Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
Cypher sighed. “Not with her. Like I said, clean record. All her financials are in order. She’s got a good savings but nothing big enough to think she’s taking bribes.
No brush with the law. Hell, she’s never even gotten a parking or speeding ticket.
Pays her bills, works as a tutor now, and makes decent money.
Before that, she taught at the same school for six years.
Even won the teacher of the year award. Twice. ”
That sounded a little too clean to Cross. “So? What aren’t you telling us?”
Cypher hesitated. “Four years ago, there was an out of state case. This guy attacked two girls, killed one, the other got away and testified in court. He was sentenced to life. Two years ago, after being heavily advocated by some innocence project, he was granted a new trial due to lack of representation in his first. They claim he was falsely accused and innocent. Wrong place, wrong time.”
Gent snorted. “He’s either a very lucky or unlucky bastard.”
“What does that have to do with the librarian?” Ace asked.
Cypher hiked his brows. “It’s her father.”
The room was drowned in silence.
“Her dad?” Cross shared a look with Ace.
Cypher slowly nodded. “And from what I got, she is his biggest advocate. She’s done a lot of the leg work on getting him a new trial.”
Cue folded his arms. “So he’s innocent?”
Cypher shrugged. “She thinks he is.”
Interesting.
There was a knock on the door. It had been ten minutes, and he knew who was on the other side.
“Thought bringing Penny in and getting more of a personal feel might give us a better idea of what we’re looking at.”
“Why the hell do we care?”
“Because according to Penny, she’s taken a liking to Hyde and Jekyll. More so than any other inmates. I’m thinking that’s why Jekyll wanted me to look into her. He’s always been suspicious and usually never wrong.”
It was true. The brother had a keen sense of knowing when a situation didn’t feel right and when someone was lying.
Ace lifted his hand, gesturing toward the door. “Bring her in.”
Cypher opened the door, and Penny walked inside. There were no greetings or pleasantries from either side.
“I find it ironic.” She stopped at the edge of the table, eyed the brothers, and her gaze landed on Ace. “You won’t give me any info, but you’ll gladly take mine.”
“We got what Jekyll asked for.” Ace said.
“Then why am I here?” She rolled her eyes.
“Cypher said you’ve done some of your own investigating. We’re willing to trade intel,” Ace said.
Penny smirked. “Is that right? So generous of you, Ace.”
“I try.” Ace sighed. “What do you got?”
Penny opened her mouth to speak, but a chuckle from the opposite end of the table got everyone’s attention.
“She making a play for your man, Pen? You worried?” Oak taunted.
Penny scoffed, and her eyes darkened. “She can try, Oak. But it’s not in her best interest.”
“You sound jealous.” Oak smirked.
“Do I?” She smiled. “You sound like an asshole.”
Cross dragged his hand down his face. Both of you, please shut the fuck up.
“What do you got?” Ace narrowed his gaze at Oak. It was a clear warning to keep quiet.
“I only talked to her once. A chance encounter at the supermarket.” Penny winked.
Cross read between the line and snorted. “Stalking her?”
Penny shrugged. “Stalking, investigating. It’s all the same. I’d seen her a few times, so I casually did the whole ‘I know you from somewhere. Have we met?’ thing.”
“She fall for that?”
“Yeah.” Penny chuckled. “Very na?ve and trusting. She immediately started talking about seeing me visiting Hyde, though she used his real name. Went on and on how she’s enjoyed getting to know him and Jekyll, and how not many people participate in her classes, and she appreciates the small contribution they both give to the class. ”
“You telling us Jek is a star student?” Cue asked.
Penny chuckled. “According to her, he is.”
“What do you make of her?” He asked.
“Honestly Cross, I don’t know.” Penny sat in the open seat at the table. Ironically, it was Hyde’s. “I don’t know many people like her.”
“Like her?” What the hell does that mean?
“Cross” —she knitted her brows— “she spent ten minutes talking to me about inmate reform, how they learn from their mistakes, and advocating for programs so their time isn’t wasted rotting away while incarcerated.
She’s taken four programs to the prison for consideration on bettering the inmates so when they’re released they’ll be contributing members of society.
” Penny arched her brow. “And that’s a direct fucking quote. ”
“A do-gooder,” Ghost said.
“Could be a fraud,” Oak countered.
“Maybe, but that’s the thing. I’m pretty good at reading people and through their bullshit. But with her? I really think that she believes in everything she was saying.”
Cross cupped his mouth and shared a look with Ace. Something felt off with this woman.
“What does Hyde say?”
“She’s popular at the prison.”
“Good looking?” Ace asked.
Penny glanced up at the ceiling. “Very. And sweet to everyone.”
“Yeah,” Oak laughed. “Real sweet to Hyde?”
Penny slowly turned her head, pinning him in her glare.
“Yeah, she is. But he’s safe for her. So is Jek.
The same can’t be said for all of them. You can joke all you want Oak, but one day that girl is going to be real sweet to the wrong fucking guy.
And you are all well-versed in what can happen to a very nice and na?ve woman who comes up against someone with bad intentions.
They don’t even see it coming. Am I right?
” She glanced back at Wraith. “How is Cleo?”
Fuck.
This woman was not their responsibility. But he didn’t want to see anyone get hurt. However, for all they knew, Oak was right, and she was a fraud. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Cross cleared his throat. “So who is she to Jekyll?”
Penny shrugged. “I don’t know, and if Hyde does, he’s not sharing.”
“Alright,” Ace said and lifted his chin toward the door.
“Class dismissed.” Penny snorted and started toward the door. She was a foot away from leaving when Ace called her name, and she glanced over her shoulder.
“This stays here.” He tapped his finger on the table. “You don’t tell Hyde or Jekyll. You hear me?”
She furrowed her brows but nodded.
“They get out the last Friday of next month. You pick them up and bring em’ back home.”
It wasn’t much, but it was Ace’s way, and the club’s, of showing their appreciation to her.
“How solid is that date?” Her tone was even, but he was reading through her mask. Penny had been disappointed before when Hyde’s release date had been delayed.
“It’s solid.” Ace lowered his chin. “He’ll be home in seven weeks. But that stays in this room. Hyde and Jekyll don’t know and they won’t.” Ace narrowed his gaze. “We don’t want them letting down their guard while they ride out their time. You get me?”
Penny nodded and stared, not showing any emotion. Well, to the naked eye she was masking it. But Cross saw through it. Penny was happy, though she wouldn’t celebrate until she left.
“Okay.” She walked out without another word.
“What do you want to do?” Cypher asked, pointing to the file on the table.
Ace sighed. “Nothing. We’ll wait on Jekyll to get out and follow his lead. But until then, we track her.”
Who the fuck is Imogene Peppercorn?