Page 118 of Seven Deadly Sins

“I don’t know.” Stephanie grabbed the bag. “I’m being told to wait.”

“For what?”

“I don’t know.” The last word came as a wail.

Harper’s heart ached for the woman. A bomb strapped to her chest as she coerced a bank to give her money wasn’t likely to have been on her list of things she wanted to do in her lifetime.

“Did you expect anything like this?” Black peered over her shoulder.

“No, but Robert isn’t predictable.” She took a step to the side. He stood too close to her. Took up too much of her personal bubble. Plus, he wasn’t Liam.

The chief called her over and handed her his phone. “Thompson wants to talk to you.”

She cleared her throat. “Hello?”

“Why is there another agent with you instead of McConnell?”

“Hello, Robert.” She put the phone on speaker.

“Answer my question!”

“He was called away. It’s only temporary.” How did he know? She turned and studied the crowd who stood much too close for safety if the bomb went off. She motioned to Black to Annie to move them back.

“My orders explicitly said that you and McConnell were to work together.”

“I understand, but his boss needed him. Turns out you have a fan.”

He laughed. “I’m sure I have several. Here’s what I want you to do, Detective.”

“Yes?”

“I want you to leave your phone in your jeep, give the chief back his, and be inside that bank within twenty minutes. Understand?”

“Why?”

“Leverage, Detective. Your time starts now.”

Harper’s heart leaped into her throat as she handed the chief his phone.

“Let’s get you wired. Quickly. Inside the van so whoever is watching won’t know what we’re doing. I also want you wearing a vest.” The chief marched to the police van and motioned her inside. “We don’t have much time.”

~

Bandage wrapped around his arm, Liam stood at the hospital bed of the jogging killer. “Mind asking a few questions?”

“Sure. I’m not ashamed of what I did. Those women asked for it, dressing all skimpy, everything bouncing. I’d do it again.”

“You won’t get the opportunity.” Liam would make sure the man was locked up for a very long time.

“When my leader finds out what I did for him, he’ll send someone to free me.” He crossed his arms, then winced. “Stupid IV.”

“Don’t count on Thompson sending anyone for you. Until the news, he didn’t know you existed. How long have you been following him?”

“Since you identified him as the one behind the seven deadly sins killing. What a brilliant way to fix this broken world.”

The guy was as delusional as Thompson. How many other psychos were wandering around out there.

“Hey, a bomber at the bank in Oakdale.”

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