Ghost Peppers Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The normally quiet neighborhood of River Bank Road was broken by the murmurs of curious onlookers and the distant chatter of crime scene technicians. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows across the neighborhood as Tony and Penny split up to canvas the area. Each house, each neighbor, was another chance to gather the missing piece of the puzzle.

Penny approached a middle-aged woman walking her small terrier along the sidewalk. The woman was dressed in a bright pink tracksuit, her graying hair pulled into a messy bun, and she gripped the leash tightly as if seeking some comfort in its tautness.

“Ma’am, I’m Detective Peppers,” Penny said, flashing her badge. “I’m sorry to trouble you, but we’re speaking with neighbors to see if anyone noticed anything unusual this morning or earlier in the week.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, yes! I was just telling my husband that I saw something strange earlier today.” She lowered her voice as though sharing a secret. “An Amazon truck. It was parked a few houses down for about an hour, just sitting there. I thought that was odd.”

Penny straightened. “Do you remember when you saw it?”

The woman nodded quickly. “I went for my morning walk around eight. The truck was there when I left, and it was still there when I came back about an hour later. I figured maybe they were making deliveries, but… who takes that long? I called 911. You know, like the reporters said to do.”

Penny scribbled in her notebook. “That’s helpful, ma’am. Do you remember seeing anyone near the truck? A driver or someone walking away?”

The woman shook her head. “No. Just the truck. It was strange, though. The driver’s side window was open a crack, but I didn’t see anyone inside.”

“Thank you,” Penny said, handing her a card. “If you think of anything else, give me a call.”
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Meanwhile, Tony stood on the porch of a brick house three doors down, speaking with an elderly man in suspenders. The man leaned heavily on his cane, his eyes squinting against the sunlight.

“I’ve lived on this street for thirty years,” the man grumbled. “I know what belongs and what doesn’t, and that truck didn’t belong. It was parked near the Davises’ house for hours.”

Tony tilted his head. “Did you see the driver?”

The man huffed. “Not clearly. I saw someone walking away from the truck around eight-thirty. Medium height, maybe? Couldn’t tell much else. They were wearing a hoodie, and I couldn’t see the face.”

“Did you notice if they were carrying anything?”

“Could’ve been. I thought I saw a bag or something. Didn’t think much of it at the time. Should’ve paid closer attention.” The man sighed, shaking his head. “You never think it’ll happen on your own street.”

Penny joined Tony at the next house, where a young mother with a baby on her hip answered the door. She looked frazzled, another toddler tugging at her leg.

“I don’t know if I can help much,” she said apologetically, bouncing the baby as it began to fuss. “I was busy with the kids all morning, but my husband mentioned seeing an Amazon truck when he left for work around seven-thirty. He thought it was odd that it wasn’t right in front of a house. Usually, they park closer to the door.”

Tony asked. “Did your husband say anything about the driver?”

“No, just that the truck was there. He joked that maybe they were delivering to the squirrels.”

She gave a weak smile, then glanced at her watch. “Sorry, I’ve got to get the kids fed.”

“We understand,” Penny said gently, handing her a card. “If your husband remembers anything else, please have him call.

The final neighbor they approached was a young man sitting on his porch steps, typing on his phone. He looked up as the detectives approached.

“Yeah, I saw the truck,” he said, tapping the screen to lock his phone. “I work from home, so I’m in and out all day. That thing was there for couple hours. I figured the driver was taking a nap or something.”

“Did you see anyone near it?” Penny asked.

He nodded. “Once, around nine or so. I went out to get my mail and saw someone walking back to the truck. Couldn’t see much—hood up, head down. They got in and just sat there. Never saw it leave, though.”

Tony exchanged a glance with Penny. “Did you notice any markings on the truck? Logos, numbers?”

“Just the Amazon smile,” the man said with a shrug. “Looked like every other delivery truck.”
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Back at the car, Tony leaned against the hood, reviewing his notes. “That’s four neighbors who all saw the truck between seven thirty and ten this morning. No one got a clear look at the driver, but they all say the same thing—odd behavior, no deliveries.”

Penny nodded. “It’s the same pattern. The truck isn’t just a delivery vehicle. It’s their base of operations.”

“Exactly,” Tony said. “We need to pull traffic cam footage, see if we can trace where it came from and where it went.” “And fast,” Penny added, her voice steely. “Before they strike again.”