The Puppet Master Chapter 7

Detective Peppers toughest case

Chapter 7

Therapy Session 3 June 13th

The office felt warmer today, or maybe it was just Penny’s racing heart that made it feel that way. She adjusted the collar of her fitted blouse, which hugged her curves in a way that felt both empowering and vulnerable. Today, she had dressed a little sexier for her session with Lisa, wanting to feel confident yet aware of the underlying thrill that came with being in Lisa's presence. The beautiful therapist had a magnetic energy that seemed to electrify the air around her, and it stirred something deep inside Penny that she couldn't quite name.

As she sat on the plush leather couch, her fingers idly played with the hem of her blazer, a nervous habit she had developed over the years. She watched Lisa scribble something in her notepad, her auburn hair catching the light as she leaned slightly forward.

“So,” Lisa began, offering her an encouraging look, her brown eyes sparkling with genuine interest. “How have things been since our last session?”

Penny hesitated. She wanted to say better, but the truth was, it felt like she was caught between two conflicting realities—one where Jackie was her rock, her home, and another where doubts lingered about this unexpected electricity Lisa sent through her.

“I don’t know,” Penny admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s… complicated.”

Lisa nodded as if she had been expecting that answer. “Complicated is a good place to start. Let’s talk about it.”

Penny exhaled, leaning back in the chair. “I just feel like… like I’m constantly waiting for something bad to happen. Even when things seem good, my brain won’t shut up.”

Lisa gave her a knowing look, her expression softening. “That makes sense, considering what you’ve been through. The trauma of losing your parents in such a horrific way—then learning that Frank McCormick was responsible all along—that’s enough to make anyone feel like the ground beneath them isn’t stable.”

Penny swallowed hard, the mention of Frank’s name sending a chill through her. “I spent years believing one thing about my parents’ deaths. And then in an instant, everything changed. My father… I always thought he was the monster. But the real monster was Frank, lurking in the background. I never blamed my father for the murders; I just hated the way he treated me and my mom.”

Lisa leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle but probing. “And how has that changed the way you see the people closest to you?”

Penny frowned, caught off guard by the question. “What do you mean?”

Lisa’s tone remained casual, but there was a weight behind her words. “Well, when a truth that big is kept from you, it can shake your ability to trust others. If something so fundamental was hidden from you, what else might be?”

The words settled deep in Penny’s mind. If something so fundamental was hidden from her, what else might be? Her father wasn’t the murderer. Frank had been the one, with Tiffany controlling everything from the shadows. The thought twisted like a knife in her gut.

Lisa let the silence stretch, then asked, “How has Jackie helped you process all of this?”

Penny sighed, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. “She’s been amazing, really. Supportive, patient. She’s my safe place.”

Lisa tilted her head, her eyes searching. “That’s wonderful. But Penny… have you ever considered whether Jackie has secrets of her own?”

Penny blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Lisa backtracked slightly, her voice staying calm and inviting. “I don’t mean anything sinister, but even the people we love the most aren’t always fully honest with us. Sometimes, out of protection… sometimes out of guilt.”

Penny looked away, feeling a sharp twist in her gut. “Jackie would never lie to me. I think she kept things from me to protect me.”

Lisa held up a hand. “Of course. I’m just saying that trauma has a way of making us see things differently. It’s not about doubting her, Penny—it’s about understanding that your mind is still working through what it means to be truly safe.”

Penny nodded slowly, unsure whether Lisa was helping or planting something toxic inside her. The notion that Jackie might not be entirely forthcoming ate at her, and she wasn’t sure if she could trust the impulse to question their relationship.

Lisa’s voice broke through her thoughts. “How does that make you feel?”

“It makes me feel conflicted,” Penny admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “I want to trust Jackie completely, but… there’s this part of me that feels like there’s more to the story. Like I’m not seeing the whole picture.”

Lisa leaned back, allowing Penny space to process her feelings. “That’s a natural response, especially when trust has been shaken. It’s okay to feel that way.”

Penny took a deep breath, trying to ground herself. “I just wish I could shake this feeling off. Every time I think I’ve got a handle on things, something else pops up.”

“Have you talked to Jackie about this?” Lisa asked gently.

Penny shrugged, the weight of her thoughts heavy on her shoulders. “Not really. I didn’t want to start a fight over something she couldn’t change.”

Lisa nodded knowingly. “Avoiding conflict is a natural response. But sometimes, avoiding it just buries things instead of resolving them.”

Penny looked down, studying the lines on her palms. “I don’t want to doubt her.”

Lisa’s expression remained calm. “Doubt isn’t always about mistrust. Sometimes, it’s about needing clarity. And clarity only comes when we let ourselves ask the hard questions.”

Penny met Lisa’s gaze, feeling the heat of her body and the warmth of her voice. There was an undeniable chemistry simmering beneath the surface, a thrill that sent her heart racing. But she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

“Okay,” Penny said finally, her voice steadier. “I’ll try to talk to her.”

Lisa smiled gently, sensing the shift in Penny’s resolve. “That’s a great step forward. And remember, it’s okay to feel what you feel. You’re not alone in this.”

As the session drew to a close, Penny felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to confront Jackie about her feelings, but there was something about Lisa that made her want to open up.

