Page 167 of Seven Deadly Sins

“The wig and my bag of clothes. Sheila is not even close to being dumb.”

“Is she going to rat us out?”

“She’ll give us an hour.”

“That’s not enough time, Liam. Not nearly enough.” She shook her head.

“It will have to be.” Once inside, he could make a good guess as to where Thompson stayed. If nothing else, he could ask, but only as a last resort. Every follower who had been there more than a day would know. They couldn’t give themselves away by asking too many questions.

“It doesn’t matter anyway.” Harper stared after Sheila. “Once inside, the chief can’t very well force us to leave. We’ll get the job done.” Her face set in determined lines. “Robert Thompson will be behind bars within a few days.”

He really hoped she was right. He’d meant every word he’d said to Sheila. He’d do everything he could to keep Harper safe. Even if that meant taking a bullet for her or making a deal with Thompson that would allow her to go free in exchange for his life.

“What are you thinking?” Her narrowed eyed gaze studied his face.

“Same as you. I’m thinking about tonight when we sneak through the woods and into the compound.”

She didn’t look convinced. “The tricky part will be changing into our disguises without getting caught.”

“We’ll have to do that in the woods. It’s going to take a while according to the map you handed out. That back road is at least a mile away, then another mile through the woods to the back of the compound. If we try any other way, we’ll be seen by our own people.” Seen, stopped, and locked up for their own protection.

By late afternoon, the atmosphere in the building changed. The place hummed with nervous energy. Orders were given and bags grabbed. Over a hundred pairs of feet thundered for the front door.

Liam and Harper entered the first van they could find two seats in and settled down for the hour ride. Once the vans started moving, conversation stopped. The solemn atmosphere mirrored everyone’s thoughts.

If they were like Liam, they were all wondering whether they were going to repeat that historical time in Waco, Texas. He moved closer on the bench seat so that his thigh pressed against Harper’s. Feeling her warmth dispelled some of the chill that had set up residence inside him.

How many law enforcement would die? How many of Thompson’s followers? That was the reason he and Harper had to get inside. There couldn’t be a repeat of that day in Texas.

He also knew it was quite possible that he and Harper wouldn’t make it out alive. Collateral damage as he’d once called Thompson’s followers. He knew Payson wouldn’t hold back gunfire if it came to that because one of his agents had violated orders and gone out on his own.

Resting his head against the wall of the van, he closed his eyes. It was going to be a long night, and an hour’s rest would be beneficial.

When he opened his eyes, the van had stopped. Those inside climbed silently out.

Liam took Harper’s hand and stared at the wooden gate. Behind that wall would be the final confrontation. Behind that wall, justice would be served, God willing.

Chapter Six

The night grewlate before Harper and Liam could sneak away. Since Robert had yet to make contact with the authorities and vice versa, most of those in front of the compound had taken the time to sleep. Only a few milled around conversing in low tones.

When Liam motioned for her to follow him, she was more than ready. Idleness was never a good thing for her. She hated stakeouts of any kind. She grabbed her bag of thrift store clothes from the van and rushed after Liam.

The moon played peekaboo in an indigo sky, casting the thick woods into almost utter darkness. She paused a few feet in to let her eyes adjust wishing they could chance a flashlight.

Liam waved her forward. “We can’t dawdle.” His whisper sounded loud in the night.

She picked up her pace, keeping her gaze locked on his back. A few times, her heart leaped into her throat when he stepped into the shadows, and she lost sight of him. She’d never been afraid of the dark before, but that night evil permeated the air with a stench so foul her nose twitched.

She’d never been more frightened than moving through that forest toward a confrontation she might not walk away from. Even worse, she might survive, and Liam perish.

The wind picked up, blowing her hair in her face. She tripped over an exposed tree root and almost went sprawling face first in dry leaves and pine needles.

Liam glanced over his shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yes.” She tied her hair into a bun and continued on what seemed like the longest mile she’d ever walked, but she was wrong. The mile from the logging road to the compound would feel longer.

They stopped at the edge of the road. Liam pulled his clothes from his bag. “We change here. If we’re caught outside the compound, we’ll say we were coming to join them. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, though. I’m sure Thompson greets all his newcomers. Our disguises might not be good enough to fool him.”

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