Page 12 of Twin Threats In Austin
Rochelle agreed. “She might not have been able to walk straight and could have needed help. Then, there’s the possibility of ketamine being involved. She might have had little to drink but was drugged instead.”
A muscle in Camden’s jaw clenched. “Ketamine in unattended drinks accounts for far too many rape cases.”
“We should add Justina’s coworkers to the list of people to talk to so we can get a sense of her personality,” Rochelle added. “Find out how she spent her free time and who she hung out with on weekends.”
An eyebrow shot up. “Is this officially your case?”
“I asked my supervisor to reassign me from the case you’re on so I can take this one,” she admitted. It had been her second text message after asking for the social-media call for information.
Camden walked away as he pulled out his cell. He turned the corner, out of earshot. Was he doing the same? Asking to be moved to this case rather than the one that would have him serving a warrant to pick up a federal criminal?
The temptation to follow him close enough to hear whom he had called and why had to be tamped down. For more reasons than professional ones, she wanted to keep working with Camden. The flicker of betrayal that had crossed his features a moment ago when she’d confessed to her second text caused a vise to tighten around her chest. Would he resent her for making the move?
Camden came walking around the corner, his expression unreadable.
Her heart skipped a couple of beats. She was about to find out.
Camden had justas much right to be assigned to this case as Rochelle. More so, when he considered Kage Durham had been his responsibility to begin with. She wouldn’t even be going down this trail if Camden hadn’t walked up when he had, considering he was the one who had identified Kage.
Camden brought up his gaze, locking in on hers. “Looks like you’re stuck with me if your supervisor gives final approval.” He shot her a look as he stopped and then folded his arms across his chest in a dare. “If you want me off the case, you should probably send another one of those texts.” Then he prepared to fire the dagger, turning his back to her. “This will make it easier to go behind my back again.”
“I didn’t mean to off—”
He turned and stared her down. “What? Upset me?” He took a step toward her. “Offend me?” Another step. They were five feet away from each other now. “You sure about that? Because I was sitting right next to you when you sent the text, so you could’ve given me a heads-up.”
She put her hands up, palms out, surrendering. “I wasn’t trying to step on your toes. This is my jurisdiction.”
“Kage is my responsibility,” he countered.
Rochelle tilted her head to the right side as she studied him. “You did your job when you picked him up and arrested him. What makes you think he’s still your responsibility when he lives in my jurisdiction?”
“I take my job personally,” he said, gaze narrowed. “And there was always something fishy about his case that I couldn’t put my finger on. I can’t help but think I dropped the ball somewhere along the line. So, no, my job is not finished.”
“You’re not the only one who lives for the job,” she countered with the stubbornness of a bull facing down a red cape. “And I’d planned on telling you once I received approval because I actually thought we might make a good team.”
Oh. Hell.
Had he jumped to a conclusion?
Yes.
Did he feel like a jerk?
Yes.
Could he repair the damage?
Only time will tell.
“I didn’t mean to jump the gun,” he started, searching for the right words to apologize.
“Forget about it,” she said in a tone that said he was dismissed.
“Seriously,” he continued, unfazed by the snub. He had it coming, and he could take it on the chin. “My bad.”
“You won’t get any disagreement there from me,” she said a little too fast for his comfort. Rochelle was sharp. She had a sharp mind and a sharp tongue…
Camden didn’t need to be thinking about anything in her mouth region because his gaze had dipped down to kissable lips—lips that made him even more frustrated. Kissing Rochelle was an idea that came out of the blue. The last thing he needed was more drama in his life right now, considering everything going on in Mesa Point.
