Page 23 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Harper? Come take a look.”

She joined him. “That’s Mavin Jones, the pharmacist.” Her gaze rose and clashed with his. “We’re supposed to go to the drugstore.”

Chapter Nine

News vans fromOakdale, Harrington, and any other city where they could arrive on Main Street quickly sat behind crime scene blockades before Harper and Liam arrived. Something big, something bad, had happened while she and Liam ran out around like headless chickens.

A crowd had gathered behind the vans and squad cars, watching the drugstore as if they were at a holiday parade. One man had his toddler on his shoulders. Where was the chief?

Harper glanced around, then made a beeline for the chief, recently returned from vacation. “Just in time, sir. Welcome back.”

“What in tarnation have you gotten involved in?”

“You haven’t heard the news?”

“Of course, I have. Why you?” Chief Donnelly glowered. “What’s the FBI doing here?”

“It’s all related, sir. What’s happening here?” She could fill the chief in on all the other details later.

His frown deepened. “Where have you been that you don’t know some mad man is holding those inside the store hostage?”

She cut a quick look at Liam. “Following clues left by the killer. Mavis Jones is dead behind the station, sir. She was the final clue. He wanted Agent McConnell and me occupied while he put this plan in place. Any contact?”

“Not yet.” He crossed his arms across a burly chest. “Why do these things happen when a man goes on a fishing trip? Mavis was a good woman.”

Knowing the question to be rhetorical, she kept quiet and stepped to Liam’s side. “No demands yet.”

“Introduce me to the chief.”

Idiot. She should’ve done that first thing. “Chief Donnelly, Special Agent Liam McConnell. He’s been receiving the same text messages I have and came to Oakdale to help us.”

“Text messages?”

“We have a lot to fill you in on, sir.” She turned as a SWAT team arrived. “How long has the drugstore been held hostage?” It would’ve taken the team an hour to arrive.

He glanced at his watch. “A couple of hours.”

“Why didn’t anyone call me?”

“We tried. Your phone went straight to voice mail.”

She pulled her phone and scrolled through recent calls. The chief had tried five times to get a hold of her. Why hadn’t her phone rang? Could the perp have a way of blocking her phone?

“Check the volume. Sometimes, when a phone is dropped, it shuts off the volume,” Liam told her. “No one could tap into your phone.”

Sure enough, the volume had been turned off. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“You’re here now. Maybe the man inside will make his demands now.”

“Any sight of him?”

“Wears black leather. Hasn’t removed his helmet. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of him in the last hour.”

Officer Crypton handed the chief a phone. “It’s the man inside.”

“This is Chief Donnelly. What do you want? Yes, they’re here.” He sighed and set the phone on top of his car. “Just checking to see whether the two of you have arrived.”

That was it? What game was he playing now? Was the motorcycle man the Seven Deadly Sins Killer? Seemed too easy. Her skin prickled. Things were going to go downhill fast. She moved closer to Liam, relying on his solid strength.