Page 71 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Absolutely. Ciao.”

No amount of calling for her would bring her back. He lowered his hands and returned to Harper. “Thompson might be the one telling her what to do, but that woman won’t be caught by us. I get the feeling that someday, the tables will turn, and this woman will have all that Thompson possesses.” Once that happened, she’d disappear with his riches and never be seen again.

Sirens wailed from one street over. The cavalry had arrived too late.

Liam heaved a sigh and helped Harper to her feet. “Let the games begin.”

They met the other officers in front of the hotel. Annie rushed toward him. “The Thompson mansion is burning. Has been for at least an hour. There’s no saving the place.”

“Arson?”

“Suspected. Several gas cans were located in the bushes. The shooter you were after?”

“The hired assassin. She got away. Good news is the sketch artist will be able to do a good drawing. We saw her face clearly.”

Chapter Eight

Lucy threw azebra print pillow at the TV. “How could you let them get inside? How could the apartment manager have let them in?”

Robert frowned. “They flashed their badges. It couldn’t be helped. Besides, you weren’t due back until tomorrow.”

“They’ve seen my other face!” She threw another pillow, this time at his head. “You’re an imbecile. How you manage to get those fools who follow you to do your dirty work is beyond me.”

Robert’s blood chilled. He’d never seen Lucy angry before, and the sight scared him spitless. An angry killer was not a good thing. His hand shook as he brought his drink to his mouth. His mind whirled trying to come up with something to say that would calm her down.

“Do you realize that if I hadn’t been seen in the stairwell that you would’ve walked into your apartment where they waited? Now, we’re here, in my house, my private space. I ought to kick you out right now.”

“I can leave.” The ice clinked against the glass as his hand shook.

“No, Robert, you can’t. You know where I live now. We’re stuck together until I find a new place.” She fell back onto the white sofa and pressed a button on the remote. Seconds later, a drawing of both versions of Lucy were on the screen. She cursed. “I need a disguise.”

“Surgical?” Hope leaped. That could be his chance to get rid of her before she turned on him.

“Heavens no. I’m not allowing you to cut on me.” She pursed her lips. “A wig, prosthetic makeup, that should do for now. I think I could pass for a college kid, don’t you?”

“Absolutely.” No. The hard glint in her eyes made her exactly what she was. A thirty-something killer. One that was escalating out of control.

“Fabulous. Find me another job to do before I get bored. Look. The detective is going to say something.”

“It’s hard to find sinners when I’m locked in this house.” He, too, needed new disguises.

~

Harper stared over the sea of reporters, then at the camera. “We have a person of interest in the Seven Deadly Sins Killer case. We believe the man responsible is Surgeon Carl Landry. His real name is Robert Thompson. He is considered extremely dangerous. He is most likely with a female paid assassin. We will put her face on the screen again at the end of this press conference. Anyone with news of either Mr. Thompson or this woman is asked to call the department or the DBI.”

A reporter’s hand went up. “Detective, can you tell us who was involved with you in the shootout yesterday?”

“The woman we suspect is with Mr. Thompson.” Harper pointed at someone else.

“Is it true that Thompson set fire to his mansion?”

“We believe so.”

Another reporter’s hand shot up. “What about the penthouse?”

“Considered a crime scene.”

“What’s the next step, Detective?”