Page 20 of Colorado K-9 Rescue

“W e’re going to get straight to the point,” Evan started out.

There were times where he made small talk with suspects to get them more comfortable, but he suspected Penny might take advantage of the time and think about how to manipulate them.

He went with the tactic of hitting her hard while she was still surprised and off guard.

“I need to know everything about the parties you’re throwing.

And I mean everything. Including a list of attendees. ”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Penny said, smoothly.

Evan’s tactic hadn’t worked. Penny was going to play games no matter what. He had an answer for that. “You don’t have parties at your house where there’s underage drinking and sometimes some of the attendees don’t make it home?”

“No,” Penny answered, but Evan caught her glimpse toward Mckenna. Maybe having Mckenna here was good after all. He was about ready to launch into his favorite spiel of they could do this here or down at the FBI when Mckenna spoke up.

“Ms. Gardner. Penny. Whatever I should call you now, I’m going to stop you there.

We both know about these parties. We both know I attended them, and we both know that I was abducted from your party.

I protected you all these years and acted like the party was at someone’s house I didn’t know, but I’m a different person now.

Getting kidnapped will do that to you. Answer his questions. Now.”

Evan raised an eyebrow at Mckenna. She was good.

She’d missed her calling and should apply to Quantico, instead of remaining a victim specialist. He thought Penny might continue to deny everything.

Her eyes darted back and forth between him and the sheriff.

He was about ready to tell her to stand and turn around so he could cuff her when she spoke up.

“Okay, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

“Thank you,” Evan said. He flashed a grateful look at Mckenna. Why did he have a feeling there was going to be another “I told you so” coming his way? “How do you decide who’s coming to these parties?”

Penny sighed. “I can tell at school which kids need to let go, let off some steam, you know?”

Evan didn’t know, but he stayed quiet. Sometimes, not answering made people feel like they had to talk more.

“I know what it’s like to be that kid. But I never served alcohol or supplied drugs. I know better than that. If the kids brought something, I didn’t know about it. You know how kids are.”

“That’s not what I remember,” Mckenna said. “I remember you having alcohol.”

“I may have had some drinks in the fridge, but I didn’t supply them and I certainly didn’t let any of you drink it. You probably snuck it,” Penny answered.

“Keep going,” Evan said before she and Mckenna could start pointing fingers.

He wanted to keep Penny talking. That way she might slip up and contradict herself.

He had no doubt that she had supplied alcohol to minors, but for now, he wanted more information.

“So, you decide at school which kids should be invited? How do you approach them?”

“It just kind of happens. It started my first year of teaching. Just out of college, I was practically the same age as the seniors. I mean I was twenty-two, they were eighteen. I figured it would be fun and decided to throw a bash. Some of the kids found out and I invited them. I didn’t see that it was any problem. ”

Only that they’re underage and you’re putting them in danger. Evan kept his thought to himself. “Who else comes? Are there people your age?”

“Yeah. I know some of the guys from around town. I met a lot of them hanging out at the bar, playing pool and stuff. I invite them too.”

“Do you encourage them to hit on or sleep with any of your students?”

“What? No. This is just a fun time.” Penny’s face started to show panic as she shot quick glances at Evan and the sheriff. The sheriff remained quiet, allowing Evan to take the lead like they’d discussed.

“Were there drugs at your party?”

“No.”

“Marijuana?”

“I have a vape pen, but again, I don’t share it.”

“Oh? How do you know someone else hasn’t used it?” Evan asked.

Penny shrugged. “I take a hit and leave it in my room. I guess if someone finds it there, they might use it, but again, I’m not supplying it.

If they did take a hit, then that means they’re snooping around where they shouldn’t be.

I know better than to give alcohol or marijuana to a person under twenty-one. ”

“Are you sure you never intentionally supplied marijuana or alcohol to minors?” Evan asked. “Or something else?”

“No.”

“You ever hear of GHB?”

“GH what?” Penny asked.

“GHB. Liquid E, Georgia Home Boy? Ringing any bells?”

“No, I’ve never heard of that, why?”

“We believe someone used it on Lily and Autumn at your party. Spiked their drinks. Any idea who might have done that? Who might have a drug like that?”

Penny’s face went from belligerent to scared. “No. No idea. Am I in trouble?”

“That depends,” Evan said. “You cooperate and tell us everything, mostly I need a list of everyone who attended the previous party, and I’ll put in a good word with the prosecutor. Sheriff will too.”

“I’ll make the list, but I didn’t do anything wrong. I would never want to see anyone get hurt.”

