Ghost Peppers - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Penelope stepped through the front door, feeling the weight of her first day as a detective settle on her shoulders. Jackie looked up from the kitchen, her face lighting up as she walked over to greet her.

“Well?” Jackie asked with a smile, pulling Penny into a warm embrace. “How was it, Detective?”

Penny leaned into Jackie’s embrace, savoring the familiar, grounding warmth. “It was intense,” she admitted with a half-smile. “And strange.” She took a breath, her mind flashing back to the crime scene.

Jackie led her to the couch, sensing the exhaustion in Penny’s voice. “Tell me everything.”

Penny nodded, and then, just as she began to recount the day’s events, a memory tugged at her, pulling her back to a different time.
She remembered that day, years ago, when Jackie had taken her to the Victoria’s Secret downtown, encouraging her to pick out something she liked. Nervous but excited, Penny had chosen a delicate, pink lace bra and panties. When they got home, she wanted to wear them right away, but Jackie had told her with a playful smile, “I’ll let you know when the time is right.”

A few days later, Penny had come home to find Jackie waiting, dressed in a long silk robe. Jackie had smiled, telling her gently to freshen up and put on the pink lingerie. When Penny returned, Jackie’s robe had slipped to the floor, revealing a set of elegant dark green lingerie paired with nylons and a garter.

“My beautiful little play toy,” Jackie had said, her voice soft. “I’ll meet you in the bedroom.” Penny’s heart had raced, feeling the excitement of their closeness and the depth of their connection.

Snapping back to the present, Penny met Jackie’s gaze. “Jackie,” she started, her voice trembling slightly, “Alice Carter was dressed in a red lingerie set.

Jackie’s expression shifted from curiosity to concern as she reached out and placed a gentle hand on Penny’s. “Red lingerie? That must have been… difficult to see,” she murmured, her voice steady.

Penny nodded, feeling her pulse quicken. “It just....it caught me off guard,” she admitted, glancing down, almost as if speaking the words would lessen the weight of them. “I can’t shake this feeling that it means something. It felt... personal.”

Jackie’s grip tightened, a quiet strength passing through her. She leaned closer, her green eyes holding Penny’s gaze with calm assurance. “Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out together,” Jackie said softly. “You’re not in this alone, Penny.”

Penny took a deep breath, comforted by Jackie’s unwavering presence. For now, nestled in her home and wrapped in Jackie’s arms, she felt a small, reassuring peace that helped silence the haunting questions, if only for a moment.