Page 55 of Seven Deadly Sins

Chapter One

Harper would trynot to shoot the Seven Deadly Sins Killer when they came face-to-face, or his assassin, but if she had to, she’d have to repent about feeling good about it. She stared at the latest text message.Of the seven deadly sins, only envy is no fun at all.She didn’t know what that meant.

She shrugged. “I guess envy takes too much out of a person.” She booted up her computer and searched the newsfeed for any murders that might be related to their case. So far nothing. Again, the killer and his assassin had chosen to lay low.

After a week of no activity, Liam had been called back to his office and no other agents sent to Oakdale. Harper leaned back in her chair. Why would the killer stop before finishing the seven deadly sins? It didn’t make sense.

To have them lower their guard perhaps? The text she’d received let her know the man still lived.

She glanced at Liam’s empty desk, missing him more than she had a right to. Maybe she could call him. See how he was, what he was working on. As she reached for her phone, Annie stepped into her office.

“We’ve got a call of shots fired on Monroe St.”

“Coming.” Calling Liam would have to wait. She grabbed her jacket and weapon and followed Annie grateful for something to do other than think about Liam. She slid into the passenger side of Annie’s squad car. “What do we know?”

“Not much. Multiple shots fired. It’s a residential area. No idea of casualties.”

Hopefully none, but that was rarely the case when shots were fired in a residential area. “Backup?”

“Called, but they won’t be here for twenty minutes.” She turned on the lights and siren and sped from the parking lot.

When they arrived, neighbors reported hearing five gunshots, then the squealing of tires. “Any sign of the shooter?” She glanced at the house they’d been called to.

“No, ma’am. Things like this don’t usually happen in this neighborhood.”

“Thank you for your help. Please return to your home. We’ll handle things here.” She marched to the front door and pressed the bell as Annie strung crime scene tape around the yard. The officer had already sufficiently blocked the road with the car.

“I count four casings,” she called out.

Harper glanced at the house, spotting four holes in the walls. She turned and glanced at the porch roof. There was the fifth hole. She’d bet her jeep the fifth bullet was lodged up there.

The door opened and she stepped back. “I’m Detective Scranton.”

“Thank God. Please come in. I’m Susan Knell.” The middle-aged woman moved aside. “I have a name for you.”

Harper did her best to keep her cop face on. “A name?”

“Yes. When we woke up to someone was shooting at the house, we were awakened by a picture falling off the wall. You’ll see the bullet hole. Anyway, I asked my teenage son who would be shooting at us. He had a name within five minutes.”

“I would like to speak with your son, please.” Some of the tension left her shoulders as she realized the morning’s proceedings most likely had nothing to do with The Seven Deadly Sins Killer.

“He’s sitting at the kitchen table.”

“Anyone else home?”

“My husband is with my son. Do you mind if I step outside for a smoke?”

“Go ahead. Stay out there until I call for you.” A minute later, Harper had the son at the kitchen table and the husband in the TV room. Separated, they couldn’t compare stories. “You’re awfully calm, ma’am.”

“If you think chain smoking and shaky hands is calm, then I guess I am.” She opened blinds covering an arcadia door and stepped outside.

Harper sat across from the table. Annie entered the room. “There’s a neighbor kid who says he wants to talk to you.”

“Tell him to wait on the porch.” She folded her hands on the tabletop and pierced the nervous teen in front of her with her sternest stare. “So, who’s the shooter?”

“Ryan Jones. But he wasn’t supposed to shoot our house. It was supposed to be Jose’s two doors down. Something about drugs.”

A bust gone wrong? “How do you know this?”