Chapter One-Hundred and Sixty-Five
John looked down at his GPS system, pointing to the east. "Joey, Levi, team up and head east for three miles." He nodded to Bobby. "Bobby and I will do the same going west." He turned back to look at Markus. "Markus. You stay put."
"What's going on?" Bobby asked, looking at the small screen.
John motioned to the trail. "There's a little cabin up there. If we circle the place, we might be able to get an idea of weaknesses and see if Ben and his buddy are up there with Penny."
John dismounted his mare, and crept through the brush to the cabin. "Keep low." He whispered, knowing that Bobby was going to be staying close to the horses.
John slipped up to a window, grinning when he caught sight of Penny inside. He held a finger to his lips when she saw him, remembering that she knew sign language and signing the words for 'be quiet' to her.
She gave a small nod, and returned her attention to what she was doing before.
John crept back to Bobby. "She's there." He took his horses reigns. "We'll set the traps in the morning."
"What's gonna be the bait?" Bobby asked, knowing that John wouldn't put Penny in that danger.
"I will be…"
"John!"
"Shut it. I'm not going to argue with you on this. Ben… has always wanted me. That's why he went after Penny…" John sighed. "He sent the ransom to my house… he wanted me."
Bobby and Levi set a few nets and spring traps around the cabin, being careful to not set them off before it was time.
They worked under the cover of night. With silent prayers that Ben and Lyle wouldn't find them out on their lips.
"It's freezing…" Markus griped. "Light a Goddamn fire…"
"Not tonight." John whispered, lifting binoculars to his eyes to try and get a glimpse of what was happening. "We're too close."
"Why didn't you just grab her earlier?"
"Because. Ben had her working on something. And he was in the room."
"So?"
"If I'd gone in and gotten her… she would've been shot." John placed the empty tuna can he'd been eating out of in the trash bag they'd brought. "I'm not going to risk that."
"Ben!" John raised his hands as he called out to the pedophile. "I'm here!"
Ben cracked the door to the cabin open, and looked the area over. "Are you alone?"
"The only person with me is my partner, Bobby." John motioned to where Bobby was waiting. "He's just here to take Penny home."
Ben stepped farther onto the porch. "Weapons on you?"
"Nothing." John took his coat off, showing that he had nothing to defend himself with. "I'm clean of anything."
Ben grabbed Penny's arm, and pushed her toward Bobby as he stepped toward his real target. "Finally-" His words were cut short when a spring trap went of and he was pinned to the ground. "Bender!"
John grinned as he caught sight of Lyle sprinting from the back of the cabin. "You're under arrest of the Los Angeles Police Department. Accused of Pedophilia, kidnapping, and also trespassing." He cuffed Ben's hands behind his back, his smirk only growing when Joey returned with Lyle in cuffs as well. "Anything you say or do can and will be held against you, so you have the right to remain silent. You also have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you."
Penny bolted to John when he'd finished with Ben. "Thank you!" She cried into his chest.
John smiled and held her close. "It's okay. You're safe."
