Page 21 of Seven Deadly Sins

She really hoped it wasn’t a dead end. She’d follow any clue the perp left if it gave her hope of a conclusion to all this. The longer he played the game, the more chances of him making a mistake.

As they drove, Liam cut her a sideways glance. “Have you been thinking on why we were thrown together?”

“Not really. More concerned about the deaths that are piling up.” She frowned. “Why?”

“There has to be a reason. I’m positive I’ve never met you before this. We’ve never worked on a case together before.”

No, they hadn’t. “What kind of work did your father do?” If in law enforcement, maybe that was the connection, except she was the first in law enforcement in her family.

“Physician. Yours?”

“Both my father and grandfather were oncologists. It seems far-fetched that could be the connection.” Her frown deepened. “Do you agree?”

“I don’t see how that could be it.” He pulled into the parking lot of the Chinese buffet and sat staring out the front window without turning off the ignition. “Maybe we should get patient lists and compare them. We don’t have anything else to do on.”

“Okay. My father isn’t practicing anymore, but he should be able to get his and my grandfather’s. Did your father practice in the states?”

“For a few years.” He turned off the jeep. “Let’s find out about this clue.”

She glanced at her watch. They had ten minutes to spare. Inside, she approached the hostess stand and introduced herself. “Do you have anything for me?”

“An envelope.” She pulled a white envelope from under the podium.

“Who gave this to you?” Harper used the corner of her jacket to take the envelope.

“Some guy in a motorcycle helmet.”

That didn’t give them much to go on. When they returned to the jeep, she snapped rubber gloves over her hands and read the note inside. “Water crashes when there’s been a lot of rain. Unfortunately, we’re in a drought. You have ten minutes.” She smiled. “That’s easy. The spillway by the dam.”

“How far?”

“Hit the gas. We’ll barely make it.”

The next clue sent them to the Dairy Queen, the next one to the elementary school. Both said the notes were left by a man in a motorcycle helmet. One said he rode a Harley, one said it was a Yamaha. The only consistent fact was he wore a black motorcycle helmet and riding leathers.

Harper groaned. “We’re getting nowhere. I think we’re being distracted from something.”

“I agree. We have to finish this, though.”

What were they being distracted from? It had to be something big. Something Harper and Liam could stop. Her throat seized. If they didn’t stop whatever, people would die. She felt it deep in her bones.

Liam remained silent as they went to their next stop. A rock held the note to the top of a picnic table. Liam picked it up and read, “Having fun yet? The last clue will be a doozy and will take you where you need to be.”

“This isn’t going to be good.” Harper studied the area around them. “We need help on this case, Liam.”

“I agree. I’ll call in some of my fellow agents.” He marched back to the jeep.

Harper tried to get peace from the sun on the lake. The duck family swimming past. Nothing calmed the racing of her heart, the fear of the unknown. She turned to gaze where Liam waited by the jeep, somehow knowing she needed a moment alone.

Why him of all the law enforcement people in the world? Why an Irish man with a brogue? An FBI agent? Why not Officer Crypton who already worked for Oakdale?

No, the reason they were together was a big one. Hopefully, they’d find out soon and put an end to the Seven Deadly Sins Killer.

She rejoined Liam and slid in the passenger side.

“You okay?” His brow furrowed.

“No. But, someday, if we’re lucky, I will be.”