Page 19 of Rescued Faith

Knowing how tough Penny was, he would bet she put up one heck of a fight. “They had to be pretty big to get the best of you.” Bryce tried lightening the mood. For himself as much as the others. He didn’t want to think about how close she’d come to death.

“Big and sneaky. They’re both sporting some bruises themselves.” The slight smirk on Penny’s face faded. “But there’s more than just a bomb maker’s sister we have to worry about. They hinted at plans here, something beyond last night’s warehouse fire. And it has to do with this.” She held up a small piece of plastic, as big as the tip of her thumb.

“That’s the thing you found in her car. What is it?” Bryce asked.

“It’s not the exact same one, since that’s in evidence.” She sent Anthony another smile, and dang it if it didn’t send a bolt of something hot right through Bryce.

Penny continued. “But it does the same thing. This little hunk of plastic turns a regular ol’ Glock 19 into an automatic weapon capable of firing thirty rounds in two seconds.”

“Whoa.” Olivia’s brow furrowed. “A Glock clip?”

Penny nodded. “Emma had a whole bag of them.”

“Sounds like someone is arming for war. Here in Last Chance?” Sergeant Donaldson asked.

“I think so.” Penny set the clip on the table. “I don’t know who Emma’s boyfriend is, but they have an agenda. And it sounded like it was to take place here. This isn’t a random string of explosions. I’m not sure where the Glock clips come in, but somehow they must fit into the picture too.”

“Can you track the clip and see where it came from?” Officer Thomas asked.

“Unfortunately, anyone with a 3D printer can make these. It’s illegal, but when has that stopped a criminal?” Penny folded her hands on her lap.

Olivia started tapping on her laptop. “We need to look into Arturo and DaNeal.”

Their pictures flashed up on the television screen next to the white board. In the mug shots, Arturo Hernandez was a stocky six foot three inches, his mean glare made more menacing by a scar from the corner of his mouth down to his chin. DaNeal Gomez seemed more like a pretty-boy type. Lanky, smooth skin, dark hair slicked back. “Penny ID’d these two bottom feeders from California as the ones Emma met with last night.”

“DaNeal set the bomb in that upper office of the warehouse. The bomb Emma brought with her. Unfortunately, I think there were more in the duffel bag she had.”

“So they aren’t done creating havoc.” The sergeant leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

“Who are the big shots around town now, Liv?” Penny asked.

“We’ve got a few dealers we keep tabs on—still not sure where their supply is coming from. A gang from Honduras that’s on our radar, as well as another group from Puerto Rico that causes some trouble, and they use that warehouse area sometimes. We’ve also got some pimps that keep us busy. Beyond that we have the whackos that say the world is ending and some militia types that seem to keep to themselves. Nothing like a well-organized criminal effort, though that warehouse district has seen drugs and the gangs in that area.”

“Could there be a turf war with the Puerto Ricans or another gang?” Bryce asked.

Olivia tapped her pen on the notebook in front of her. “It’s possible.”

“Emma and her brother aren’t either ethnicity. So why would they be involved in something like that?” Penny asked. “Although, Arturo and DaNeal are Latinos. Do they have any known associates here?”

Olivia scrolled down the list. “Nothing on the rap sheets that I can see. Everything we have on them is from Arizona and California.”

“So what brought them here?” Bryce asked.

“Good question.” Allen Frees rolled back from the table in his wheelchair. “For now, why don’t we all go back and look at any other case files with explosions or firearms for the last couple of years. Maybe they’ve been here longer than we realize. We can reconvene later.”

“We’re processing Emma’s car. I’ll see where they’re at on it.” The sergeant stood.

Bryce didn’t have cases to look at if Allen was going to do so, but he wouldn’t mind a look through the warehouse in the light of day. “I’ll go check out the warehouse.”

“Then I’m coming with you.” Penny stood. “I need to see if there’s any other clues.”

Oh, that shouldn’t make his hopes soar like this. Or account for the way he wanted to puff up his chest at Anthony.

Penny and Bryce were coworkers now. That was it. But maybe he’d get his own questions answered after all.

Then again, he might not like those answers either.

SEVEN

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