Page 101 of Rescued Faith

She smiled, her own Smith & Wesson in hand, and walked farther in. There wasn’t much in the way of cover. The back of the barn was sectioned off as a corral, where three Holstein cows munched on hay. In the middle, Adam and Cindy sat on hay bales, just like Olivia had said. The sixth guard stood behind them with a shotgun. The rest of the barn had been cleared of all clutter and machinery.

“Hey, Bobby.” Penny smiled up at him. She kept her gun out where everyone could see.

“The man asked you a question. What are you doing here?” Mo aimed her own SBR at Penny.

“Sosa sent me. You can release the prisoners.”

“We don’t answer to him.” Mo’s gaze didn’t flinch. “And we certainly don’t answer to you.”

Penny continued to walk until one of the men blocked her way. She needed to get that bomb vest off Adam.

“Look, I know the plan. Jason and Sosa told me everything. I’ve been involved with this before any of you guys knew what was going on.” Penny tilted her chin up and popped a fist on her hip.

Bobby was the first to soften. “You did? But at the bar, you said you was looking for that girl. But then later we heard you was working with the law.”

“Yeah. That was the plan. How else do you think Jason knew what was going on? I kept him informed every step of the investigation.”

“We have orders, and we’ll follow them until we hear otherwise.” Mo didn’t look like she was gonna back down.

“Then you’re wasting time. Sosa and Emma already left the county until things cool down. Who do you think broke her out of jail and helped her escape? Jason doesn’t need these guys anymore. He has what he needs.”

Bobby’s gun drooped lower. He was buying it. Penny looked past Mo and the other three. Cindy had her arms wrapped around her son.

“Look at these guys! What have you been doing?” Penny skirted between Bobby and Mo and stood in front of Adam and Cindy. She studied the vest. It wasn’t Vince Kemper’s work, thankfully. This would be simple. She looked for the detonator.

Wait. She almost laughed. The whole thing was fake. There were no blasting caps. The wires were just for show.

Penny took the knife out of her boot and cut the strap on Adam’s shoulder.

“What are you doing?” Mo pointed the SBR at Penny. She stepped back just so Adam wouldn’t be hurt if the gun went off.

“I already told you. Jason said to let these guys go.” Penny stared her down. She put herself between Mo and the Nobles. “You should probably go check the perimeter or something. These guys are coming with me.”

Bobby looked at the others and shrugged. They were caving. Penny turned back to Adam. She cut the other strap of the vest.

Cindy’s shoulders relaxed. She let out a long quiet breath.

Penny indicated for Adam and Cindy to stand up. “Let’s go.”

“You really think you’re gonna walk on out of here? I think we should give Jason a call.” Mo tightened her grip on her gun.

“Go for it.” Penny resheathed her knife. “Tell him I’m on my way. I might stop for coffee though. I’ll grab him one.”

Penny gently pushed Adam and Cindy toward the big barn doors. Just a little farther…

Mo dropped her gun and pulled out her phone. But while her head was down and the others dropped their guard, Penny picked up the pace.

A few more steps. Adam was practically running at this point. He and Cindy reached the door.

As soon as they opened it, Jude and Bryce rushed in, guns drawn. Penny spun, taking aim directly at Mo. Olivia and Tony snuck in from the back while everyone stared at Penny, Jude, and Bryce.

“Looks like you’re outnumbered, princess.” Mo smirked. “I knew you were lying.”

“Not so fast. You’re all under arrest.” Tony and Olivia quickly disarmed the man in the corral.

More cops followed, and within minutes, the militia members were all face down on the ground with their hands behind their backs.

Penny walked over to Bobby Prescot. “Do yourself a favor and tell me where I can find Sosa.”

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