Page 14 of Axton
“Call me tomorrow when you get that report.” I ended the call.
Chapter Eight
Axton
Idid about all the research that could be done on the polygamous families in the area, and I came up with exactly nothing. I called Tara and asked for a package to be overnighted to our lab. She had no idea it was a DNA test. She took care of it for me after she sat with the girl while I ran down to grab my ready bag. I didn’t want her left unattended and I didn’t plan to walk out of that hospital without the girl, so I decided to order some Door Dash and get comfortable. There was a television in her room, and I quickly got bored with that, so I scrolled through Tik Tok. Obviously, I wasn’t great at sitting in one place for long. I did get an email back about her fingerprints and there was no match in the database. What if Koty wasn’t traveling with his sister, but a different woman? Maybe she was his wife, and she was too young to marry legally? That would have explained why there was no marriage certificate for either of them. I guess I had to be patient and wait for Allred’s report. I decided to hack into the local schools close to Ashford’s address and see if there was any photos that matched the girl. I didn’t find anything in the high school yearbooks, or records. Then I hit the jackpot when I searched the elementary school records. It was a record for a BellemyAshford, and the name Belle was in parentheses. I then switched to the yearbooks and found a little copper haired girl named Belle. She was adorable and the hair color absolutely did match. Her hair was pulled back, but I could see that red tint to her hair. It was literally the color of a penny. There it was the girl in the bed was absolutely Belle Ashford. She would have been twenty-three years old, and her brother was in the same grade, but he didn’t look much like her. He looked very tiny, where Belle was obviously a tall young lady. I could tell by looking at her in the bed. Curiosity got the best of me. I moved my chair closer to her and brushed her hair back from her face, then looked down to see that birthmark again. It looked exactly like mine and was a little creepy. I studied her delicate hands, which felt warm to my cold ones. Soft to my rough ones. I peered up to her face again and noticed a tiny freckle above her left eye. It was the tiniest but most adorable imperfection. Her nose was also delicate and the perfect shape for her face. I really couldn’t tell much about her lips and chin, there were tubes in the way. Being the creep that I was, I pulled a bit of her hair through my fingers, and I swear I never felt anything as soft. I decided not to be a total creep and backed away before I checked to see if there was a nice scent to her hair. It was so damn pretty, and I didn’t think I had ever seen such a color of hair. It wasn’t brown, but also not red either. She had her very own shade. My eyes trailed back down to her hand, and I noticed how well her nails were manicured. Dr. Ford was right, she was healthy and probably well cared for, other than the possibility that she could have been a child bride. The thought of her parents disgusted me. Her mom would have been about thirteen or fourteen when she was born, and he was in his seventies. Holy shit that was disgusting. I had a feeling she wasn’t the girl next door. There was something about her that told me she was someone more. Someone way different than I ever met in my lifetime. I never touched a woman that felt sowarm, I knew it was weird, but also comforting. I couldn’t explain it. Nobody could have been that perfect, maybe she was bat shit crazy. I mean, there were a lot of red flags. Starting with her elderly father knocking up her fourteen-year-old mother. Then all the religious stuff. There was the forty-seven siblings thing as well. I had one sister, and she was already enough to drive me into insanity, I couldn’t imagine forty-seven. I had doubt she was very well educated. She completely disappeared from the school system when she would have been in the fifth grade. Her brother went on in school and was a pretty good student. He graduated with a decent GPA. There was also the possibility that she had an elderly husband and a few children. I’d probably go crazy too if some geriatric was swinging his balls in front of my face on a daily basis. That reminded me to ask Dr. Ford when he returned if there were any signs of sexual assault.
I debated on whether to update Creed, but I had no desire to speak to that prick. I was pissed that he invaded my privacy. I sent him a text instead, and for all I cared, I hoped he pissed Addie off, and she taught him a little lesson. Fuck around and find out, asshole. I hoped the twins were boys. That would have really set her off and he would definitely have been on her shit list. Morgan was already on it just because she weaponized her pregnancy farts.
It had been hours, and I was bored out of my mind. Usually when I felt that way, I’d call Faye for some phone sex. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. Instead, I called the community center and placed a delivery order of onion rings, a few bean burritos, steamed broccoli, and some apple juice. Morgan should have received her order in thirty minutes or less. I was sure she would have been pleasantly surprised by my kindness and generosity. By the time Creed lifted the covers tocrawl in bed with her, she probably let off quite a few of those Rossi bombs for him to enjoy. I hoped the fucker puked.
