Page 41 of Seven Deadly Sins

He noted the time on the clock on the wall. “Almost two hours gone.”

“Did the Seven Deadly Sins Killer do this?” The librarian’s eyes widened, her penciled on brows disappearing under thick bangs.

“We’re not at liberty to say, ma’am.” He took Harper by the arm and rushed from the building. “If it’s not the clinic, how far is the hospital?”

“It’s in Harrington.”

He exhaled slowly. “Let’s hope it’s the clinic.”

It wasn’t. After questioning the nurses, doctors, and patients for almost an hour, they sped to the Harrington hospital where they met the same fate.

“Where then?” Liam growled, rubbing his hands roughly over his face.

“Text.” Harper held up her phone and read, “’Use your GPS to travel 1.3 miles from your starting place and check-in at the city’s most famous landmark.’ Liam, he’s tracking us. How else would he know to text us from this location?”

“Which direction?”

Harper pulled up her GPS. “The courthouse is west. That’s the only building of any significance in that distance.”

“Let’s go.” His stomach growled reminding him how long it had been since he’d eaten. Did they have time? “Any fast-food restaurants between here and there?”

“There’s a taco place. That should be fast, but hard to eat while you’re driving. How about chicken tenders and fries?”

“Perfect.” Luck was on their side. No other cars sat in the drive-thru. Food in hand, Liam continued toward the courthouse.

Before they got out of the car, Harper received another text. “Type in this address. Go there, then take 10 steps in any direction. Look to your left. What do you see?” She shrugged. “I’m guessing the address of the courthouse. We’re going to have to split up and each take two directions.”

He agreed but didn’t like the idea. I’ll take east and south.” How big of steps? His size or Harper’s? He went east. Was the object of interest the mailbox or cement pot full of flowers? Maybe the streetlight? In the other direction, he spotted a print shop. Wouldn’t hurt to try.

His phone dinged as he stepped into the street. “You’re getting cold.” Thanks for the tip. “You should stay with the detective. She’s hotter. New game.”

Liam jogged to Harper’s side and showed her the texts. “Have you seen anything?”

“There’s a small park over there. Should we check it out?”

“I think we’re going to be led where we’re to go.” He took several steps that way. Another text. “Getting hotter.”

They played the hot and cold game across the playground, down another street, and into a coffee shop where another text told them to sit and have coffee for twenty minutes. They’d become the assassin’s puppets and had no choice but to do what she told them. He tried sending a reply text and got an error that that number couldn’t receive texts.

“We’re several blocks from the jeep.” Harper ordered a small coffee with room for cream and sugar. “If we need to drive again, we’ll have to make the trip back. She’s stalling us.”

“At least we aren’t finding any more bodies.” Yet. He carried his coffee to a table. They still had thirteen minutes. “I guess the coffee is to keep us going during the twenty-four hours. This won’t be over until suppertime tomorrow.”

She nodded, staring into her cup. “What if we don’t find whoever she’s taken? Will we even know?” She stood. “I’m taking this to go. Want a lid?”

“Yes.” He stared out the shop window. Was she watching them right now or simply tracking their phones? To do that, she’d have to be tech savvy.

“Got another one.” Harper set her phone in front of him along with a lid.

Step outside. Turn right. Keep walking until I stay stop.

They walked out of the section of busy shops and down a road flanked by industrial buildings most of which sat empty. A few men who looked like gang members stared with hate-filled eyes as they passed.

Enter the building to your left. The one with the faded green door.

Feeling very much as if they were walking into a trap, Liam led the way across the street. The door screeched as he opened it.

Go through the building and into the alley. There you will find a small shed. Go inside.