Ghost Peppers Chapter 17

Chapter 17

The Davis home on River Bank Road was in the middle of a quiet road, its white siding and neatly trimmed hedges belying the horror that now stained its walls. Police cruisers and forensic vans crowded the driveway, their lights flashing eerily.

Tony and Penny arrived to find Rita, Emily Davis’s sister, sitting on the front steps. An officer stood nearby, offering her quiet reassurances as she sobbed into her hands.

Tony and Penny approached, their footsteps crunching on the gravel. Tony crouched down, speaking softly. “Rita, I’m Detective Clifford. This is Detective Peppers. We’re so sorry for your loss. Can you tell us what happened?”

Rita sniffled, glancing up with red-rimmed eyes. “I ... I came to drop off decorations for Emily’s birthday. I knocked, but no one answered. I thought maybe they were in the backyard or something, so I let myself in. When I went upstairs I saw them.” Her voice broke into a sob.

Penny’s voice was calm but firm. “Rita, did you notice anything unusual when you arrived? A vehicle, someone in the neighborhood?”

Rita shook her head. “No, nothing. Everything seemed normal… until it wasn’t.”

Tony gave a small nod to the officer nearby, signaling them to take Rita to a quieter place to rest. “We’ll need to speak with you again later. Thank you.”
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The master bedroom was a chilling reflection of the killer’s meticulous pattern. Emily Davis lay on the bed, her body posed with unsettling care. She wore dark green lingerie—a bra, panties, nylons, and garters. Penny’s breath froze. The set was eerily similar to one she and Jackie used during their intimate roleplay.

Her throat tightened as she took in the empty Amazon box on the nightstand and the white monogrammed pillowcase with the letter “I” placed neatly at Robert’s side. The precision of the staging, the intimate nature of the attire—it was no coincidence. This was a message.

Robert Davis lay on his side of the bed, zip ties binding his wrists and ankles. The deep, bruising marks on his neck confirmed he had been strangled by hand, just like the others.

Tony stepped into the room behind her, his voice low. “Same as before. No prints, no evidence left behind.”

Penny didn’t answer. Her pulse was racing, her vision blurring as memories flooded back.

Jackie’s playful smirk, the feel of the green lace against her skin, the way they laughed and held each other.

It hit her like a freight train. Whoever was doing this knew them, knew her.

“Penny,” Tony’s voice cut through the haze. She turned to face him, her expression pale.
“You okay?” he asked, concern showing on his face.

She shook her head, backing out of the room. “I need… I need air.”
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Penny was halfway down the stairs when she nearly collided with Cindy Davis, a teenager with tear-streaked cheeks who had just arrived home from school. Cindy’s backpack sagged on one shoulder, and she clutched a sweater tightly in her hands.

“Cindy, I’m Detective Peppers,” Penny said gently. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Can you and I chat?”

Cindy, choking back tears said, “sure,” as she turned around and they headed towards the living room.

Penny asked, “can you tell me about your parents?”

Cindy sniffled, her voice barely above a whisper. “My mom was amazing. She always made everything better, even when things were bad. My dad…” Her lips trembled. “He was… tough. He wasn’t easy to live with.”

Penny exchanged a glance with Tony, who had come up beside her. “Cindy, have you ever talked to anyone about your dad? Maybe someone at school?”

The girl hesitated, biting her lip. “Yeah. Nurse Stein. She’s really nice. She told me it was okay to talk, that it wasn’t my fault.”

“Did Nurse Stein ever suggest anyone you could speak to outside of school?” Tony asked, his tone soft but probing.

Cindy nodded. “She mentioned a therapist. But I didn’t go… I was scared my dad would find out.”

“Do you remember the therapist’s name?” Penny pressed.

“Um… Jackie Connors,” Cindy said. “It was Jackie Connors, I never went to a session or anything.” She began to sob once again.

Penny’s stomach dropped. Her voice was steady, but her mind raced. “Thank you, Cindy. You’ve been very brave.”
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Back in the bedroom, the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall into place for Penny, though the picture they painted was far from clear. The dark green lingerie, the empty box, the staged bodies—it was all too personal, too deliberate.

Tony stepped beside her, his arms crossed. “What’s on your mind, Penny?”

She shook her head slowly, her voice low. “This isn’t just a killer. This is someone who’s sending me a message.”

Tony glanced at the pillowcase with the monogrammed “I,” then back at Penny. “And they’re not done.” Penny’s jaw tightened. “We need to talk to Nurse Stein again. And soon.”