Page 49 of Seven Deadly Sins

She laughed again and reached for her wine glass. “You are a funny man, Carl Landry.”

“We shouldn’t be seen together. McConnell and Scranton are here.”

“So? They don’t know what I do for a living. I mean, they might have caught a glimpse of me, but they can’t prove anything. If it means so much to you, I’ll wear makeup next time.” She rolled her eyes.

He cursed under his breath as the agent and detective strolled toward the front doors. He got to his feet and out of sight. “Let me know when they’re gone.”

“They’re gone.” She took another swig of her wine. “You’re on the skittish, dumb side of things. How have you not been caught yet?”

At the next table, two stylish women talked about a third who had just bought a newer, bigger house and a Mercedes. “Who does she think she is?” One asked. “A movie star? Did you see the pink color of the outside? Hideous.”

“I might not like the house,” the other added. “But I would like the money she threw at the place.”

Lucy’s gaze met Carl’s smiling face.

~

They had five names of people who had joined the club in the last three months. One of them being the good doctor, Carl Landry. Liam’s earlier suspicions returned. The man had money. He’d done some research on Landry. Proving that he was behind the murders would be difficult. Their best bet was finding his assassin. The woman or someone else? The woman had been following them.

“Do you think the sketch artist got anything from Ashley Stevenson?” He glanced at Harper.

“Let’s go see. It’ll be nice to have a face to go by.”

He drove them to the police station. The sketch artist handed them the drawing. Liam looked at it then at Harper. “It’s the woman who had followed us.”

“I need a press conference. I want her face plastered all over the news.” Harper picked up the desk phone and arranged a press conference outside in an hour.

While they waited, they both took some of the names of new members and got some background on them. All men. All wealthy. Variety of careers. Liam’s gaze kept returning to Landry.

The thing that kept throwing him was the fact Landry was a plastic surgeon. He dealt with the so-called sins every day. People either coveted a better face, which meant they envied something or someone. Then, their new look could cause pride or greed. Since his patients weren’t dead, Landry didn’t seem the likely suspect.

So, why couldn’t Liam get the idea that the man is their perp out of his head?

“None of these men have ever been arrested. Nothing so much as a restraining order.” Harper crossed her arms. “They’re all squeaky clean.”

Even Landry. “I still think one of these men is our killer. If we put enough pressure on them, one of them might crack.”

“Or file a complaint against the department.”

“I’m willing to take that risk. Let’s hit their places of work.”

“Okay, but the chief’s head will explode if anyone complains. He likes to keep the peace, literally, and prides himself on very few complaints against those who work under him.”

“I’ll explain it to him. I’m also calling in a few more agents. Let’s really put the pressure on this city. The man we’re looking for is bound to crack eventually.” A cornered animal always strikes back.

Chapter Nine

Carl marched intohis apartment. Where was Lucy? She’d said she’d be waiting here for him. He hated waiting and made a beeline for the whiskey decanter. He’d poured himself a glass when the front door opened.

He turned and dropped the glass. A vision of loveliness, all curves and fashion, a sly smile on painted lips. “Do I know you?”

“It’s not that much of a transformation, surely.” Lucy stepped around the shattered glass. “Do I fit the country club now?”

He nodded, unable to speak around the cotton in his mouth. When he could, he took a deep breath. “If you can look like this, why look like…before?”

“This look is unforgettable. I prefer to go unnoticed. But, since my face is now plastered all over the news, thanks to our lovely detective, I needed to change things up. No one will think this,” she motioned at her body, “Is the same woman going around killing people at your request. So, for now, we pretend to be lovers.”

For the first time since meeting Lucy, he didn’t want to pretend. Still in shock, he retrieved a broom and dustpan from the kitchen closet and cleaned up the mess. When he’d finished, Lucy handed him another glass.

---