The Puppet Master Chapter 1

Detective Pepper's toughest case

Chapter 1
June 5 th Back at the house

The house didn’t feel like home anymore. Penny stood in the center of the living room, arms
crossed tightly over her chest as she stared at the blank TV screen. It had been weeks since
she and Tony arrested Frank McCormick, and even though he was behind bars, Penny couldn’t
shake the feeling that someone, she, was still watching.

Julia Stein. Tiffany McCormick. Whatever name she had used, whatever mask she had worn,
Penny knew she was out there. Lurking. Planning. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through
her hair.

The upcoming surveillance sweep by the Maine State Police should have made her feel better.
It should have reassured her that their home was theirs again. But Jackie wouldn’t be here for it.
She glanced toward the hallway, hearing the soft shuffle of Jackie moving around the bedroom,
packing for her trip. Three nights. That’s how long she’d be gone. Three nights of Penny
sleeping alone, knowing that Julia was still out there somewhere. Her stomach twisted.

“Penny?” Jackie’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. Penny turned, watching as Jackie
stepped into the living room, suitcase in hand. She looked effortlessly composed as always,
dark green blouse tucked into tailored black pants; her auburn hair swept into a loose bun.

“You’ve been quiet,” Jackie said, studying her. “Talk to me.”

Penny swallowed, arms tightening around herself. “I just…” She shook her head. “I don’t want
you to go.”

Jackie sighed, setting the suitcase down. “I know.”

“Then don’t.” Penny’s voice was sharp, more desperate than she intended. “Jackie, this isn’t just
some conference. The state police are literally sweeping our entire house for surveillance
equipment. You saw what she did, what she’s capable of.”

Jackie closed the distance between them, resting her hands on Penny’s shoulders. “I know this
is hard. But I can’t back out. I’m a keynote speaker.”

Penny searched her face, frustration bubbling beneath her skin. “For a therapy seminar, Jackie.
Not a murder trial. You can back out.”

Jackie’s jaw tightened. “I made a commitment, Penny. If I cancel now, it would look bad for the
clinic and future funding.”

Penny huffed, shaking her head. “I don’t give a damn about future funding. I care about us. Our
home. Our safety.”

Jackie’s fingers tightened slightly against her arms, her green eyes softening. “That’s exactly
why you need to let them do their job. The state police will find anything that might still be here.
They’ll make sure we’re safe.”

Penny clenched her jaw. “And if they do find something? What then? You won’t be here, Jackie.
You’ll be hundreds of miles away while I deal with it alone.”

Jackie exhaled, her expression shifting into something unreadable. “You won’t be alone. Tony
will be here. The police will be here.”

“That’s not the same,” Penny shot back.

Jackie’s silence was enough. She knew it wasn’t the same. Penny sighed, pressing a hand to
her temple. “I just… I don’t feel safe, Jackie. Not after everything. Not when she’s still out there,
watching.”

Jackie reached up, cupping Penny’s cheek. “We’ll get through this.”

Penny leaned into the touch, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, Jackie
was watching her with that steady, unreadable gaze, the one that always made Penny feel like
she was being analyzed.

“I have to go,” Jackie said softly. “But I promise, the moment my plane lands on Saturday, I’ll
come straight home.”

Penny wanted to believe that was enough. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t.

The Surveillance Sweep

Penny stood on the front porch as two Maine State Police technicians carried in their
equipment. The lead investigator, Sergeant Evan Marks, gave her a reassuring nod. “We’ll start
with a frequency scan,” Marks explained, adjusting his earpiece. “That’ll pick up any active or
dormant signals from hidden cameras or recording devices.”

Penny nodded stiffly. “And if you find something?”

“We log it, disable it, and trace where the signal’s being sent,” Marks assured her. “If someone’s
still watching, we’ll know.”

Penny swallowed hard and stepped aside as the team entered the house. For the next several
minutes she watched as they worked, moving methodically through each room, sweeping every
inch of their home. The feeling of dread knotted her stomach tighter with every passing moment.
Then, one of the technicians paused. “Sergeant,” he called, voice tight. “We’ve got something.”

Penny’s heart raced as she stepped forward. “What is it?”

The technician pointed to the base of the bookshelf in the living room. “There’s a micro-camera
embedded in the wood.”

Penny’s breath caught. “How long has it been there?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

The technician adjusted his scanner. “Hard to say. But it’s live.”

Penny’s blood ran cold. “Meaning someone is watching right now?”

Marks nodded grimly. “We’re shutting it down immediately.”
Penny’s hands curled into fists. “Where else?”

Marks didn’t hesitate. “We need to keep checking.”

Room by room, they uncovered more. A second camera hidden inside the bedroom lamp. A
listening device concealed under the kitchen table. A hidden camera inside the bathroom vent.
Everywhere. Jackie and Penny’s entire life had been monitored.

Penny’s throat was dry. The world felt like it was tilting. “How much do they know?” she
whispered.

Marks hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “If these were all active…” He sighed.
“Everything, Detective. They would know everything.”

Penny’s stomach churned violently. Every conversation. Every private moment. Every intimate
night with Jackie. She saw it all. The bile rose in Penny’s throat, but she swallowed it down.

“We’re shutting them down now,” Marks said firmly. “Whoever’s on the other end? They won’t be
able to see or hear anything anymore.”

But Penny knew it didn’t matter. The damage had already been done.

The Call to Jackie

Jackie’s phone rang twice before she answered. “Hey, baby,” she greeted warmly. “I just
finished the first seminar. How’s everything—”

“They were everywhere,” Penny cut in, voice shaking. “Jackie, she was watching us. Listening
to everything.”

Jackie was silent for a few moments. Then, her voice sharpened. “What?”

Penny ran a trembling hand through her hair. “Cameras. Recording devices. Every single room.
She knows everything, Jackie.”

Jackie cursed under her breath. “Penny, listen to me—”

“No,” Penny snapped, her breath coming fast and uneven. “I need you to come home. Now.”
Jackie exhaled. “Penny, I can’t just—”

“I don’t care about the seminar!” Penny practically yelled. “I don’t care about any of it! I need you
here.”

Jackie hesitated. “Penny…”

Penny squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady herself. “Please.”

Silence. Then Jackie sighed. “I’ll see if I can change my flight.”

Penny’s grip on the phone tightened. “Hurry.”

As she hung up, the reality of it all crashed down on her. Julia wasn’t just watching them. She
had been inside their lives. And Penny had no idea what she was planning next.