Page 31 of Colorado K-9 Rescue
“Hi, Penny,” the sheriff answered. “This is FBI Agent Evan Knox, and I think you know Mckenna Parker, who’s with the FBI victim services response team. Do you mind if we come in and chat?”
“No, not at all,” Penny said, opening the door wider. “Good to see you, Mckenna. I didn’t know you were working for the FBI.”
“Good to see you too,” Mckenna said.
Evan figured that once they started talking, the “good to see you” stuff would go away.
“What can I help you with?” Penny asked.
“Please,” the sheriff said, pointing to a chair. “We have some questions for you.”
The sheriff, Evan and Mckenna remained standing. Evan could see the change in Penny’s face—the moment when someone realized you were here to ruin their day. Of course, someone like Penny always earned that honor.
CHAPTER 20
“We’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 wouldbe 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?”
