Page 134 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Big house, lots of property. Barker inherited business and land from his father who got it from his father. Big news when the latest Barker ran out of money. He had a good idea that he couldn’t finish.” She got in the vehicle. “Wife’s name is Amber. She’s the perfect little trophy wife and about twenty years younger. Not from around here. He went to New York one day and returned a week later with a new wife.”

“Divorced?”

She nodded. “Right when the money ran out. The trip to New York was about getting his hands on some funds, or so rumor has it. None of this will help us catch Robert.”

“No, but it gives us motive.” He started the jeep and headed back to Oakdale.

They met up with the chief and other agents in the conference room. The identity of the abducted woman was Amber Barker. She’d been taken from the parking lot of a day spa. “Have either of you received any communication from this nut job?”

“No.” Which seemed very strange to Liam. Usually, Thompson couldn’t wait to fill them in on his latest exploits.

“He wants me to ask him.” Harper pulled her phone from her pocket. “We communicate now, remember? It’s no longer one-sided.”

“Then contact that creep and find out what he wants.” The chief crossed his arms.

Harper typed into her phone. “Now we wait.”

The group drank too much coffee, ate too much vending machine food, and dozed at the table during the hour it took for Thompson to respond. Harper jerked to attention when her phone buzzed. She read out loud:

“I have the new wife of Barker. He needs to show confirmation that he can get funding to finish the self-sustained community within twenty-four hours. If not, I mar this pretty smooth skin. You can watch me cut her on the same live feed we’ve used in the past. Once I have confirmation, he has three days to begin the work or more cutting. Mr. Barker will finish this job or watch his wife be marred so no plastic surgeon can patch her up. Don’t forget, I’m skilled.”

Liam’s mouth went dry. “Let the chief know.”

Chapter Two

Before an hourhad passed, Mr. Barker had arrived and paced the interrogation room with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other. “I don’t care what you have to sell off. Get me the money.” He turned stricken eyes on the two of them. “I’m working at getting the money. Your chief told me.”

“Please, Mr. Barker, sit.” Harper motioned to the chairs. “Can I get you anything? Water or more coffee?”

He glanced at the cup in his hand. “I could use a refresh, I guess.” He ran his hands through gray hair that might have been perfectly styled before his wife’s abduction. Now, his hair stuck up in disarray. He nodded and took a seat.

Harper sat across from him. “Is what the kidnapper demanding something you can achieve?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. My accountant said we’re asking for the impossible. Selling the beach house in Malibu might get me the funds, but it’ll take longer than three days to get the work to resume.” He covered his face with his hands. “He’s going to mar my beautiful wife.”

She wanted to promise him that she and Liam would prevent that from happening, but without knowing where Robert had taken the woman, they couldn’t do more than keep searching. “We’re doing everything in our power to stop this man.”

“I’ll get the coffee.” Liam removed the cup from the table and left them alone.

“Why me?” Barker removed his hands.

Harper took a deep breath, then released it slowly. “You’re aware he’s going through the seven sins?”

“Yes.”

“He’s on sloth.”

“I am far from lazy, Detective Scranton.” He crossed his arms.

She explained the word had more than one meeting. “My guess is that he’s targeted you because the community you’re building is a worthwhile contribution to Oakdale.” She folded her hands on the tabletop. “Mr. Thompson doesn’t really need a reasonable excuse. It only has to make sense to his addled mind. Have you been following the prior live feeds?”

“Yes. Thank God those people were returned home. It gives me hope that he will let my wife go.”

Harper held onto the same hope. If they could keep the community build moving forward, even if slower than Robert would like, she might be able to pacify him enough to be a little lenient. A long stretch, but with the two-way conversation they could now have…maybe.

Liam returned with the man’s coffee and cups for both her and him. He handed Mr. Barker his and sat next to Harper.

The man stared at them. “Well?”

---