Page 171 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Ha ha.” He sobered and got to his feet as the sound of men returning to work reached them. “I saw a garden by the kitchen. Maybe we can hide there and pretend to weed for a while.”

“This is the weirdest sort of stakeout situation I’ve ever been in.” Why hadn’t the chief tried to get through to her? Had he washed his hands of her and Liam so easily or had Sheila not said anything? Either way, they were bound to be missed by now.

~

“Where are the two newcomers?” Robert glanced around the tables at noon.

“Newcomers?” Annie’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t know we had any. When did they arrive?”

“Last night, according to Harold. I need to speak with them. A middle-aged man and his adult son. Find them.”

Sure that his order would be carried out, he marched back to the room he called his office. The place he retired when the headache got unbearable. Everyone knew no one entered his office without an invitation. Even Annie.

There had been something about the way the younger man carried himself that seemed familiar. He’d definitely seen him somewhere before and would like to find out where he came from and why it took him so long to arrive. The location of the place was no longer secret. Anyone that could get past law enforcement…how did the man and his son get inside?

He barked at a passing man to check the fence perimeter. He couldn’t blame the two for sneaking in since the front was so heavily guarded, but he did want to know any weaknesses in his fence.

In the quiet of his office, he closed the blinds and lay on the lumpy sofa he’d had brought in upon his arrival. He closed his eyes and let the darkness take him. Once the worst of the pain ebbed, he’d drown the rest with a glass of whiskey. Something he was quickly getting low on. He’d have to make a deal with the authorities outside to get more.

Sometimes, the pain grew so bad, he contemplated putting himself out of his misery. He couldn’t, though. Not while the agent and the detective still breathed, and his father didn’t. Once they were gone and this town belonged to him, he’d seek medical attention. Until then, he’d do the best he could.

He groaned and pressed a hand to each side of his head and squeezed. Sometimes the pressure helped, but not today. He fought back tears. Tears were a weakness, even when a man’s skull was splitting.

Tomorrow, he’d offer the law enforcement outside a trade. It was time to end it all.

~

As the rest of the men broke off and headed to their beds, Liam slipped away and through the hole in the fence. Someone had set another post and wire nearby. Tomorrow, this spot would be closed. There would be no other way to go in or out except the large gate.

He raced through the woods as quick and quiet as he could not wanting to leave Harper alone for too long. His being gone would raise suspicion.

Their clothes were right where they’d left them. He glanced at his watch. He’d been gone for thirty minutes already. Another thirty back. Someone would definitely be wondering where Bill Harkins was.

When he slid back through the fence, Harper waited for him. “They’re asking questions. I told them you were assigned guard duty by this hole. I assumed it had been discovered.” She glanced at the wire. “I wanted your story to match mine. Anyway, I’ve got to get back. It doesn’t take long to go to the bathroom.”

“Good girl.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’ll set these clothes here and join you in the barn in a few minutes. Then, once everyone is asleep, we’ll come back and change.”

“Okay.” She sprinted back to the barn.

A few heads turned his way when he entered the barn, but no one said anything. Guard duty seemed to be a reasonable reason for him to be gone so long. About thirty minutes later, the building filled with snores.

Liam got slowly to his feet and motioned for Harper to follow him. They stayed in the shadows as much as possible as they made their way to their clothes.

Harper peeled the moustache off her face. “Thank, God. It was very itchy.”

“It left a rash.” Her upper lip looked red in the moonlight.

“I’ll worry about my lip later.” She tossed the wig and hat into a nearby trashcan. Her dark locks fell past her shoulders. “Turn around, Liam.” She unhooked the overalls.

Right. He turned and started changing back into the fit FBI agent rather than an overweight man. When he turned back around, Harper was again a beautiful woman. She’d tied her hair back, shoved her weapon into the waistband of her pants, and tossed everything else in the garbage.

“I missed me.” She flashed a quick grin. “Nice to see you back, too.”

“Come on, Detective. Let’s get this over with.”

“Has the director tried to contact you?”

“No. The chief you?”