Page 34 of Twin Threats In Austin
The drive was as short as it was quiet.
Camden hopped out of the driver’s seat and came around the front of the truck to open her door at the same time she exited the truck. There wasn’t time for courtesies, no matter how much she appreciated the attempt at chivalry.
Kage was dangerous. If he was innocent, he could get in the way. If he was guilty, then he’d just evaded arrest.
However, nothing inside his apartment pointed toward guilt. On the surface, at least, he appeared to be walking the line. Jumping from a white-collar crime like mail fraud to kidnapping and murder was a stretch. Plus, the ball-cap issue, a small detail that didn’t add up. She would have like to go over the nightclub footage with Kage to get his reaction.
While deep in thought, Rochelle barely noticed they’d reached the glass doors of the Laundromat. Camden held one open for her. A bell chimed.
The place was kept tidy. Clean, white machines lined the walls. Those were the dryers. Washers were in a row in the middle of the room, splitting it in half. At the end of each row was a table for folding. Metal laundry carts dotted the space. To the right was an office and what looked like a two-way mirror.
Several machines were in various stages of their wash cycles. A set of chairs against the back wall were mostly empty, save for one person who stared at the phone in their hand, not bothering to do much more than glance at them as they entered the space. A sign on the door boasted late-night hours. The place was cleaner than Rochelle expected. She had to give it to the owner. The person ran a tight ship. Was it always this well-kept?
Camden tapped on the door.
A few seconds later, an older Asian female emerged.
“My name is Camden Remington and I’m a US Marshal,” he began, offering a handshake.
She nodded before taking the offering. “Millie Wong.”
“This is my partner, Detective Rochelle Paddock,” he continued.
“How may I help you?” Millie asked. She was five-one with a head of mostly black hair. Gray crept in. She had a round face and a warm smile.
“Are you the owner?” Camden asked.
“Yes,” Millie said.
“Are you aware a female was reported missing after visiting your establishment?” he asked.
Millie’s gaze widened. “No. Can’t say that I am.”
“I noticed you have cameras,” he said, motioning toward the corner of the room.
Millie nodded and waved them into her office, padding in first. “Yes. Yes. Tell me the day and I will see what I can find.”
The small space was every bit as neat as the rest of the Laundromat. Several folding chairs were stacked in one corner. An oak desk was pushed up against the corner.
“Would you like to sit?” Millie asked, motioning toward the stack.
Camden nodded, retrieved two chairs, and then set them up to view the computer screen on Millie’s desk.
“I don’t have video because it would take too much memory,” she explained. “But the cameras take pictures for me every so often.” She threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know exactly how it works because my son set it up for me.”
“Pictures work,” Camden said.
“First, could I ask you to take a look at one of my pictures?” Rochelle asked, retrieving her cell from her handbag. Someone who ran a tight operation like this one might keep a good eye on her clientele. If Kage was a regular, she might recognize him.
“Yes, of course,” Millie said. The woman had an almost regal bearing.
After positively identifying herself to her phone, she thumbed through pictures until she found a good one of Kage’s face. She held out the screen. “Do you recognize this man?”
“Oh, yes,” Millie said as her face lit up. “He is a regular customer of mine.”
“Do you know his name?” Rochelle asked.
“No,” Millie admitted. “It never came up. He says hello and I respond. I ask how his day is going, and he tells me. We never got to a first-name basis.” Her expression dropped. “Is he alright? Did something happen?” And then it dawned on her when realization played out across her features. “Oh. Really? You think he might be connected to the lady who went missing?”
