Page 103 of Seven Deadly Sins

He returned the items to the envelopes and sent in a request for them to go to the evidence room. A woman now overlooked the things that would be stored there. Fireproof walls and door had been installed to prevent a fire again.

Finished with that, he placed a call and ordered two simple smart phones. They would slowly gain on the ones they sought, and he didn’t intend to lose any of the ground they’d gained.

Chapter Ten

Lucy emptied therushed packing of the duffel bag she’d brought, removing the important envelopes she’d shoved in. Now that she wasn’t in a hurry, the envelopes felt too thin.

She slid the papers out. Blank! She’d been discovered. Her hand shook as she dropped the pages onto the board that served as a kitchen counter. They now knew everything about her. She tossed a quick glance to where Robert paced the tiny living room.

Was it time for her to move on? This gig paid more than any other she’d ever had, but she never hung around in one spot this long. The blank pages proved how dangerous letting weeds grow around your feet could be.

“What’s wrong?” Robert froze, his gaze locking on hers.

“Nothing.” She shoved the empty envelopes into her bag and the papers into the fireplace. “Everything is great.” Far from it.

They were staying in a mountain cabin that could fall down around them at any moment, filming a boy sent on ridiculous quests, and all the authorities didn’t know was her real last name. Who was she kidding? She had no passports and if she didn’t act fast, her accounts would be frozen. The authorities had the numbers and a different name on each account. Things were about to get ugly.

She gripped the countertop hard enough to make her knuckles ache. “What’s the next quest? We need this to end.” She had some killing to do. Three in fact. Robert, the detective, and the handsome agent.

“It’s going to be harder all the way up here, but I’ll manage.” Robert pulled a bandanna from his pocket and tied it around the boy’s eyes. “We need a ride. Can’t do anything close to our hideout.”

She rolled her eyes. Did he think she was stupid? Of course, they had to take the boy somewhere else.

~

Why hadn’t Robert contacted them? The day was almost over. The last thing she wanted to do was follow Reynold in the dark.

Her new cell phone lay on her desk unopened. She reached for the item and started plugging in important phone numbers. Anything to stay busy and help keep her mind occupied.

She and Liam had decided the new phones would be used for everything except receiving texts from Robert. When they wanted to be incognito, they’d leave the old ones behind. But not for too long or he’d grow suspicious.

The phone on her desk buzzed. “Liam?”

“Yeah, I got one. Live feed is back, too.”

Reynold stood blindfolded in the middle of the Interstate median. Horns honked as cars and semis sped past.

The text read, “In ten minutes, I’m going to tell the boy to start walking. His hands are tied, so removing the blindfold will be difficult. It’s up to you to get to him before he’s struck by a vehicle.”

“Which direction? East or West?” Her blood chilled.

“Macey and Harris are in the air. I’ll have them follow the Interstate and give us a mile marker.” Liam got to his feet and made the call.

Five minutes after Reynold started shuffling down the median, they got the call that he was at mile marker 108. Another five minutes away.

Lights flashing, they zoomed in that direction. Liam weaved the jeep in and out of traffic.

Harper’s heart dropped. “A semi stopped on the shoulder. The driver is trying to make his way to Reynold.”

Liam jerked to face her. “That’s suicide.”

“He obviously doesn’t know about the game.” As she watched, a shot rang out and the man fell in the right lane of the interstate. A car struck him, went on two wheels, and overturned.

Reynold had frozen in place, drawing in on himself. After several seconds, he moved forward again.

Harper made a call to the local EMTs to meet them at the scene of the accident. By now, several more vehicles had been rearended or did the rearending. Traffic had stalled.

Her second phone rang. “Detective Harper here.”

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