Chapter One-Hundred and Sixty-Four

Beckett looked up from his computer as Senator Jack Wilson knocked on his office door. "Senator Jack!" He greeted, offering him a chair. "What can I help you with?"

"I was just hoping there would be some news on Penny…" He sighed, having noticed that John's truck was still missing from the parking lot. "But I guess they haven't found her yet."

Beckett shook his head, placing a few papers in front of the Senator. "We have noticed that there's been small doses of insulin —matching Penny's prescription— being filled out of a pharmacy here… I'm trying to get a tracker on them… but it's tough…"


John stretched as early morning light rested over his eyes, a yawn escaping his lips as the warmth of the beam gently woke him. "Good morning…" He filled a cup with coffee from the percolator on the fire.

"Hey." Joey gave a half-assed wave to his brother in blue. "Bobby and Levi are out looking for clues." He sipped his coffee and took a bite of his biscuit. "Markus swears he heard something out there…"

"I did hear something, you dolt!" Markus stormed up from the riverbank, water dripping down his torso as he shivered. "And it was human!"

John rolled his eyes and fixed himself a plate of breakfast. "Probably a sasquatch." He smirked as Markus threw a clump of leaves at him. "Don't be going and getting your thong in a twist. It's all if fun."

Joey chuckled as Markus stomped back to his tent. "Your mood certainly has improved."

"I'm not taking care of five kids and working two jobs on my own anymore." John shrugged, leaping to his feet when he heard gunshots. "Shit!" He dropped his plate and coffee mug and bolted to help his friends.


"Got them!" Levi grinned, holding up a pair of rabbits. "Dinner!"

Bobby rolled his eyes, allowing Levi to praise himself for his shot. "Yeah… two rabbits, and you only used nine bullets."

John skidded to a stop. "What the fuck?"

"Levi got some dinner."

"Looks like he got a fucking bite for a mouse." John took the rabbit carcasses in his hands, looking over the poor creature. "Dude… one shot to the skull. That's how it works…"

"I thought it was going to run away." Levi's heart filled with guilt. He knew how John and Bobby were when it came to hunting. They used everything. And killing an animal without leaving anything to use was a sin. "I'm sorry guys…"


Beckett lifted his phone to his ear. "Please have signal Johnny…" He grinned as John's voice came in over the speaker.

"Hello?"

"John! I got the trackers on the meds."

"Sweet! Send me the codes and I'll plug it into the GPS!"

Beckett nodded, already working on the message to send through text over his personal phone. "Also, the banker Jonas Van Krauser… he wants you to transport some money for him…"

"When?" Beckett could hear John's GPS beeping as he plugged the code in.

"Tomorrow."

"No way. I'm not leaving this Penny case." John took the cell phone off of speaker. "If I leave this now… Who knows how long she'll be out here… and with Ben out here with her…"

"I know. That's what I told Jonas."

"And you still asked?"

"He insisted."

"My answer is no."


John cinched the saddle on his horse tight before he swung into the seat. "Woah…" He soothed as the mare tried to start moving out. "Wait for fuckface." He turned toward Markus as he struggled to get on his horse. "Need a hand?" He rode over to the opposite side of Markus, offering a hand to help pull him into the saddle.

"Fuck off Bender."

John shrugged and tapped his horse with his heels. "Suit yourself."