Page 52 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Where are you two going?” The chief stopped them. “You’re needed at that country club. We’ve got two women who were supposed to play tennis missing.”

They sprinted for the jeep and sped back to Harrington. Police vehicles filled the parking lot. Two officers blocked the door to keep anyone from leaving.

Liam flashed his badge and entered the building, Harper right behind him. “What do we have?” He approached an officer who looked to be in control.

“Two women missing.”

“How long?”

“About three hours.” He shook his head. “They missed their tennis game, but no one thought anything of it. The court was given to someone else. When they didn’t join their husbands for the evening meal, the men got worried. Another hour after that, they called us. At least that’s what they said.”

If this was their perp, why hadn’t Liam or Harper received a text? “So, a lot of people have come and gone since then.”

“Unfortunately. We’ve shut the place down now, but I’m sure it’s too late.”

“Anyone check the women’s bathroom?” Harper asked.

The officer nodded. “Yes, and the women’s lockers are still locked, which means their things are still inside. I’m waiting for permission to cut the locks.”

“What’s the holdup?”

He shrugged. “No one seems to be in a hurry.”

After half an hour passed, Liam took matters into his own hands and hunted down the club’s maintenance man. “I need you to cut a couple of locks.”

The man glanced at the club’s owner who paced the common room. “Go ahead. How can this have happened here? We have top-notch security.”

“Because you have a killer in your midst.” Liam followed the maintenance man to the women’s restroom. Harper entered a few seconds later.

The man cut both locks and stepped back. Liam opened one, Harper the other.

An expensive handbag rested inside. On top of the bag was a folded sheet of paper. Liam pulled gloves from his pocket and pulled them on before reaching for the paper. He unfolded it and read, “You have two hours to find these women who are not content with what they have. I enjoyed the last game so much and liked that the two of you succeeded in saving the child. Let’s try again.”

He glanced at Harper. “No instructions, though.”

“I have those.” She handed him the paper from the other locker. “There’s a bomb icon at the end of the message.”

An icy fist clenched his heart. “Where are those coordinates?”

She punched them into her phone. “A campground two hours away.”

Liam shoved the paper into his pocket and dashed from the club. They had no time to waste.

+

Chapter Ten

Lights flashing andsiren blaring, the jeep rocketed down the Interstate. “There will be quite the climb on a twisting mountain road.” Harper tried not to gasp as Liam swerved to switch lanes, barely missing the bumper of a car in front of them. “It’ll slow us down.”

“I’ll try to make up time on the flat Interstate.” His focus remained straight ahead, an intense look in his eyes. His knuckles were white from a tight grip.

She had plenty of tension of her own. By all accounts, they wouldn’t reach the women in time. But they had saved Ashley Stevenson, so she had hope they could get to these two in time to.

She phoned the chief and told him where they were headed. He promised to try and get a chopper in the air, but Liam and Harper would probably get there first. “Send a bomb squad, sir.”

His shout caused her to hold the phone away from her ear. “I can’t let you and Agent McConnell risk yourselves in that way.”

“What? Sir? We’re breaking up.” She pressed the off button. There’d be hell to pay when she returned to the station.

---