Page 52 of Twin Threats In Austin
Kage was on the concrete, face down. He cursed. “I have nothing on me to prove who I am.”
“I’m going to check your pockets anyway,” Rochelle said as she moved closer.
Camden waved her off, then patted down Kage. “He’s not lying.”
“Then, how can we prove he is who he says he is?” Rochelle asked. She made a point. He had an identical twin who clearly knew Kage.
“Tell me something only Kage would know,” Camden said. “Like how you feel about being a Texas Rangers fan.”
“Why would I be?” Kage asked.
“Okay, then,” Camden said. The response was the same one he got when he first asked Kage, word for word.
“Why are you here?” Rochelle asked, her expression still tense.
“Because I found out about my brother,” he explained, sounding more than a little put off they were questioning him.
“Identical brother,” Camden pointed out. Could they risk trusting a felon? Take him on his word?
“I had no idea he existed, but recent events make so much sense now,” Kage stated as Rochelle retrieved and then tossed zip cuffs toward them.
Camden placed the zip cuffs on Kage’s wrists and then rolled off the man. Chest still heaving as he tried to catch his breath, Camden sat on the concrete. He’d taken a fist to the ribs that made breathing hurt. He was going to have a nasty bruise. But a physical wound would heal. He couldn’t say the same for the emotional scars left behind, for example, when a parent abandoned you. “You have a hell of a lot of explaining to do, Kage Durham. If that proves to be your name.”
“Give me a chance,” Kage said.
Camden shifted his gaze to Rochelle. She gave a slight nod in response.
Then again, what were their options? They were going to the same place whether they believed him or not. They were taking Kage back to Austin and the nearest substation off the highway, so he could be locked up while they fingerprinted him and checked the database. Even identical twins had slightly different fingerprints.
“Here’s an idea,” Kage began. “Let me go.”
Camden almost laughed out loud. Then, he issued a grunt. “No chance in hell.”
“I didn’t do it,” Kage responded with a mix of anger tinged with bitterness in his voice.
“A jury can decide once they’re presented with the evidence,” Camden stated.
Rochelle read Kage his Miranda warning from memory.
Though Kage was familiar with his rights, it still had to be done.
“Give me one good reason we should honor your request,” Rochelle said in a surprising twist. Had she read his warning as a way to remind him of the stakes here? Of what he faced?
“Because we both ended up here, for one. We’ll get a whole lot more done if we’re both coming from different angles. AndI deserve a chance to prove my innocence considering you’re about to lock me up for the rest of my life.”
“That’s more than one reason,” Rochelle said.
“I could keep going,” Kage responded.
“There’s no need,” Rochelle said through gritted teeth. She’d been keeping a safe distance while intensely studying Kage. “And I don’t take arresting someone lightly, just so you’re aware.”
Kage studied her. “He came after you. Didn’t he?”
She blinked a couple of times, rapidly. Had she been thrown off balance by the question?
Rochelle took astep back as though someone had thrown a physical punch. The question was simple enough. It shouldn’t have thrown her off like it did.
Kage was well spoken. Astute.A convict, she felt the need to remind herself.
