Page 56 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Because Ryan took his brother’s gun and his car. Him and his friends had been drinking. When they got home, his older brother hit the roof. He had a friend over who started spreading the word.”

Thankfully for law enforcement, there was no honor among thieves. “We’ll check out your story.”

Further questioning of the Knell family resulted in no further information. Harper went to interview the neighbor kid. Sure enough, he’d gone to sell pot at the park, was short the amount, and targeted. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

She left the boy to be cuffed by Annie. Not exactly a normal day in the life of Oakdale law enforcement, but it sure beat the days trying to catch up with The Seven Deadly Sins Killer. If only every case could be this simple.

~

Carl slowed as two people exited an adult bookstore a few miles outside Harrington. A place like that shouldn’t be allowed to remain standing. Like the nightclub, a bomb would do the city a favor.

The couple hung on each other, stopping every few seconds to kiss. He’d bet a dime to a dollar one of them was married to someone other than the one they kissed. Using his cell phone, he snapped a few photos. Lucy would be able to find out their identity. Then, they’d pay for their lustfulness and the games would continue.

He coughed, not completely over the virus that had kept him and Lucy locked up for almost two weeks. He’d had everything they needed delivered but started to go stir crazy. Not to mention that he needed to continue his quest of making the world a better place.

Sending the text to the detective that morning had helped make his day a bit better. He couldn’t help but wonder what her and the agent had done while he’d been down. They must be wondering the same about him.

“What are you looking at?!” The man with his arm around the woman flipped him off.

Carl snapped out of his thoughts and drove home. In a few more days, he’d be back in the office, and things would return to normal.

He sent the photos to Lucy from the parking garage, then used the elevator to get to his apartment. “Find out who they are.”

“Hello, to you, too.” She scowled. “How did you know I’d even received the photos this fast?” She hooked her phone to a laptop and started typing. “Don’t start getting all bossy again, Carl. I mean it.”

“Don’t forget who pays you large sums of money to do what I say.” He plopped onto the sofa. “Can you find out who they are?”

“Of course, I can. Relax. When I do, am I supposed to dispose of them?”

“Yes. They’ve committed the sin of lust.”

“You and your sins.” She shook her head. Ten minutes later, she had their names. “Rob Jackson and Josephine Whitley. Both married to other people. He owns Jackson construction. She’s his secretary. Totally cliché. Want their addresses?”

“I won’t need them. You do. Then, blow up the adult bookstore outside Harrington.”

“Ask one of your goons. I don’t do that particular type of job.”

Back to dressing frumpy, at least when they weren’t out of the apartment, she grabbed a black bag from the closet. “Ciao!”

~

Liam’s phone buzzed. He smiled at seeing a text from Harper, but his smile faded as he read.Got a double murder. Looks like our guy and his right hand are back. Coming?She’d included a photograph of a man and a woman in a skanky motel room.

Both were nude, their limbs entwined, throats cut, but no blood pooled under the bodies. Definitely seemed like their killer’s MO.

He replied that he would be there later that evening, then marched to his boss Cruz’s, office. “Sir?” He showed the man the photo. “I’d like to take a couple of agents with me, this time.”

Cruz sighed. “I was hoping the man had died in a car crash or something. Take Macey and Harris. They don’t have a lot of experience, but they’ve got good heads on their shoulders. Use them however you see fit. They’re finishing something up. They’ll be in Oakdale tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” He hurried home to pack, more pleased that he’d be seeing Harper in a few hours than he should be.

Since he kept a to-go bag packed at all times in case he had to leave in a hurry, it didn’t take long before he was ready to go. Toss in a few more items, call for a ride to the airport, and voila. He sent Harper a text asking that someone pick him up from the airport, hoping it would be her. He then called his friend who owned a small plane and requested a ride, eager to get back to work stopping the crazed perp responsible for the rising number of deaths.

Harper leaned against her jeep, arms and ankles folded, when Liam stepped from the plane. She smiled and opened the passenger side door for him. “It’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back.” He placed an impulsive kiss on her cheek. “Fill me in on the way to the hotel.”

“You can stay in my guestroom. It saves time.”