Page 96 of Seven Deadly Sins

“It’s all part of the game.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ll simply have him go somewhere, and you pick him up. Law enforcement won’t follow if I tell them not to. They won’t risk the boy’s life.”

“I’m not so sure about that. They might consider him collateral damage if it means getting to us. Don’t be naïve.” She hung up.

He reached for the glass of Scotch on the side table next to the chair. His fingers curled around it, pretending to close around Lucy’s throat.

Robert wasn’t stupid. He knew the risks involved in his latest game, but until he got through all the sins, proving to the world the dangers of such sins, he needed to stave off boredom.

Sending the two people he most wanted to punish running in circles, prohibited from helping Reynold provided the most entertainment of all. He paid Lucy to do what he told her. If she stopped, he’d rid the world of her and hire someone else.

He straightened; his gaze locked on the television as Reynold reached the path that circled the lake.

~

Liam climbed from the vehicle. Reynold spotted them and froze.

“Help me.” He folded his hands as if in prayer. “Please.”

“We can’t.” Liam’s heart dropped. “We’d best hurry if we’re going to make it to that bag.”

“Less than five minutes.” Harper took off running. “Come on, Reynold.”

Three pairs of feet pounded the dirt path as they raced against time.

“There’s the bag.” Reynold darted forward.

“Not yet!” Liam gripped his arm. “How much time, Harper?”

“Fifty-three seconds. We can’t touch the bag until exactly one o’clock.”

Liam prayed Robert had the same time they did. He watched the countdown on Harper’s phone. When it started down from ten, he reached out, not touching the bag until the buzzer sounded at zero. Simultaneously, they all three touched the bag.

“Now what?” Reynold glanced from Harper to Liam.

“We wait to hear something.” Were they supposed to keep their hands on the bags until Robert contacted them? He hadn’t said anything about releasing the bag, and Liam didn’t dare assume anything.

His phone buzzed. He glanced at his screen the same time Harper did hers.

“This is too funny. You may release the bag. I never intended you to stay hunched over indefinitely. Now, for our next task…”

Liam waited for a full minute before Robert continued.

“We’ve time before nightfall to play some more. You three have thirty minutes to row across the lake to the other side. First, you need to find a way across. Enjoy. If you succeed, Reynold will be given instructions on returning to me until tomorrow. Let him know this is what happens when you are a glutton.”

His shoulders sagged as he stared across the expanse of water. “Any idea where we can get a boat?”

“There are canoes stored not too far away. They’re free for anyone to use.” She set another time on her phone and led them down the path to where three canoes were piled on top of each other. “If we all three row, we might be able to do this.”

“You can’t let me go back.” Reynold shook his head. “I can’t.”

“We don’t have a choice at this point.” Liam grabbed an oar from the ground and thrust it into the boy’s hands. “He won’t harm you. Not while we’re playing the game. We stop doing what he says, and you’re dead. Come on. This isn’t going to be easy.”

He slid a canoe into the water. Harper, you take the front. Reynold, center, and I’ll be in back. We’ll be stroking long and hard to get across. We’ll need to be in unison. Either of you ever rowed before?”

Reynold nodded, while Harper shook her head. “Nothing more than a kayak,” she said.

“Any of those around?”

“No.”