Page 15 of Twin Threats In Austin
“I, uh, just don’t like where any of this is going,” Ally managed to say as her gaze darted toward the exit behind them. Looking for an escape? “I’m not a bad person.”
“No one said you are,” he responded in the calmest voice he could find. At best, Ally had made fun of her coworker behind her back and possibly to her face. At worst, she was involved in the kidnapping of Justina Worth. Neither scenariomade her likely to be nominated for sainthood. However, only one scenario made her a criminal. “We’re just looking for information so we can find Justina alive.”
“Okay, sure,” Ally conceded. “I want to cooperate, but I don’t know anything.”
“Is your boss in today?” Rochelle cut in. Those words sent Ally’s blood pressure soaring, judging by the way her pupils dilated and how she started blinking rapidly. Again, her gaze cut to the door behind them.
“Yes,” she said, her voice cracking. “If you’ll wait here, I’ll run back to Mr. Marples’s office and ask him to come out.”
It was the best way to get permission to speak to the other employees and possibly use an office for privacy.
Ally disappeared.
“What is your impression?” Rochelle whispered.
“A lot of folks are nervous talking to the law,” he conceded. “I’d like proof she lied about being home and watching TV. We need to check into her background to see if she has any priors.” Some people wore masks. They came across as upstanding citizens at first blush. Then, Camden checked into their background as related to a case and could be knocked on his backside with what he found. It reminded him that lying came easy to some. Not for him. He could be honest to a fault. It wasn’t always a gift. In fact, it had made his life more difficult on more than one occasion, especially when it had come to his love life. He couldn’t lie and tell someone he loved them when he didn’t. He couldn’t lie and tell someone they had a future if they didn’t. And he couldn’t lie and tell someone he could ever see himself settling down.
He’d been burned early on in a relationship and had no intention of touching that hot stove again. Honesty had kept him single for thirty-five years.
But he’d never met anyone like Rochelle before. She was honest, intelligent, and beautiful from the inside out. She made him want to go out for coffee and ask questions. What was her background? Was she single? What made her tick? Favorite food? Cocktail? Way to spend a quiet afternoon?
Was his opinion changing about long-term relationships? Or was Rochelle special?
Camden feared the latter. Feared it because there was no way either would cross a professional line.
Dating at work wasn’t just frowned upon. It could ruin his relationship with Austin PD, a department he’d worked closely with on more than one occasion. He needed to keep allies in all departments, not make enemies. Too many of the women he’d dated in the past had walked away hating him for him to risk it happening with Rochelle.
Could they become friends? Go out for an occasional drink? Catch a movie together?
It never hurt to ask.
“I agree with your assessment,” Rochelle said, breaking into his reverie. “She’s embarrassed about her actions or hiding something.”
“Some people never outgrow a high-school mentality of social cliques and bullying,” he conceded.
“Shame,” she said.
The real shame was just how much Camden wanted to get to know the detective, and realizing he would never get the chance. He was married to his work. Soon, he would be taking his turn at the hospital and the paint-horse ranch his grandparents had built from the ground up.
Making time for friendships wasn’t a priority to him right now.
Then again, maybe this was the exact right time to find someone to lean on. Could it be Rochelle?
Chapter Six
Mr. Marples was a pudgy, ruddy-faced, middle-aged man with a comb-over. He stood roughly five feet, ten inches in height and had a stomach that looked like someone had tucked a basketball underneath his shirt. His rounded shoulders hunched forward slightly as he padded into the waiting area.
After introductions, he asked to see their badges.
“I’m sorry for the request,” he said after they produced them.
“Don’t apologize for being thorough with your job,” Rochelle stated, taking the lead.
“If you’ll follow me,” he said with a smile of acknowledgment and a hint of pride. Then, he turned and walked them to his office. It was small and had a window that looked out onto the backyard, where various games were set up for residents. “We’re short on staff, as you might have already guessed.”
“Is this Ms. Worth’s usual shift?” Rochelle asked, taking a seat in front of the large oak desk. Camden took the one next to her.
“Yes, ma’am,” Mr. Marples said as the executive chair groaned underneath his weight when he sat down. “I have another worker out sick today.”
