Page 58 of Seven Deadly Sins

Harper folded her hands on the table. “Landry is a strong suspect, but whoever the perp is hires assassins to the killing and uses his followers to do the other dirty work. From what we can gather from his text messages, the perp thinks he’s making the world a better place by getting rid of undesirables.”

“People committing the seven deadly sins,” Harris said.

“Exactly.”

“Then, we’ve got a long road ahead of us.” Macey shook his head. “There isn’t a person alive, except for babies and small children, who aren’t guilty of at least one of those sins.”

“The Seven Deadly Sins Killer has brought Liam and I together because our grandfathers failed to save someone they love from cancer.” Harper pushed the stack of medical records across the table. “That’s our theory anyway. It’s the closest thing that makes sense at this point.”

“Mind if we take these and study them as time allows?” He tilted his head.

“Not at all.”

“Let’s start divvying up tasks.” The chief leaned forward. “Harper and Liam will continue following the trail this creep leaves via text messages and disasters. You two go behind them picking up the pieces and digging through the proverbial debris to see what got missed. Eventually, something will be found to help lock this guy and his assassin behind bars. Any comments?”

Four heads shook negative. For the first time since she’d received her first text, Harper started to feel a bit of hope that they’d catch the guy.

~

It hadn’t been difficult to find someone willing to blow up an adult bookstore. Carl’s followers saw the need to cleanse the country, starting with their hometown. But, it galled him that Lucy refused direct orders when she didn’t want to do something. Beautiful or not, when she cleaned up, she was merely hired help.

Carl lifted his binoculars when the one he’d chosen for the job ducked around the corner of the building. From the amount of cars in the parking lot, collateral damage would be great. No matter. Those people shouldn’t be in such a place. Their deaths were on them.

First the nightclub, now this. Things were happening on a regular basis. When he returned home, he’d make a list of other places to rid Oakdale and Harrington of.

His man darted from behind the building and to his waiting car. As he sped off, the building exploded into flames sending debris into the air. Carl got out of his car and melted into the crowd of onlookers gathering across from the building. He wanted to watch as the detective and agent arrived on scene not knowing that he was there.

The fire department arrived first, then an ambulance, not that either would do any good. Then, after what seemed like a long time, the familiar jeep stopped on the other side of the police barricade and the two he wanted got out and marched down the sidewalk.

They studied the crowd he stood in. He didn’t care. They wouldn’t see past his disguise. He pasted on a concerned look and turned his gaze to the burning building.

~

Liam felt watched. The perp was there somewhere. He knew it but saw no sign of Landry. Could he be that wrong about who they searched for?

He turned from the inferno in front of him to the crowd watching, taking mental snapshots of everyone there. Where are you?

One man, pudgy face under a graying beard with a paunch that hung over his belt, met Liam’s stare before taking a few steps back. When Liam continued to watch him, the man turned and sprinted down the sidewalk away from the crowd.

“Harper!” Liam raced across the chase and barged through the crowd after the man. His speed belied the middle-aged look. Whoever he was, the man was fit.

Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted Harper following and increased his speed after the suspect. He pulled his radio from his belt and called for backup, describing the man he chased.

The man darted into a bookstore. Screams followed when Liam drew his weapon and ordered shoppers out of his way.

A back door slammed. Liam shoved it open and exited into an alley. He skidded to a halt, glancing both ways before spotting the man turning left onto a nearby street.

“Who is it?” Harper caught up with him.

“Someone acting suspicious.” He continued the chase, Harper at his side. When he turned the corner, the man was nowhere to be seen. His shoulders sagged as he replaced his weapon. “I think he’s wearing a disguise. A man the age he appeared to be would not be able to run that fast.”

“Landry?”

“Maybe. This guy’s the right height.” He led her back to the building.

Firemen shot streams of water on the fire. Liam approached the fire chief. “Any chance of survivors?”

“Nope. I don’t think there will be enough body parts to identify the victims. You’ll have to go by the license plates. This fire is hot enough to burn bone. The arsonist was no amateur.”

---