Page 29 of Seven Deadly Sins

Liam glanced at the screen. “Covetousness teaches people to be cruel and crafty, industrious and evil, full of care and malice; and after all this, it is for no good to itself, for it dares not spend those heaps of treasure which it has snatched.” He glanced at Harper. “Round two.”

DEADLY COVET

Cynthia Hickey

Covetousness teaches people to be cruel and crafty, industrious and evil, full of care and malice; and after all this, it is for no good to itself, for it dares not spend those heaps of treasure which it has snatched.

Chapter One

Carl Landry, wearinga slicked back black wig and dark contacts, studied his menu in an upscale restaurant, one he frequented quite often under one disguise or another. After all, he deserved the finer things in life, especially since his life goal was to make the world a more beautiful place.

A man trailed his fingers across a woman’s back as he passed, then gave her hand a quick squeeze before joining a different woman at a table. A few seconds later, another man exited the men’s room and joined the first woman. Then, the two joined the other two.

Carl raised his menu a bit. What did he have here? Blonde woman belonged to dark-haired man, yet she’d been touched by the brown-haired man. The brunette at the table barely looked up when her companion seated himself next to her, setting her menu aside as the others joined them.

Clearly, the four were friends judging by the smiles and air kisses. He never could understand why people spent money to go to the theater when watching people in public never failed to entertain.

“What can I get for you, sir?” A pretty, young waitress stood between him and the other table.

Carl forced a smile. “The filet, medium rare, blue cheese crust, baked potato, fully loaded, and asparagus. Oh, and a glass of red wine.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a nod and rushed away, leaving his view of the other table clear again.

Dark-haired man lifted his glass of water as the blond woman slipped her foot from her shoe and ran it up and down his leg all while continuing with the group conversation. There were two sins being played out in front of him. Which would prove to be the stronger?

After losing a man to the lake during the game of pride, Carl had laid low for a week and concentrated on his plastic surgery practice. But now, boredom threatened. Time to get the detective and special agent playing again.

The blond woman stood and headed for the ladies’ room. The brown-haired man’s gaze locked on her and never wavered.

Carl smiled. Covet it was.

Now, how to find out who the man is and how to make him pay without harming the wife who appeared to be innocent and blind to her husband’s faults. The man walked outside to have a cigarette. Carl’s smile widened. He could take care of this one himself. No need to get Lucy to do it. He might actually enjoy the task.

~

Detective Harper Scranton plopped into her office chair and stared at the case board that still hadn’t been cleared. Why should she take it all down? Just because they hadn’t heard from the Seven Deadly Sins Killer in over a week didn’t mean it was all over. The man the chief shot at the lake wasn’t the man they sought, was he?

When he’d taken the drugstore hostage, he’d clearly been following orders from someone else. So, why hadn’t he made contact again? Out of the country?

“I can see the steam coming out your ears.” Liam handed her a cup of coffee.

“Why be gung-ho about ridding the world of pride, then go silent? Thanks.” She took a sip of the coffee. She hissed as it burned her tongue.

“Maybe he’s trying to decide on which sin to work on next.” He sat at his desk. “If he doesn’t act soon, I’ll be called back to Little Rock, then possibly somewhere else.”

Her heart stuttered. She’d gotten used to working with him each day at their small precinct. Thinking of him leaving left her feeling empty. She returned her attention to the case board, so he wouldn’t see how the thought of him leaving left her.

“We’ve got a hit and run outside a restaurant in Harrington.” Liam leaped up from his desk. “Want to go take a look before we call it a day?”

“How does that affect us here in Oakdale?”

“The victim is holding your business card, so we’ve been asked by HPD to come take a look.”

She’d handed out quite a lot of business cards since making detective, but since they didn’t have much else going on, she nodded. “Always willing to lend a helping hand.” Staying busy would keep her from dwelling on Liam’s comment about being called back to his FBI office.

Tossing him the keys to her jeep, she grabbed her jacket and service weapon before following him outside. Night had fallen, cooling the late summer air. Stars winked in a clear sky. Sitting out on her patio, a glass of wine in one hand and Liam sitting next to her with a beer sounded like the perfect way to end out the day.

Where had that vision come from? The man stayed at the local motel, not in her guest room. What had happened to focusing on her career with no plans on getting involved with anyone?