The FBI Case: Identifying a Key Suspect

Later that evening, Penny sat in the FBI’s temporary task force office, staring at a grainy surveillance photo pinned to the board. The fluorescent lights flickered above her, casting a harsh glow on the images taped to the walls.

“That’s our guy,” Mike said, tapping his pen against the image of a man climbing out of an SUV in a dimly lit parking lot.

Penny leaned forward, scrutinizing the suspect—Miguel Rivera, mid-thirties, a known enforcer for the organization they were tracking. He wasn’t high-ranking, but he was close enough to the inner circle to know how the operation ran.

“This is our best shot at flipping someone,” Mike continued, his voice steady and confident. “He handles transport. If anyone knows where the shipments are hidden, it’s him.”

Penny crossed her arms, her mind racing. “We tail him for a few days, get his routine, then we bring him in.”

Mike smirked, a glint of approval in his eyes. “Careful, Peppers. You almost sound like an FBI agent.”

She shot him a look. “Don’t push it, Chen.”

They shared a small moment of amusement before refocusing on the task at hand. Penny’s job was simple: surveil Miguel Rivera, figure out his movements, and be ready when it was time to take him down.

As she left the office that night, Lisa’s words continued to echo in her head: "Even the people we love the most aren’t always fully honest with us." For the first time in years, Penny found herself wondering—just how well did she know Jackie after all?

- - -

The night felt heavy as Penny drove home, the weight of the day pressing down on her. She replayed the session with Lisa in her mind, the way Lisa had looked at her with those piercing brown eyes, the warmth radiating from her that made Penny feel both comforted and excited. There was something intoxicating about Lisa, something that made Penny feel alive in a way she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Pulling into the driveway, she caught a glimpse of the porch light flickering on, illuminating the path to her front door. As she stepped inside her home, the familiar scent of Jackie’s cooking wafted through the air, but instead of feeling comforted, Penny felt a swell of anxiety rise within her.

Jackie was waiting for her in the kitchen, her dark hair pulled back into a messy bun, wearing one of Penny’s favorite oversized sweaters. She looked up as Penny entered, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Hey! I was just about to text you. How was therapy?”

Penny paused, feeling the tension in her chest tighten. “It was… fine,” she replied, attempting to keep her voice steady. “We talked about some stuff.”

Jackie’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “What kind of stuff?”

Penny hesitated, the urge to retreat rising within her. “You know, just the usual. Feelings and everything.”

Jackie leaned against the counter, her arms crossed. “You sure you’re okay? You seem a little off.”

“I’m fine,” Penny snapped before she could stop herself. The sharpness of her tone surprised her, and she quickly softened her voice. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a long day.”

Jackie stepped closer, her expression shifting to one of concern. “You don’t have to apologize. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Penny’s heart ached at the sincerity in Jackie’s voice, but the lingering doubts about their relationship clouded her thoughts. “I know. It’s just… things have been a little rocky lately.”

Jackie nodded, understanding. “I get that. We’ve both been under a lot of stress, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”

Penny felt the weight of Jackie’s words, but the uncertainty gnawed at her. “Yeah, I guess. I just wish I could shake this feeling off.”

“How about we just enjoy a quiet dinner together?” Jackie suggested, her tone softening. “We can talk about anything you want or nothing at all. Just be together.”

Penny forced a smile, appreciating Jackie’s efforts to bridge the gap between them. “That sounds nice.”

As they sat down to eat, the conversation flowed easily, but the tension lingered just beneath the surface. Penny couldn’t help but notice the way Jackie’s eyes sparkled when she talked about her day, the warmth in her laughter. There was love there, but it felt entangled with the doubts that had taken root in Penny’s heart.

After dinner, Penny excused herself to the bathroom, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. As she stared at her reflection, she felt the familiar tug of anxiety twist in her stomach. Why was she feeling this way? Why was she questioning everything?

The words from her session with Lisa echoed in her mind, and as she leaned closer to the mirror, she caught a glimpse of herself—beautiful yet conflicted. She wanted to believe in Jackie, to trust her completely, but the shadows of doubt loomed large.

When she returned to the kitchen, Jackie was rinsing off the dishes, her back turned to Penny. The domestic scene felt comforting yet surreal, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in Penny’s mind.

“Is there anything else you want to talk about?” Jackie asked without turning around.

Penny hesitated, the words caught in her throat. “I don’t know. I think I just need some time to process everything.”

Jackie nodded, her shoulders slumping slightly. “That’s okay. Just know that I’m here whenever you’re ready.”

Penny’s heart ached at the sincerity in Jackie’s voice. She wanted to reach out, to bridge the distance that felt like a chasm between them, but the doubts held her back.

As they settled into the evening, watching a movie together, Penny felt a flicker of hope. Maybe they could navigate this together. But as the credits rolled and the screen darkened, the weight of uncertainty settled back in.

What if she couldn’t shake the fears that had taken root in her heart? What if the wedge between her and Jackie only grew deeper?

- - -

That night, as Penny lay in bed, she felt the warmth of Jackie beside her. But sleep eluded her, and the thoughts of Lisa, her therapist who seemed to hold the power to unravel everything, swirled in her mind.

What would it be like to explore that connection further? To lean into the thrill that Lisa brought into her life?

As she drifted into a restless sleep, Penny knew one thing for certain: the questions would remain, and the growing wedge between her and Jackie might just lead her to unexpected places.