Page 12 of Axton
“Tell me what you’ve got.” I answered.
“Did you see the crash about an hour from Holbrook?” He asked.
“It just popped up for me. What do we have?” I opened the emergency services case file to read it for myself.
“It’s a 2019 Chevy full sized pickup registered to a Koty Wayne Ashford. It was a single vehicle crash with no occupants found inside or near the scene. There are tire tracks driving to and from the scene. It looks like it flipped on an old country road and judging by the skid marks, I’d say they were heading east.”
I was already looking for Koty Ashford online. “I don’t see much on him, but there’s an address.”
“Yeah, he resides a few hours west of you. It looks like he works for an older brother that does real estate appraisals. A man named John Henry Ashford. This is where it gets interesting. His father is Henry Ashford, a preacher and he’s listed as having forty-eight children. I’m literally finding forty-eight birth certificates that date all the way back to 1951. I’m not finding a death certificate for any parents, so of course I presume they are all still living, including the brother’s mom. Koty is his youngest son with a mom that’s in her late forties, and this preachers youngest child is a twenty-three-year-old female named Bellemy Theresa Ann Ashford. They have different mothers listed but the same father. Get this, her mother is thirty-seven and her father is ninety five years old. I did reach Allred, and she confirmed giving Koty my recruitment card. There’s some trouble in theircompound, something about a false prophet that thinks he will marry the girl, and the father is against it. This false prophet is a bit suspicious, and that’s why Allred felt this case was out of her league and she referred Koty to us. My best guess is that he was going to show up on our doorstep for help because he never called the number on my card.”
“So, if Koty was trying to escape with her, what happened to him?” I asked.
“Not a clue. It’s a rural area so chances of finding any video footage is nearly zero. If this is true, it seems we have another victim to find. I’ll start by trying to get information on this false prophet. I don’t even have a name yet. In other news, Clint made some calls. It seems there’s a doctor there that rides with an affiliated MC and a few cops in the area. He is working on it. Hang tight and hopefully the local PD doesn’t kick you out of that hospital. Keep her identity private for now. We don’t want the wrong person to catch wind of it and come for her. People like this sometimes have connections that reach pretty far. As soon as you can move her, get her out of that hospital. I’ll keep digging for more information and stay in contact with you. I’m considering sending one of our female operatives. Maybe Carlson if Darren and the DV division can survive a few days without her.”
“I’ll see how she reacts first. I don’t want too many people here, and maybe she’ll do okay with me.” I said.
He snorted. “You’re the biggest asshole on Creed’s Lake. Do you really think she will warm up to you at first sight?”
He wasn’t wrong, I was kind of a dick. Adorable and sexy as hell, but I wasn’t exactly the warmest person alive. I won the biggest asshole award last year when Felicity conducted a poll. “I’ll giveit my best shot. I’ll smile and maybe even let her see these adorable dimples.”
“Yeah right, that would mean shaving off that prize winning beard.” He doubted me. “Doesn’t all of your masculinity depend on that beard?”
“Bet me, I’ll have it shaved by tonight. Better watch out though, that wife of yours tends to like the clean shaven adorable men with big…”
“You better not finish that sentence.” He warned me and I chuckled.
“I was going to say dimples. I have a little sister, I’m not a complete stranger to showing some compassion to the female species.”
He chuckled. “Says the winner of the biggest asshole on Creed’s Lake award. They tried to give you a prize, remember?”
I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t interested in a BJ from any of those girls.” Ever since Drakos came home with a sexually transmitted disease in his throat from eating rotten pussy, any attraction I might have had toward the girls he fucked disappeared in an instant. We ended up having a STD epidemic which was why we had mandatory monthly testing, and probably the largest orders for antibiotics in Indiana since a lot of the guys enjoyed their time away from the lake.
“Antibiotics are the wonder drugs of the last century. They’re all clean now. Speaking of that, let’s talk about your latest trips and the one you have coming up.”
“Bullshit, it’s personal.” I growled. I got sick and damn tired of him always asking.
“We have enemies, Axton. It’s honestly expected for us to know your whereabouts at all times. What if something happens to you? We need to talk about this, it’s important.”
“It’s no more your business now than it was a week ago. I give a lot to this organization, and all I ask in return is for some privacy. No, it’s not a girlfriend before you ask again for the ten thousandth time.” He was pissing me off lately. Ever since he got with Morgan he was becoming more and more nosy about my personal life. “And don’t you dare start an investigation. Its none of your business.”
“Fine, back on topic. I don’t have any way to guarantee the girl is this Bellemy Ann Theresa Ashford, but the birth certificate I see is the only sibling of Koty Ashford’s that fits the age range. His other sisters are in their thirties and forties, and they have grandchildren. I can’t really confirm that this Bellemy isn’t at their compound. I may send a few operatives out to take a look. If these men are forcing children into marriage, that alone could be a case for us to explore, pro-bono.”
I couldn’t have agreed more, despite my feelings on domestic cases. “Do you think this girl is married to one of those men?”
“Not legally, and I’m not seeing a marriage certificate. That’s not saying much though, each man can only have one legal wife.”
“Does Allred have any other information about this Reverend Ashford? He’s an old man, I can’t imagine he has been taking any new wives lately.” I asked.
“Actually, she’s more than happy to help in any way she can. She’s putting together a detailed report, and I should have it by morning. She wasn’t of their faith growing up, but she has been studying religious cults for years and has helped a lot of people escape.”
“Talk to Val and see if she’s willing to make the trip. I’m sure this girl has some fucked up views of the world and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have a mental health professional here.” I said.
“I just offered Wrenly up and you declined. What the hell is your problem with her?” He asked.
“I don’t have a problem with her.” I lied. “She’s an operative, not a mental health professional. Val probably knows something about brainwashing and the effects of religious cults.”
“I’ll ask her, but when you return we need to have a little talk. Something has been up with you ever since Morgan came to Creed’s Lake. You’re also traveling more and asking for time off. You’re fine with Morgan now but you were never that warm with Steph and now it’s Wrenly. What the hell is up with that?”
