Chapter 17 #2
Tears filled Penny’s eyes. She’d pinned her hopes on this man.
Everyone said such amazing things about him.
That even when the odds were stacked against him, he managed to find the smallest needle in a stack of needles.
She needed him to be able to work that miracle for her now.
But it was sinking in that he might not be able to do so.
“I’ve got a friend from Colorado headed to Washington now,” Tex said softly.
“You don’t need to know his name, but trust me, he’ll get any intel out of Colvin that the man’s got.
This friend’s wife was taken years ago, and she was gone for a decade.
Sold. Used and abused. When he found her, he also learned that she’d had a son.
A boy he immediately claimed as his own.
He doesn’t condone violence against women and certainly not against children.
I don’t usually call in favors like this.
I actually don’t like violence, believe it or not…
but when it’s warranted, I’ll absolutely use every tool at my disposal. ”
Penny supposed she should be shocked or alarmed by Tex’s words. That someone was going to…interrogate Colvin. And probably not in a safe room at a police station. But she wasn’t.
“And I guarantee that my guy will get every scrap of information out of him. About anyone he’s extorting, if he’s ‘disappeared’ others and where they went, who his contacts are and where they’re from—because I’m guessing most aren’t in the US.
And when we have all the information we need, my friend will send his team to recover anyone they believe is still alive. ”
“And Colvin?” Penny asked.
“He won’t be a threat anymore. To you or anyone else.”
Penny nodded. Not even concerned that Tex was alluding to having someone killed.
Colvin had kidnapped her daughter, and who knew how many other children. Not to mention the vulnerable people he’d extorted and blackmailed…or worse.
“Before morning, I expect to hear back from my guy. To have more intel about Bowie. Hang in just a little longer, Penny. I swear to you that I’m doing all I can to find not only your daughter, but Pyro as well.
The man loves you. Because of your shared history, I know you can understand this, but he’s never owned anything as precious as you and Bowie.
And I don’t mean ‘owned’ in a bad sense.
But as a foster kid, he had to leave toys, shelter, clothes…
everything behind, again and again. You and that little girl are the most important things in his life.
He believes you’re his reward for all that he’s seen and experienced. ”
“He said that?” Penny asked softly.
“No. I could hear it in his voice when I last talked to him. When he told me all about you and his Bowie-Bear. When he said he’d do whatever was necessary to keep you both safe.
Including owing me markers for the rest of his life and paying whatever I charged…
which I don’t. Charge, that is. That man will not just roll over and give up.
He’ll do anything and everything in his power to not only keep her safe, but to get her out of whatever situation they’ve found themselves in. To the detriment of his own health.”
Penny sobbed. She couldn’t help it. Tex’s words were both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
“I’m going to find them before he can sacrifice himself.
Because he needs you, Penny. Just as much as you need him.
You have my number, use it. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call me.
If you think of anything that might help me in my quest to find the assholes who dared lay their hands on one of America’s bravest helicopter pilots, call. I’m here, Penny. Okay?”
“Okay,” she managed to get out.
“I’ll be in touch,” Tex added, before the line went dead.
Penny stared at the phone. Then her three friends knelt on the floor next to her chair and hugged her as she cried.
A few minutes later, when she sniffed and took a deep breath, she looked at the other women.
Zita and Mandy looked worried; they had frowns on their faces and it looked as if they might cry themselves.
But Laryn? She looked mad. Borderline furious.
“I hope you aren’t upset that this Colvin guy will cease to be breathing before too long.”
Penny frowned. “No. I think I’m just overwhelmed.”
“Talking to Tex helped?”
She nodded.
“Good.”
“You’re mad,” Penny observed.
“Fuck yes, I’m mad! And pissed at whoever took Bowie and Pyro.
I’m mad that this Colvin asshole is such a menace.
I’m hormonal as hell, and I already love this little baby or babies inside me, and just thinking about someone using them as leverage to extort money makes me homicidal. The whole mama bear thing is no joke.”
For some reason, her words made Penny smile. Then she was chuckling. Then outright laughing.
“Oh man, she’s hysterical,” Zita whispered.
“Should we call nine-one-one and get her sedated?”
“I’m okay,” Penny insisted, as she sat up straighter and wiped her face. “I just…Laryn looks so…put out.”
“Put out. That’s one way of saying it,” she agreed. “You think we can move this love fest to the couch? The floor is hell on my knees.”
Penny was moving even before she finished speaking. “Of course. I’m so sorry, get up, you guys!”
The four of them moved to the couch, and Penny glanced at Chaos. He was standing close by, looking angry himself…and kind of lost.
“You too, Chaos,” Penny ordered, holding out a hand.
He shook his head.
“Arrow Porter, get your ass over here,” Laryn ordered, pointing at the tiny space next to her at the end of the sofa.
He rolled his eyes but obeyed, squeezing into the remaining inches of space on the couch. Everyone leaned into everyone else and no one said a word, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
Penny was still terrified, worried about what Pyro and Bowie were going through, but talking to Tex had helped.
She still wanted to do something more than sit around and wait, but knowing the wheels were turning eased her mind a tiny bit.
Knowing Colvin wasn’t going to get away with his evil deeds.
And knowing Pyro would do whatever it took to get Bowie home.