The Puppet Master Chapter 6

Detective Peppers toughest case

Chapter 6

The Next Morning – FBI Headquarters June 12th

Penny sat across from Mike, watching as he clicked through surveillance footage on his laptop. The Ogunquit PD conference room smelled like burnt coffee, and Penny could already feel a headache forming.

Mike pointed to the grainy footage. “This was the Kittery drop site last night.”

Penny leaned forward, studying the figures on the screen. Several men were unloading crates from a white cargo van, stacking them near the docks.

Mike continued. “We know they move the product from Kittery to Ogunquit. But here’s the problem, once it gets to Ogunquit, it disappears. We don’t see it go onto any of the usual trucks.”

Penny frowned, her heart racing. “So where the hell does it go?”

Mike clicked to the next slide: a still image of the Ogunquit docks. Nothing.

Penny cursed under her breath. “Damn it.”

Mike exhaled. “They’re smart. They know how to avoid detection. But there’s a pattern here. Every Tuesday and Friday, shipments land in Ogunquit. If we can figure out where they’re hiding them before the next move, we can intercept the next batch.”

Penny nodded, the gears in her mind turning. “Then we need to go old school, stakeouts, informants, anything.”

Mike smirked. “I like the way you think, Penny.”

Penny barely managed a grin. Her mind was still half back at home, half replaying Lisa’s words in the back of her head.

Jackie had promised her that everything was fine. That there was nothing left to find.

But if that was true…Why didn’t Penny believe her? The thought hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the unresolved tension that lingered between her and Jackie. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still lurking in the shadows of their lives, just beyond her reach.

As Penny prepared to leave the FBI headquarters, a sense of determination surged within her. She couldn’t let the past dictate her future. There were questions still unanswered, and it was time to confront them, both in her work and in her personal life.

With each step toward the exit, Penny felt a flicker of resolve. She would wear something that made her feel confident for her next session with Lisa. Maybe a tight pair of jeans or a fitted top. Something that would remind her of her strength and beauty.

It was time to embrace the complexities of her feelings, to explore the growing unspoken connection with Lisa, and to confront the reality of her relationship with Jackie.

As she stepped out into the sunlight, Penny felt a thrill of excitement intertwining with her apprehension. The day ahead was filled with possibilities, and she was ready to face them head-on.