Page 60 of Seven Deadly Sins

Harper spent the ride to the first house lost in her thoughts. She might have dispelled Liam’s insecurities earlier, but she had plenty of her own. She hadn’t been a detective more than a year and was very close to losing her first big case. Maybe she should’ve stayed a street cop.

But then, she wouldn’t be working with Liam every day. She wouldn’t have a chance to prove herself to the chief. She drew on the peace she’d felt earlier in the church, reminding herself she was exactly where she should be.

By the time Liam parked in front of the first house, she’d regained some of her confidence. She stared at the white wood house with wraparound porch, dreading the task ahead of them. With a heavy sigh, she shoved open her door and stepped onto a freshly moved lawn.

She knocked on the front door and stepped back, glancing at the list in her hand. She put on her cop face and squared her shoulders.

Liam reached over and gave her hand a squeeze when a woman answered the door.

“Mrs. Connor?”

“Yes.” The young woman’s brow furrowed. An infant cried in the room behind her.

Harper introduced them. “May we come in?”

“Is this about Mark? What happened?”

“Please, ma’am. Inside?” Liam moved forward.

She stepped back, allowing them entrance, then scooped her baby from a blanket on the floor. “I’m ready.”

“Please sit down, Mrs. Connor.” Liam motioned to the sofa.

When she sat, Harper cleared her throat. “Were you aware that your husband was at the adult bookstore on I40?”

She shook her head. “I assumed he was at work.”

“Were you aware of the explosion this morning?”

“No.” She gasped. “Are you telling me Mark is dead?”

“Presumably so, ma’am. I regret to inform you that we can’t identify any of the bodies and are going by the vehicles in the lot.”

A smile lit her face. “Let me make a call. Mark said he was going to lend a coworker his car so the man could run some errands.” She muttered a “please God” under her breath and snatched a cell phone from the coffee table. A few seconds later, she nodded. “Mark is at work. His coworker’s name is Ben Ally.”

Harper made a note on her list. “You’re positive?”

“I just spoke to him. My husband is a bit shocked to say the least. Said he heard about the explosion on the news and was about to call and let me know he was fine.” A shadow crossed her features. “Ben just got married a month ago.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I’m glad it wasn’t your husband. You may send someone to pick up the vehicle. It’s minus a back window.”

Outside, Harper sagged against the porch railing. “One relieved wife, several other loved ones to still pay a visit to.”

“Come on.” Liam put his arm around her waist. “Let’s get this over with.”

~

Carl listened to the woman on the other end of the line. “Thank you. I’m taking a lengthy absence. Cancel all appointments until further notice.” He hung up and turned to Lucy. “I think the detective and agent may have figured out that I’m the one responsible for the cleansings.”

“So?” She never looked up from her phone. “They’ll never figure out your real identity until you want them to.”

“How do you know I’m not who I say I am?” He narrowed his eyes.

She shook her head and set her phone in her lap before turning a pitying look on him. “Darling, you aren’t as bright as you think you are. If you were really Carl Landry, you’d have been caught by now. The detective and the handsome agent will figure that part out, but not the fact that you are Robert Thompson.”

His blood chilled. “How did you discover that?”

“DNA.” She grinned.

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