Page 139 of Seven Deadly Sins

He’d just finished the cookie when the crime scene techs arrived. They wouldn’t find much. Maybe some prints from the door handles which would tell us the names of the owners, but not where they’d gone.

Where was Thompson? Why the silence? Had he already completed the sin of being a sloth by getting work to continue on the new community? Were they now in the last sin? They had a lot of questions and no answers.

The idea they might not find Robert trickled through his mind. It could very well be that the man would come to them, strike without them knowing. His gaze landed on Harper. He might fail to keep her safe.

When the scene had been processed, they headed back to the office and added notes with a big question mark to the case board. They had nothing more than a hunch on which to believe the owners of those cars were now with Thompson.

He perched on the edge of the conference table and crossed his arms. They’d already checked for property owned by both names Thompson had gone by. Nothing other than his house and business came up.

His IT guy had done everything he could to try and trace the man’s phone. Someone had put a block on it to prevent that from happening.

He glanced at the others around the table. So many minds for them to all come up empty. Again, the idea that they might have a mole in their midst crossed his mind. He still didn’t use the local IT guy, preferring the one his agency used. He didn’t think Annie capable of being dirty, but he could be wrong. They also had the chief. They were the only two people in the room other than him and Harper that had been there since the start of it all. Two other officers, the crime scene techs from the nearby city of Rockdale, and IT were all involved in some capacity.

If one of them worked for Robert, it would be difficult to prove. Still, the idea wouldn’t go away. He needed to dig deep into each of their lives, their backgrounds.

“What is it?” Harper frowned. “You’re going to stare a hole in that board.”

“Follow me.” He led the way to the breakroom and closed the door.

Surprise shined in her eyes. “Okay, sounds serious.”

“I’m still convinced we have a mole among us. Someone working this case.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “What do you want me to do?”

The fact she didn’t question or argue his idea sent a rush of emotion through him. “How about we fill our evenings by digging.”

She smiled. “Nothing I’d like better.”

Chapter Four

Harper studied thelist of names in front of them. All people she’d worked with since joining the force. The thought of one of them being dirty sent a knife through her heart. “Add Annie to the list.”

“Really?” Liam sent a sharp look her way.

“She’s been there from the very first kill. She was the first on the scene.” Nausea rolled through her stomach as she opened her laptop and sat at the dining room table. “I’ll dig into her background while you start on someone else.”

He nodded, his gaze concerned. “I really hope it isn’t her.”

“Me, too. I’ll start on the chief, then move to IT, leaving you to do all three officers.”

Leaving her to do those she’d worked side-by-side with for five years as a detective. If she discovered one of them had been keeping pertinent information on the case from them, it would hurt as much as being shot.

As much as it will hurt when Liam leaves.

She read through Annie’s files from the academy. Top of her class. The only complaint was her need to prove herself against the men. An act that alienated some of them. That came as a surprise to Harper. Everyone always seemed to really like Annie.

The woman was definitely a work horse. That’s why Harper liked her. She couldn’t abide lazy people or those with a chip on their shoulder. Annie’s sunny disposition and willingness to get the job done made her a favorite. They weren’t close friends by any means, Harper didn’t have time for nurturing a friendship, but they got along well.

She straightened in her chair, rolling the kinks from her shoulders before searching Annie’s family information.

“The chief is squeaky clean.” Liam stood and headed for the refrigerator. “Too clean. Tea?”

“Top shelf, glass pitcher. It’s not sweetened.”

“Just the way I like it. Want some?”

“Sure, thanks.” How had she not known that Annie was the orphan of a pastor and his wife? She didn’t talk much about her family. She typed in the name of her father’s church.

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