Page 37 of Seven Deadly Sins

True. By the time they arrived, the area had been taped off, news vans and reporters crowded the area, and onlookers crowded as close as they could get without crossing the line. Harper skirted the area and ignored the microphones and questions thrust at her.”

“Is it the Seven Deadly Sins Killer?”

“Is the chief going to enforce a curfew?”

“Wait. Just one question.”

She held up a hand to get the reporters to step back, then followed Liam across the park.

“Fifty-year-old, white female.” Annie approached them. “Susan Davis. Plastic surgeon.”

She sighed glancing at the nude woman posed in a lewd position. Her only adornment was the stethoscope around her neck. From the marks on her skin, it was also the murder weapon.

“Look.” She bent and studied the scars left behind from breast surgery. From the perfect nose, Harper would bet the woman had other work done on her face and body. The fifty-year-old looked like a thirty-year-old. “Disgruntled patient, maybe, but I’m going with our guy.”

Heat rose to her cheeks. Enough was enough. She marched to the closest reporter. “I have a statement.”

The others crowded around.

“I’m Detective Scranton of OPD and I have a message for the Seven Deadly Sins Killer.” She squared her shoulders and cut Liam a quick glance. The man stood with a grave face. Maybe what she was doing would accomplish something good or something bad, but Harper was tired of the death and games. She didn’t care what the woman on that bench had done. The way she’d been posed was purely to humiliate.

“We are going to hunt you down and make sure you never play a game again. You can count on this. Soon, I will stand face-to-face with you and come out the victor. Let’s make that real soon.”

The chief scowled at her from the sidelines. The lecture she’d get would be worth blowing off steam. She marched back to the crime scene.

“What was that about, Scranton?” Chief Donnelly blocked her path. “Your act could have driven the perp underground.”

“I believe the contrary, sir. I’ve challenged him. He’ll rise to the challenge, and we’ll arrest him.” Or shoot him, whichever opportunity presented itself.

His dark eyes bored into her. “This could get you killed.”

“That is always a possibility. Excuse me, sir.” She whirled and joined Liam. “I guess you’ll lecture me, too?”

“No. You surprised me, is all.” He snapped photos of the body and surrounding area. “I realize you acted on impulse.”

“Do you think it will work?” She put her hands on her hips.

He lowered his phone. “I’m sure it will increase his game.”

“More people will die.”

“That would happen whether you taunted him or not.”

“But you don’t approve.”

“No, I don’t. I’m not saying taunting him was wrong. What is wrong is that you acted without thinking first.” He returned to the scene. “That is how mistakes are made. Sometimes deadly ones.”

He was right. She’d let her temper get the better of her.

~

Ah, the detective issued him a challenge. Carl rubbed his hands together and turned off the television in his office. He’d gladly accept her challenge. Things had just gotten a lot more fun.

He glanced at the list of clues he’d come up with for Lucy. A childish scavenger hunt that would get the detective closer to her desire of meeting him face-to-face.

This latest game would cost him a fortune. Lucy charged a set fee for murder, but for running around keeping tabs on Oakdale’s finest required an hourly rate. He could’ve gotten one of his followers to do the deed, but they didn’t seem to live long when he got them involved. If they kept having to kill themselves, he’d have no one left to rule with once he’d accomplished his mission.

He left the office, locking the door behind him to consult with a prospective new client and do some Botox injections. When he returned, he stood at his office window. Three stories down, Agent McConnell and Detective Scranton marched toward the front door.