Page 17 of Deadly Pride

“Strange, since you called me.”

He jerked, spilling some of the hot coffee on his hand, and stared into the homely face of a pudgy woman in a housedress, her hair streaked with gray. “Lucy Maine?” Uglier than a burnt piece of toast.

Her lip curled. “The very one.” She sat across from him and snatched a piece of toast off his plate. “I’m guessing you suspected someone like your pretty former killer. Let me tell you, I can get in and out of places unnoticed looking like this.”

Since she’d managed to sneak up on him, he suspected she was very much correct. He met her steely gaze and smiled as he wondered how in the world had she gotten into his room.

Chapter Seven

Carl turned onthe television to watch the morning news while Lucy played a game on her phone and waited for his order. Crossing his ankles, he propped his feet on the coffee table as a lovely brunette in a red suit smiled for the camera.

“Lucy, I’d like to explain to you what I’m doing. How I’m trying to make the world a better place.”

“Not interested. All I want is to be paid for my job.” She cast dark eyes on him. “No friendships, no boss and employee, no calling you sir; simply an assassin doing what she’s getting paid for. If I do need to use your name, it’s Carl.” She wagged her finger between them. “Even.”

He frowned, not liking her attitude, and turned back to the television. He was the boss. He was the one who paid a ridiculous amount of money to have the jobs done. The news reporter’s smile never faded as she blathered on.

“This is Brittney Burnes, award-winning reporter from AZZK, your local network coming to you live in front of the strip club where the person who’s been killing sinners caused multiple deaths.” She turned dramatically to the pile of rubble that had once been a den of inequity.

A trace of excitement laced her words as she went on to inform the public that the Seven Sins Killer had done the unthinkable in killing so many people at one time. “We’re coming for you, sir.” Her smiled widened. “I’ve met your kind before and brought you down. Every killer falls at some point.”

“She sure likes to embellish, doesn’t she?” Lucy set her phone on the sofa beside her.

“She’s prideful.” He rubbed his bald head and glanced at the cupboard that held a myriad of wigs, different colors of contacts, and other items to disguise his identity.

People who furthered themselves on the disasters of others didn’t belong in the Utopia he wanted to create. That’s why he’d become a plastic surgeon. To make the world more beautiful. His fingers itched to do something to Lucy’s face and body. “I want her taken care of before I return home this evening.”

“Consider it done.”

~

Harper sat at her desk, feet propped on top of it, and stared at the case board. A lot of death without a lot of answers.

“Coffee?” Liam handed her a Styrofoam cup from the local coffee shop. “It’s not the sludge in the breakroom.”

“Thank God for that.” She accepted the cup and continued staring at the board. “We got nothing.”

“We will. The perp will make a mistake sooner or later.” He perched on the corner of her desk.

“But we don’t know where or when he’ll strike again. We also don’t know how many people he has working for him, killing for him.” Her phone buzzed at the same time as Liam’s. She glanced at the text and read, “Pride goes before a fall, as the lovely lady in red will soon find out.” She stared into Liam’s face. “Lady in red?”

He bit the inside of his cheek. “The morning news reporter wore a red suit. She kind of taunted the killer on television.”

Harper leaped to her feet and reached for the phone. “We need to call the station.” She dialed the number, identified herself, and then asked to speak to Brittney Burnes.

“She hasn’t returned to the office yet,” the receptionist said. “Would you like to leave a message?”

“Do you know where she is?”

“No, Detective. After the news cast this morning, she may have gone to question witnesses. She is an investigative reporter, you know.”

“Thank you.” Harper hung up. “Let’s go to the explosion site. Brittney may still be there.”

Liam snatched the keys off her desk, then motioned her forward. “After you.”

Taking her coffee with her, Harper practically ran to her jeep and slid into the passenger seat. “Make it quick. A woman’s life might be at stake.” She slapped the red light on top of the vehicle.

“Yes, ma’am.” Liam backed up and spun the jeep toward the road. “Buckle your seatbelt.” He yanked on hers to tighten it and took off like a race car driver.

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