“Good, then help me out because you have a big problem—over the past years, three kids have been abducted from your party. Two of them had a tox screen and tested positive for drugs and alcohol. Pretty funny thing if you didn’t serve any alcohol at your party or supply drugs.

If you’re holding anything back, I’ll make sure you’re charged with obstruction of justice.

If I find out you helped provide alcohol to specific kids so they could be taken, I will make sure I charge you with accessory to kidnapping too,” Evan said.

“Understand? But cooperate and that will help you out a lot.”

“There were no drugs and alcohol at the party. After I write down the list, I want my lawyer.”

“Deal,” Evan said, handing her a notebook.

He knew that even if Penny didn’t admit to it now, he had enough witnesses that would allow them to arrest and charge her with giving alcohol and marijuana to minors.

The other charges would unfold as he investigated more.

Evan didn’t trust Penny Gardner one bit.

She was a good liar, but even good liars were caught.

“Start jotting down names. Tell the sheriff who your attorney is, and she’ll call them.

She’ll also let you know that I’m going to get a search warrant for this place and have our evidence team tear it apart.

If they so much as find a trace of GHB around here, any good word with the prosecutor is off. Got it?”

“Yeah, I got it,” Penny said in a defeated tone, taking the notebook and Evan’s pen.

“One last question, if you’re willing to answer without a lawyer.”

“Depends,” said Penny.

“Do you know Rex and Toby Hanson?”

Penny’s face flushed red with embarrassment. Interesting reaction , Evan thought.

“I know them.”

“Toby says he was here and you’re his alibi. Was he here?”

“Yes, he and Rex were both here.”

“Can you account for their whereabouts during the party?” Evan asked, thinking about how being around drugs and alcohol was a violation of Toby’s parole even if he didn’t consume anything.

“I can account for Toby’s, but not Rex.”

“Why is that?”

Penny stopped writing and stared at Evan.

“Because we were having sex. All night long. The party got going and I knew that Toby probably needed some companionship after being in prison, so we went to my bedroom and spent time together. I know he didn’t do anything.

And that’s further proof I didn’t have alcohol or drugs out in the open. That would get Toby in trouble.”

“Yes, it would. Toby might go back to prison because of you and your party. What about Rex?” Evan asked.

“Rex knew what was up and he was pissed. I lost track of Rex at the party.”

“Why would Rex be pissed?”

Penny sighed. “Because we’d been dating, and he thought we were a couple. I’d always told him I wanted an open relationship. It’s not like I want to be tied down to one person.”

Evan saw the look of disgust on Mckenna’s face.

He agreed, but he had to stay neutral. Even play sympathetic if it called for it.

Whatever it took to get information from this lady.

For now, with Mckenna’s statement and Lily’s, he had enough to arrest her.

Then she could go sit in the slammer over the weekend and think about her next career, because she was done teaching.

When Evan was done investigating and finding more witnesses to prove Penny had provided alcohol and drugs to minors, she would never teach again.

But she didn’t need to know that until he had enough information to get her to admit to her crimes.

Had she helped the kidnapper? Evan would figure it out—one way or another.

“Rex was mad, but he got over it. I’m sure. I mean, he understands.”

Maybe by kidnapping two girls and taking his frustration out on them.

From what Mckenna and Lily had told Evan, the person who took them, and he was getting more and more convinced it was the same person, wanted control.

Penny sleeping with his brother could certainly be a trigger.

Evan had known people who had shot others for less.

“Then you don’t know if Rex was here all night or not? ”

“No, I suppose not. Sorry.” Penny continued writing down names.

Evan stayed quiet. He was certain the blue Jeep following Mckenna was Rex’s.

Now Rex had no alibi, and he could have easily framed his brother back when Mckenna was abducted.

Or Toby could have realized it was Rex who committed the crime and taken the fall.

But based on the interview tapes, Evan would bet on the first scenario of Rex framing his brother.

He had to find Toby, which would be easy.

One call to Keith Warren and he could get the info, but Rex might be harder.

He glanced at Mckenna. Was she in danger?

Was Rex coming after her or following her to see what the FBI was investigating?

Evan thought about how both Mckenna and Lily said the kidnapper talked about catch and release.

Like they were trout and he was fishing.

If it was Rex and he released Mckenna, would he be ready to start a new game of catch again?

He didn’t know what he would do if something happened to her.

He’d never felt this way about anyone, and he didn’t know if she’d want to be in a relationship with him once she found out about his family and his past at the other field office, but he wanted to try.

He wanted to be with her. No one had ever driven him this crazy and made him laugh at the same time like Mckenna.

Evan would do anything to keep her safe.