I stared up at the ceiling as I let my mind trail off to other places. I wondered if Magnus was enjoying the ice rink. Dammit, they better not have forgot me if they were forming hockey teams. That had me shooting off a text to Irons to remind him that I wanted to be on one of those teams. I looked back up and stared at the ceiling. I could have been at the resort having some fun, but no, I was going insane sitting in a hospital room while watching over what very well might have been a real honest to God angel.
When I shut my eyes, my imagination took off, well that or I dozed off for a minute because what went through my mind almost had me falling out of my chair, I caught myself before I tipped the chair over with me. I was running away from Drakos and Melissa because they were chasing me with a huge black dildo. I hadn’t had that bad of a nightmare in years. Fuck you, Creed. Fuck you. I shook my head as I thought about how many times I saved that fuckers ass. How did he repay me? Put images that caused nightmares in my head, and he invaded my privacy.
It was pretty damn sad how bored I was, because I was excited to see the nurses when they came in just to have some casual conversation. Dr. Ford returned and confirmed the girl showed no obvious signs of sexual assault during his initial exam. He said they would runs some tests when he returned the following day.
I had been at the hospital for eight hours at that point, which honestly felt like an eternity. The nurses were kind and brought me drinks and snacks, then eventually offered to show me how to open the chair in the corner into somewhat of a cot.
I ordered Door Dash again for dinner and was expecting to receive it soon when there was a knock on the door. When I looked up, I saw two familiar faces. “Clint?” I then looked at Val. “Wow that was quick.”
Clint spoke up. “I’m only here for a little bit, just long enough to get you settled with one of my associates and to scope out their clubhouse for safety. I’ll be back at Creed’s Lake by midnight. Thankfully, we have a chapter here in Flagstaff, and lucky for you that includes the cops assigned to her case. One is going to meet us here in a few minutes.” Holy shit, Clint really was connected.
Val spoke up. “And I’m here for a few days. We’ll take shifts watching over her. So, what do you know so far?” They stepped in closer, and the door shut behind them.
“I’m convinced her name is Belle Ashford and she was probably trying to escape her father’s religious cult with her brother, who is still not accounted for after the crash. I overnighted the DNA test and put a rush on it so we could hopefully confirm my suspicions with genetic genealogy. Her fingerprints aren’t in the database. She might wake up before we can get the DNA test back, though.”
“You might have some luck since people of her religion are pretty big with genealogy.” Val took a seat as Clint stood with his arms crossed.
“What do you think she will be like when she wakes up? Just curious because of the cult stuff.” I asked.
Val shrugged. “Scared, and she will have some trust issues. She was raised to believe everyone outside her world are sinners and will lead her down a path of evil. Possibly low self-esteem and she won’t put much value in her own life. These men, well,they’re breeders. They think women are only on this planet to reproduce and grow their flock.”
“She has forty seven half siblings. Her mom would have been fourteen when she was born, and her dad would have been in his seventies. He’s ninety five now.”
“Holy shit, that’s disgusting.” Clint said.
I told them how I confirmed her identity through school records and found a photo of her as a child.
“You’ve stayed with her all day. Would you like me to take the night shift?” Bolton asked. I thought about it, and decided against it.
“I should stay for now. You can take a shift tomorrow.” I didn’t even have that sentence out before there was a knock on the door and a police detective stepped inside. He was an older man with a wide waste, but turned to Clint right away.
“It’s good to see you again, Clint.” They shook hands.
“You too, Crock.”
They turned to us. “This is detective Jason Crocker, and he’s the president of our Flagstaff chapter. He’s safe to discuss this case with and has offered all the help he can give.” Clint introduced him.
I stood and shook his hand. “Mike Axton, VP of Creed’s Lake.”
“Nice to meet you, feel free to call me Crock.” He turned to Bolton and shook her hand as she introduced herself.
“At first we were a tad weary about the takeover, but it has proven to serve us well. I am actually assigned to this Jane Doe case. I believe I have her identified, but I haven’t shared that news with anyone except my partner until now.” Crock said.
“I believe we have as well, but what have you found?” I asked.
“This is Miss Bellemy Ashford, youngest daughter of Henry Ashford. I do believe we have a bit of a situation here and as soon as we can get her out of this hospital the better. I’ll talk to Ford about what steps we need to take to get her out of here. Are you able to take her back to Creed’s Lake?”
