Page 50 of Twin Threats In Austin
In all truth, Kage could have known that he had a twin out there. The man could be toying with them, pulling an innocent act. He could be using the Asher Foley identity with women he dated. He could have a dual identity.
Anything was possible at this point. However, those assumptions were a stretch. Intuition honed by years of experience told her that Kage had been telling the truth and had disappeared in order to figure out why he was being framed for kidnapping and murder.
Justina Worth.Rochelle repeated the name several times in her head. It was moments like these when focusing on the victim gave Rochelle an extra push to keep going, keep thinking.
Justina Worth. Based on the other victims, she was being tortured at this very moment.
Justina Worth. Based on the kidnapper’s pattern so far, she would be next on the chopping block.
Not on my watch. This woman deserved a fair chance to live and justice if she didn’t.
Rochelle took the lead, circling the small trailer once again as she listened for any signs of someone inside.
Technically, she wasn’t trespassing. She had reason to ask Asher Foley questions, giving them the right to be on his property. Dotting everyiand crossing everytduringan investigation ensured the best chance at a conviction. Jeopardizing the case wasn’t an option.
At this point, she could see a bit more clearly as her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. She glanced toward the tree line, searching for anything that might be lurking in the shadows. Honestly, it was too far to get a good look. There was enough of a breeze to cause the branches to sway.
If not in the trailer, Asher Foley could be anywhere, and they might not see him until he got off a shot. The thought sat hard in Rochelle’s thoughts as she stepped back, allowing Camden to take the lead as they approached the door. She tucked her chin to her chest to hide her face in case Asher looked out the window. There was no car parked anywhere near the trailer, so it seemed unlikely that Asher Foley was home. Except that he could have stashed his vehicle away from the trailer and then hoofed it on foot. This was his territory, and he would know the land like the back of his hand.
Camden stepped up onto concrete blocks positioned as a makeshift staircase leading to the door, and then knocked on it three times with bare knuckles. He said, “Open up. US Marshal Camden Remington here. I need you to open the door.”
Identifying themselves immediately held no room for confusion as to who was banging on the door past midnight. It was no secret guns were plentiful. A shotgun blast through the door could be sold as self-defense with a good attorney.
No answer.
Camden banged on the door once again. “Open up. Police.”
Still nothing. No sign of life. Not a sound came from inside the trailer.
They waited. Minutes passed. Camden tried a third time, shouting louder this time. So much so, his voice echoed.
When it was obvious no one was going to answer the door and no screams for help came from inside, they retreated to the Bronco.
Camden turned it around, keeping the headlights off. It wasn’t until they made it safely down the lane with trees blocking the view to—and from—the trailer that he turned on the Bronco’s parking lights. It enabled the two of them to see around the vehicle and as much as four feet ahead.
“What do you think?” Camden asked.
“He’s not here,” she said. “The victims aren’t being kept at the trailer, but they could be on property.”
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and cut the headlights off as they emerged onto a dirt road and out of the lane. “We don’t have enough for a search warrant.”
“I know,” she agreed. “It’s a shame because I feel like we might find answers if we could get inside that trailer.” She shook her head in frustration. “Then again, he might not link his home with his crimes.”
“True,” he said. “I just wish I’d been smarter about how I treated Kage. He could have been useful.”
“We can stake out his apartment,” she offered. “Asher might have returned if he was the shooter from earlier.”
Camden nodded. He didn’t state the obvious. They could go to her home or put her anywhere in the open near Kage’s apartment to draw Asher out. She would volunteer if she thought the idea had a snowball’s chance in hell of being accepted. There was no way Camden would use her as bait.
Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something. “Did you see that?”
The question might as well have been rhetorical because Camden was already pulling over to the side of the road.
Chapter Eighteen
Camden pocketed the key fob as he bolted through the trees a few steps ahead of Rochelle. Hat gone, her red hair flowed behind her as she ducked through the low-hanging tree branches.
Limbs slapped him in the face and chest as he tore through the woods in the direction of whatever had moved.
