Page 172 of Seven Deadly Sins

“I find that strange. They must be furious.” She pulled her phone from her pocket. “No service. I usually have service on this mountain. Do you think there’s a blocker around here?”

“I’d bet on it. I’m sure everyone turned over their cell phones. In case someone didn’t, Thompson wouldn’t want his people contacting the outside.” He peered around the corner. “Coast is clear. Let’s go.”

She kept one hand on his back and followed close enough to step on his heels a time or two. Liam turned the knob on the kitchen door. It turned easily under his touch.

They couldn’t risk a light, but the full moon outside made it easy enough to see his way around. Liam checked a door to his right. Storage. He pointed to the ceiling. Robert’s room would most likely be upstairs. Finding it without someone seeing them would be difficult. All rooms looked the same from this side of the door, and they couldn’t very well knock on each of them.

They passed a door with a sign that said office. Good. They were getting closer. He stopped in the center of the hall and studied the doors on each side. Eenie Meenie Miney Mo.

A baby cried from behind the door on his left. Not that room, then. He strained his ears to hear other sounds that would mark a room off as a possibility.

“A woman’s voice in this one,” Harper whispered.

Two down, eight more to go. They moved past the first two doors. The next two were quiet. Liam pressed his ear to one, Harper the other. He heard nothing and moved further.

Snores, but he couldn’t tell whether they came from a man or a woman or whether whoever made the noise was alone. He slowly turned the knob. Locked. Of course, it would be.

Frustration burned through him. They had Thompson right in front of them and still couldn’t find him! He stepped back so he wouldn’t slam his fist against the wall.

“Let’s check the office.” Harper put a hand on his arm.

“Not without me.” Annie, gun in hand, stepped from one of the next set of rooms.

“Just the people I wanted to see.” Thompson exited the office and aimed a weapon in their direction. “Please, come in. So nice of you to come to me without being asked. The newcomers?” He tilted his head.

“Yep. Right under your nose.” He made a move for his gun.

“I wouldn’t, Agent, unless you want the detective gunned down in front of you. Annie, please take their weapons.” He opened the door further to allow them to precede him.

Liam felt as if he entered an execution chamber.

Chapter Eight

Harper wiped sweatypalms on the legs of her pants and stood rigid in front of Robert’s battered metal desk. He’d fallen a long way from being a successful plastic surgeon.

He steepled his fingers under his chin. “I’m going to make a guess that the two of you are the newcomers. That you took a page out of my book and wore a disguise? Very clever. Are you ready for your punishment?”

“The people you blame are dead.” Harper crossed her arms. No way was she going to cower before this man. If she was to perish, she’d do so fighting.

“Someone has to pay. It isn’t personal.” He laughed and waved a hand. “Okay, it is personal. I’ve had great fun playing with the two of you, but the game is over. I don’t have much time and need to find a successor before I go. Annie is a likely candidate. She pulled the hood over your eyes, Detective. The agent’s, too.”

“Cancer?” Harper arched a brow. “The same kind as your father? We can get you medical help, Robert.”

“Do not call me by my first name.” His smile faded. “I do not want the kind of medical help you’ll give me. My fate is in the hands of God. Take me or spare me, either way my vision will live on.”

She doubted it. “So, now what?”

“The two of you will be tied to chairs. The whole world will watch one last video feed. Your deaths will make the headlines for sure.”

Liam made a noise deep in his throat. “You won’t finish what you’ve started before this place is stormed by law enforcement.”

His lip curled. “But the two of you will be gone when that happens. Don’t sell my people short, Agent. They are capable of more than you know. Annie, take them away. Make sure their bindings are secure. We aren’t dealing with fools.”

“Let’s go. Don’t make any stupid moves or I will shoot you.” She ushered them from the building as Director Payson gave another order for the women and children to be released. He added Harper and Liam to the list this time.

Sheila must have gotten worried by this time. She and Liam couldn’t count on being saved. They were on their own. Payson would not jeopardize putting Robert behind bars for a couple of wayward law enforcement. Sure, they’d be sorry to lose an agent and a detective, but they would be collateral damage if they didn’t find a way to save themselves.

She cut a glance at Liam. He gave her a soft smile and mouthed the words, “I love you.”

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