Page 130 of Seven Deadly Sins

“What’s the fastest thing to order here?” Harper asked, peering at the card.

“Soup and salad. You’ll have it in five minutes.”

She motioned the server over. “Two soups and salads, please. A diet soda and a regular.”

Liam read the note. “At exactly one hour, go to mile marker 108. You’ll find your prize.”

“Cool.” Jordan grinned. “A scavenger hunt. I’ve never been a clue before.” He started to slide from the booth.

“You can’t leave yet. We’re supposed to eat with you until our time is up.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

“Order a slice of pie and add it to our tab.” Liam shoved the note into his pocket. He glanced around the diner for anyone who seemed overly interested in them. “Do you see the man who gave you the fifty dollars?”

“Nah. He didn’t come in.” He ordered chocolate pie when the server brought the soups and salads. “What do you get for finishing the hunt?”

“It’s a surprise.” Liam doubted it would be a pleasant one. Thompson hadn’t given a time limit to get to mile marker 108 after their hour lunch.

Under different circumstances, the soup might have been delicious. As it was, it was tasteless. Same with the ranch dressing on the salad. But the food stopped his stomach from growling and the soda wet his throat. When they’d finished, he tossed money on the table, shook Jordan’s hand, and thanked him for his help.

The young man might be the first person to deal with one of Robert’s people and live another day.

He stopped the jeep on the side of the interstate far enough so as not to be hit by a passing vehicle. There wasn’t a lot of room before a deep ditch, but enough. “Get out on my side, Harper.” If she opened her door, she’d slide down for sure.

“Definitely.” She climbed over the middle console. “I’m terrified of what we’re going to find.”

He had to admit to some nervousness himself. He didn’t see anything out of place in the median unless it was in a tree, so stepped to the edge of the ditch.

A woman’s body lay at the bottom. Without a second thought, he slid his way down and rolled the woman to her back. Robert’s assassin.

“Is she alive?” Harper stared down at them.

Liam felt for a pulse. “Barely. Call for an ambulance.” He checked her for fresh injuries. Nothing but the ones he’d given her, but the woman was very flushed. He held the back of his hand to her forehead. She was on fire.

He ripped open her blouse, sending buttons flying and peered under the bandage on her side. It didn’t take a doctor to see an infection had set in.

Thompson had sent them on a scavenger hunt in hopes the woman would be dead by the time they reached her. Liam didn’t think she’d be escaping the hospital this time.

By the time the ambulance arrived, she was dead.

Had Robert helped the infection along? Poisoned her?

Who would do his dirty work now?

Chapter Ten

As Harper andLiam headed back to the office, she responded for the first time to Robert Thompson. Why did you kill her?

I didn’t kill her. The agent did. I simply allowed you some time to find her and save her. The two of you failed.

Again, I ask why. Harper shook her head. No way could he lay the woman’s death at their feet. He was the one who had dumped her in the ditch like garbage.

She committed the sin of lust.

Harper relayed the text conversation to Liam. “The man really is blind to his own sins.” She typed into her phone. What about the sin of murder? Thy shalt not kill.

That fantasy book is not what I follow. Ridding the world of sin will make it a better place.

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