Page 57 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Thanks.” He’d like seeing her first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

As they drove, she talked, giving him the victim’s names first. “We’ve cased the scene the best we could. Friends say the two were having an affair. That fits in with the lust scenario, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely. Any message left?”

“Nothing other than the bodies. No witnesses. They weren’t killed at the motel. We haven’t located where they were killed yet.”

“I thought that might be the case from the lack of blood on the bed.” He rubbed his chin. “We’re fairly certain the assassin is a woman. It would take a strong one to move two dead bodies without being seen.”

“Unless the manager is lying to us, and he knew all along she would bring them here.” She yanked the wheel to the right, taking an exit. “I think we need to put some pressure on the motel manager.”

“You think he might be a follower of the perp?” He liked the way her mind worked.

“Sure do. There’s no explanation otherwise. Whoever put the bodies in that room had to have help. Someone would have seen. The manager’s office faces the motel room doors.” She stopped in front of the motel.

They rushed inside and skid to a halt.

The manager lay on the floor.

Liam felt for a pulse. “He’s dead.” He glanced around for a murder weapon. No gunshot wound, no knife cuts. “I think he poisoned himself.”

“Take me to church.”

“For salvation?” He arched a brow. “Or for peace.”

“Peace.”

Chapter Two

Once they’d takencare of the crime scene, Liam drove Harper to a Catholic church. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic or not. You’ll find the peace you seek inside. I’ll wait for you at the back of the sanctuary.”

She nodded and sat in the front row and stared at the carved man hanging on the wooden cross. She supposed if he could get through what he had to, she could too. Closing her eyes, she let the quiet and peace of the place wash over her.

She ignored the buzzing of the cell phone in her pocket and the soft cough of someone who entered the building. A whiff of perfume tickled her nose before the woman turned to sit on the other side of the aisle.

After allowing herself fifteen minutes to just be, Harper smiled at the wooden Christ and got to her feet. She shot a quick glance at the other woman who sat with her head bowed. Something about her seemed familiar, but Harper didn’t know anyone who could afford the purse and shoes the woman had.

Liam stood when she reached him and put his hand on the small of her back. “Better?”

“Much. I feel as if I can think clearly now. Thank you.” She smiled up at him.

“Church always helps me.” In the car, he faced her. “The two agents who will be helping us are at the office.”

“Tell me about them.” She clicked her seatbelt into place. The more people they had working this case, the sooner they’d get it solved.

“Agent Macey is a big man. Think wrestler. Bald head, dark eyes, all business. Agent Harris is as opposite as anyone could get.” He pulled from the parking lot and headed in the direction of the office. “Petite, blonde, takes herself seriously, but always ready to crack a smile.”

Hopefully, they’d all get along. It helped that one of the agents was a woman. In the past, Harper had taken a second seat to male agents.

Their receptionist sent them to the conference room where she said the chief and the two agents waited. “Chief Donnelly isn’t happy to be kept waiting.”

Harper shrugged. “We’re working. The agents could’ve spent their time studying the case board.” She marched into the conference room, nodding at the two new arrivals. “Welcome to Oakdale.”

Agent Macey thrust out his hand. “Hope we can help bring this guy to his knees. I’m Agent Macey, this is Agent Harris. We’ve worked serial killer cases before.” He motioned his head to the case board. “A whole lot of nothing. Are you leaning toward one suspect over another?”

“We are.” Liam shook the man’s hand after Harper did. “My gut tells me it’s a plastic surgeon by the name of Carl Landry. I can’t prove it, but we’re trying.”

“Don’t focus too much on one person.” The chief waved for them to sit. “You don’t want to wear blinders and miss a stronger suspect.”