Page 53 of Seven Deadly Sins

“I take it he didn’t like the news.”

“You’d be right. We’d better not get blown up or folks in the next county will hear his tirade.” She smiled. It warmed her heart that the chief cared so much. Sure, he treated her and Annie differently than the men who had once worked with them, but she felt she could handle him.

At the first opportunity though, she was going to request another officer or two be hired. After the string of deaths, surely those handling the funds could see the need. “Take the next exit.”

Liam followed directions taking them to a two-lane highway. “This will slow us down a lot. How much time has passed?”

“Forty-five minutes. We’re making good time. Keep it up.”

Construction loomed ahead. Liam groaned but didn’t slow. Instead, he took them speeding down the shoulder past the cones and work trucks.

“I’ve been wondering something.” Liam steered back to the road. “You’re an Oakdale detective, yet HPD doesn’t seem to mind working with you. They don’t seem in competition.”

“Because we aren’t. I’m being targeted by a mad man. We all have the same goal. To lock him behind bars. Most of his victims are residents of Harrington, but since he sends us the texts, we have to leave Oakdale and help HPD. They’d do the same if the circumstances were reversed.” She narrowed her eyes. “Is there a lot of competition in the FBI?”

“Not as much as most police precincts. Each jurisdiction seems to stay to their own.”

“Take a right. I don’t think I could do this job if all law enforcement didn’t want to work together.”

He jerked the wheel to the right. “A little more warning next time. We were almost driving on two tires.”

“Sorry.” Maybe talking wasn’t such a good idea at that time.

“How much farther?”

She glanced at the GPS. “Ten miles up the mountain. Thirty minutes. That gives us twenty to find the women and get them out.” They’d never make it. Liam had driven like a pro, but they still didn’t have enough time.

The jeep roared up the mountain, skidding around corners. Harper wanted to close her eyes and brace for impact but couldn’t do anything more than stare wide-eyed at the trees rushing past. “Don’t kill us.”

“Have faith, sweetheart.” He let up on the gas as they rounded another turn, but increased speed again until the next turn.

“The campgrounds are coming up. No buildings other than the bathrooms.”

“Then that’s where we check. How many?”

“Two. One at each end.” Her phone buzzed.Covetousness is the greatest of monsters, as well as the root of all evil. – William Penn. It had been a while since the perp had sent a quote. Why now? Was he trying to tell them the women were already dead?

“Our guy?” Liam shoved his door open.

“Yeah. Doesn’t say much other than calling covetousness a monster.”

“He’s the monster. I’ll take the men’s room.”

Harper darted inside. One stalls and two showers stood empty. She shoved on the other stall.

“Hey. I’m in here.”

“Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” The woman muttered something about a weirdo.

“My apologies.” Harper rushed back to the jeep where Liam drove them to the opposite end of the campground to the other restrooms.

“There’s a lock on the women’s door.” Harper glanced at her watch. “We have five minutes, Liam.” Her heart thudded so hard she thought he could hear it.

He picked up a rock the size of his fist and started pounding on the lock. Harper counted the seconds with each whack. “Hurry.”

On the tenth hit, the lock opened and fell to the concrete with a thud. Liam had his pocketknife out before he opened the door.