Page 82 of Seven Deadly Sins

While the woman studied her phone, he snapped a photo of her and sent it to Lucy. Within seconds, she replied that she would be at the mall in five minutes.

Sure enough, she entered through the doors, dressed in her dowdy clothes and wearing a short, curly, gray wig. “Hello, dear.” She kissed his cheek and took a seat at a table.

Playing along, he sat across from her. “How will you do it?”

She grinned. “Is she ordering food?”

He nodded. “I believe it’s her assistant getting it for her.”

She pulled a small vial from her pocket. “I’m a clumsy old woman, dear. This won’t be hard. When we leave, we simply go by her table, I stumble, dumping this into her food, you help me right myself, I mumble an apology, and we waltz out the door. She’ll be dead in minutes.”

“Marvelous.” He’d get to watch her at work.

~

By the time Harper and Liam arrived at the station to question Robert’s followers, the rain had stopped. She couldn’t believe neither of them had pulled the trigger when the woman approached the jeep. Shaking her head, she marched to the interrogation room and asked for the first man to be brought in.

Liam followed her and stood at one end of the table. He smiled when she glanced his way.

A warm flush rose up her neck. So much for not getting involved with someone during an active investigation. She’d enjoyed his kiss, very much, and wanted a lot more of them. His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. “My guy hacked into James’s laptop. He’ll meet us when we’re done here.”

“Great.” She made her face impassive as the man Liam had questioned at the club was brought in. “Please, have a seat. Can we get you anything? Coffee? Water?”

“Nothing.” He glared at them as he sat.

“Do you mind if we record our conversation?” Without waiting for a reply, Harper pressed the button on the recorder. “State your name.”

He glowered. “Not until you tell me why I’m being detained.”

She folded her hands on the table and speared him with her sternest gaze. “Sir, we’re asking you to assist in a murder investigation by answering our questions. We’re questioning every one that was at the country club today.” Not a complete lie. Everyone had been questioned, just not at the station.

“Fine. Steven Maysup.”

“Do you know this man?” She slid a photo of Robert across the table.

His gaze flicked down, then up. “Nope.”

Liam cleared his throat. “Take another look. Name is Robert Thompson.”

The man paled. “No, I don’t know him.”

“I’m afraid we don’t believe you.” Liam planted both hands flat on the table and stared the man in the eyes. “We saw you in a meeting a few days back with him. At the country club.”

The man’s eyes widened.

“How could you attend a meeting with no more than ten people and not know the man speaking?” Harper sat back and crossed her arms.

Maysup pretended to study the photo in great detail, then nodded. “Yes, I know him. Not personally, mind you. He’s a motivational speaker on finances.”

She pursed her lips. “Really?” She leaned forward again. “What are your views on ridding the world of sinners?”

He glanced from her to Liam. “What’s this about?”

“I’m pretty sure Detective Scranton’s question was clear.”

A sneer curled his lips. “I’m all for it, Agent McConnell.”

“Surely, you’re guilty of sin, Mr. Maysup.” Harper tilted her head. “None of us are free from sin. This man, in fact,” she tapped the photo. “Has the sin of anger roaring through him. How can you follow someone who is doing the very things he’s killing others for?”