Page 13 of Twin Threats In Austin
He stopped right there.
His heightened emotions made sense when he thought about the accident that had happened weeks ago and the fact that his grandmother wasn’t improving. When he and his siblings and cousins had set up the rotation system to ensure someone was at the hospital 24/7, no one had thought it would drag on this long or make it to his turn. They, him included, had optimistically believed Duke’s rotation would be first and last.
How naive had they been?
He shook his head. “I underestimated how much not having the family together for Thanksgiving this year would affect me. I’m taking it out on you, and that’s not okay.” He issued a sharp sigh as he dropped his hands to his sides. “If you can accept my apology, I’ll stay on the case. If not, it’ll be better for everyone involved if we go our separate ways. A distraction is the last thing anyone needs while working on this case. I can circle back to my superior and rescind my request.”
“We’re good,” Rochelle immediately responded. “Hey, I get it. What you said about your grandparents earlier…well, I should have connected the dots because I don’t get the impression you normally jump to conclusions about other people. So, yeah, I’m good if you are.”
Relief flooded Camden. The barrage caught him off guard because it had less to do with the case and more to do with what Rochelle thought about him. If he wasn’t careful, he might care a little too much about Rochelle’s opinion of him. “Let’s head over to Justina’s workplace while our superiors discuss us working together. Shall we?”
Chapter Five
After deciding not to walk to Kage’s apartment from the nightclub just yet, Rochelle drove them to Justina’s workplace. Care to Remember wasn’t exactly a veiled name for a memory-care facility that specialized in dementia “residents,” as the website had called them.
The outside of the building had been made to look homey, with a wraparound porch and rocking chairs that had been painted white. Ferns still hung despite the last couple of cold snaps. There was a small parking lot to the left of the cobalt-blue-sided two-story with white shutters.
Inside, the aesthetic was colder. White tile floors could best be described as hospital-ready. White walls were a stark contrast to the warmth of the exterior. A bar-height counter greeted them a few steps inside, creating a barrier. A line of fold-up wooden chairs against the wall beside the door made for an uncomfortable waiting area, lending a dentist-office look to the place. This seemed like where Rochelle would go to get a filling rather than a home where she would want to visit a loved one who may or may not remember her on a given day.
Looks can be deceiving.
“How can I help you today?” asked a young brunette from behind the counter. She was barely tall enough to see from the other side.
Camden stepped forward first and produced a badge. “My name is Camden Remington, and I’m with the US MarshalsService. My colleague here is Detective Rochelle Paddock with Austin PD.”
The brunette’s smile faded. On closer inspection, the lines bracketing her mouth made her look like she was in her late twenties or early thirties. Bags were underneath her eyes, making it appear as though she hadn’t slept well in recent nights. Her name badge read Ally.
Ally leaned forward with a concerned look on her face. “Is this about Justina?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Camden said as Ally’s gaze looked them over, likely assessing whether they could be trusted. Her suspicion might also have to do with her wondering if she was a suspect. Had she done something wrong? Because a flash of guilt crossed her features.
“Have they…? Have you…? Is she…?”
“No, ma’am,” Camden answered. “That’s why we’re here today. We’d like to talk to you about Ms. Worth.”
Ally’s gaze widened. “I’m not sure I can help, but I’ll do my best.”
“How would you describe your relationship with Ms. Worth?” Camden began with the standard line of questioning.
“I knew her from this place,” Ally responded.
“Did the two of you ever talk on a personal level?” he continued.
“Not really,” Ally said. “I mean, no one really ever talked to Justina. She kept to herself mostly.”
“No lunchroom discussions?” he asked.
“I know she cared for her elderly father, who passed away recently,” Ally informed them. “Justina brought her lunch from home. Usually, it was a sandwich and chips. She sat alone in the lunchroom where the staff eats and didn’t talk much.”
“Would you consider her to be unfriendly?” Camden asked as Rochelle studied Ally, searching for signs of deception. It was ajob requirement and a hazard at the same time. It made trusting people difficult when you were always waiting, watching for the lie out of habit.
“Not really,” Ally said after careful consideration. Her gaze drifted up and to the right, which was common when someone tried to recall information. She twisted her fingers together and shifted her weight, which was most likely a sign of nerves. People often became nervous when being interviewed by the law, but that didn’t mean they were lying. “I’d say she was just the quiet type. You know? Someone who didn’t fit in with most of the others.”
“How so?” Camden cocked his head to one side. His calm, engaging expression was disarming. He would have made a great detective with the way he made others relax when speaking to them.
“Well, the way she dressed, for one,” Ally explained. “Her clothes were old-fashioned, homemade looking, and like she was a pilgrim on her way to church.” Ally fidgeted a little more. Was she embarrassed at the description, or that she was one of the people who’d judged Justina harshly for her clothing? Maybe even made fun of her behind her back?
“Is it safe to assume no one attempted to be friends with Ms. Worth at work?” Camden asked.
