Page 98 of Seven Deadly Sins

So far, the number of people watching around the world had reached over a million. The kid would be more famous than he’d ever dreamed of being. Or ever wanted to be.

Harper tore her gaze away from her phone and followed Liam to the front doors. They opened easily at his touch, prompting both of them to pull their weapons. Liam held a finger to his lips.

She narrowed her eyes. Of course, she knew to be quiet. She hadn’t made detective by being stupid.

Flashing her an apologetic grin, Liam entered the dimly lit building. Nightlights guided them through an atrium and down a hall. On each side were restrooms labeled Men and Women. What looked like classrooms were past those. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think it nothing more than a contemporary-style church.

Their shoes tapped against the tiled floor, signaling their presence to anyone listening. Liam slowly pushed open a set of swinging double doors that led to what must be the sanctuary if Robert called it that. Rows of about thirty chairs led to a raised podium. A whimper came from Harper’s right.

She froze, then motioned to Liam to circle around the other direction. He nodded and followed her directions, the multi-colored indoor/outdoor carpet muffling his footsteps. Harper circled around the opposite direction.

Huddled under one of the chairs was a young girl around six-years-old. Harper knelt beside her. “Are you here by yourself?” She held out her hand. “Come out. I won’t hurt you.”

“Don’t touch her.” A woman, hair dripping on the towel around her shoulders, burst into the room. “Elena, come here.”

The child scampered out and wrapped her arms around the woman’s legs.

Not wanting to frighten them further, Harper got slowly to her feet. “I’m Detective Scranton. This is Special Agent McConnell. We aren’t here to hurt you.”

“I know who you are.” The woman’s lip curled. “You’re the reason my husband is gone, and my daughter and I are hiding.”

“May I ask your husband’s name?”

“Maysup.”

Harper nodded. “It’s for your protection that he’s gone, ma’am. Please, have a seat. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“I don’t know what I can tell you.”

Harper waved to a seat.

“Only if you promise to take us somewhere safe. This is nowhere for us to live.”

“We’ll do our best.” She glanced at Liam who nodded.

The woman took a seat and pulled her daughter onto her lap. “Ask your questions. If you want to know where my husband is, I don’t know.”

“We’v already spoke to him.” To appear less intimidating, Harper turned a chair around and had a seat while Liam watched the doors. “Is there anyone else here with you?”

The woman swallowed, her eyes darting from one corner of the room to the other.

“Mrs. Maysup?”

She sighed. “There are two other families. Women and children only. None of us knew where else to go. Here, we have running water and a roof over our heads.”

“I see the reasoning in that.” If they looked on the place as their church, it would be a true sanctuary for them. “Have you heard from or seen Robert Thompson?”

“No. I heard he’s on the run. That he’s been killing people.” Her eyes shimmered. “That wasn’t supposed to be the vision. Sinners should be punished, yes, but not killed. Not like that.”

“I can’t agree more. Please call the other families. We’ll get a vehicle here to take you to the station. From there, we’ll find somewhere else for you to stay.” She stood as the woman and child left the room.

Maybe they’d come back, maybe they wouldn’t, but Harper wanted to help get them somewhere more comfortable. She turned to Liam. "We will be able to find them a place, won’t we? Not a woman’s shelter?”

“I’ll make some calls.” He smiled.

Harper called for the station to send a van, then turned on the live feed showing Reynold stretched out on a cot, an army blanket over him. Somewhere cool, then. Most likely a basement considering the block walls. The late summer weather outside wouldn’t warrant such a blanket.

She made another call to Annie requesting a list of all homes in Oakdale and surrounding rural areas that had a basement. Reynold couldn’t have been far considering he reached the tree at the lake on time.