.” She wadded up her burger wrapper and shoved it into the sack it had come in. “Eventually, we’ll either find a true follower who will talk if the situation is right, or we’ll face Thompson. Either way, we’ll take him down. If he kills me, you can rest assured that he’ll be just as dead.”

Brave words.

“I doubt it’ll be a sneak attack, Liam.” She popped a fry into her mouth. “He wants to torture us a bit for the crimes he believes our family members committed. He’ll want to look in our eyes as we die.”

Ugly thought. “I’m not the type to wait around, but since we have absolutely no idea what to do next…” He exhaled heavily and grabbed their garbage before exiting the vehicle and tossing it in a nearby trash can.

He nodded at a woman pushing a stroller while talking on her cell phone. A couple of teen boys who should’ve been in school, loitered near the burger joint. No one resembled Thompson in looks or build.

“Let’s drive the mountain roads.” He waited for her agreement as he started the car. “Thompson isn’t hiding within the city limits. I’d bet on it.”

“I agree. We’ll need a map. I’ve lived here for a long time, but there are still places I’ve never been. City Hall should be able to give us one.” She glanced at her phone. “Amber lost another finger. We have to hurry, Liam.”

They were doing the best they could. They were able to secure a map of the surrounding area in a thirty-mile radius. There were a lot of roads stitching through the mountain landscape. The clerk had said there were most likely roads not mapped yet. Ones where the landowner had carved one out himself.

When an ink pen Harper had found in the car’s console, he marked each road in order of which might provide the best place for a group of people to hide out. If, Thompson resided with what followers he still had. That was big if.

“We’ve still a couple of hours before sunset. Want to hit the first one?”

Harper nodded. “With time speeding quickly toward the last sin, we need to search as long as possible. I’m thinking Robert would hide as far up the mountain as possible.”

“We’ll start from the top in the morning when we’re fresh. This is a short road. We can be done in an hour.” He folded up the map and set it on the dashboard.

A few minutes later they started up the road to a small mountain. The road’s switchbacks were so sharp, he felt as if he’d see their own taillights.

~

Robert grew bored with the woman in the cellar. He didn’t enjoy cutting off fingers and listening to the sobbing and hysterics every time he got near her. Not to mention, the borderline insubordinate looks the woman who cared for her gave him. Time to dump Mrs. Barker and move to the next step.

Since he seriously doubted the Barkers would repeat their offense, especially after she’d lost not only her left pinkie, but the very finger that had once wore the diamond ring he now twirled around his finger. A ring worth a lot of money. A ring that would help fund the compound for a long while.

All he needed was someone trustworthy enough…no, he’d see to it himself. He’d wear a disguise and go two cities over to pawn the ring before releasing the woman. As soon as she was free and let them know she no longer had her wedding ring, they’d alert every pawnshop in the state.

When he emerged from his closet, not even his father would’ve recognized him. Well, his father wouldn’t have any way since Robert had received plastic surgery before beginning his quest of revenge and cleansing. Instead of a fit man in his early thirties, he now had a middle-age budge, shaggy hair sticking out from under a baseball cap, and a three-day old beard.

He hurried to his car. Time to pawn a ring and find another sinner.