Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Chase had called a meeting of the Brotherhood after dinner to review Colt’s findings.
Emelia was out for coffee with Joy and Naomi. Ford volunteered to observe them discreetly from a distance. Titus didn’t believe she was in immediate danger, but since they had nothing to date, he wasn’t taking chances.
The hope was that Colt had found the culprit, but even Titus knew that was unlikely.
It would be nice to solve the case before Emelia returned to her apartment. This case seemed like a never-ending game of cat and mouse with no resolution in sight.
Titus crated Leo and walked over to the command center. He loved having Emelia stay for a few days at the cabin with him. Even Leo seemed to enjoy the woods and trails. However, she was eager to get back to normal and would be leaving for her apartment the next day. Getting up at the crack of dawn and driving into town was exhausting her. She wouldn’t be alone, though. Titus was staying with her until the problem was resolved.
Zach installed security cameras in the apartment and more in the bakery. They weren’t taking any more chances.
The center was quiet. Everyone had left a couple of hours ago.
Titus walked through the empty hall past Paws for Caring. He grinned, remembering Leo’s first training night. With his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging, Leo greeted every dog and human. Melissa gave him an A+ not so much for learning but for effort.
Colt and Chase were already in the command center when he arrived.
Chase gestured towards an empty chair. “Pull up a seat. We’ll get started as soon as Zach and Finn arrive. There’s beer and coffee in the kitchen if you want something to drink.”
Titus shook his head. “Nah. I’m good. I just want to hear what Colt found.”
“We’ll get to that in a minute,” Chase replied. “How’s Emelia holding up?”
“Stressed but putting on a brave face,” replied Titus.
“I hear you.” Chase nodded sympathetically. “Naomi was the same way when everything was going to hell in a handbasket in her life, but things turned out fine. It will for Emelia, too.”
Finn and Zach arrived and took seats.
“Okay, Colt, you’re up,” said Chase.
Colt opened his computer. “I’ve checked all the contractors who worked in the bakery. A couple had minor offenses when they were young, nothing serious enough to be considered suspects.”
Titus let out a frustrated groan. It seemed like they were hitting roadblocks at every turn.
“I’m not done,” Colt said. “All of her employees were clean except for one woman.” He looked at his computer. “Stacy Young has a twin brother who did some time for theft. Although that doesn’t mean that she’s involved in anything.”
“What about Wyatt? Has he been around or connected to anyone here?” asked Finn.
“No evidence of that so far.”
Wyatt was a wild card, as far as Titus was concerned. He was twelve hundred miles away and busy with his own bakery. Despite his claim of not knowing where Emelia settled, it would be easy for him to find her.
“I’m also checking into the previous owners,” Colt said. He paused, checking his computer again. “Initially, it was a family-owned business for years. But it was sold off after the grandfather who was the baker died. A Roger Stein bought it, and his son managed it for a while. Unfortunately, Mr. Stein died, and the son disappeared. Later, it briefly became part of a chain before closing down. That’s when Emelia purchased it.”
Colt threw up his hands. “That’s all I got for now. It’s not much, but I’ll continue to dig deeper into the owners’ backgrounds and maybe check out any big deposits at banks. Although I’m not sure I can get into those records.”
“Anything on the person breaking into Emelia’s apartment?” Chase asked Zach.
“Nada. Whoever it was wore a mask and was dressed in black. Impossible to tell if it was a man or woman. They definitely used a key to get into the bakery and had the skills to pick the lock to Emelia’s apartment,” Zach replied.
“So…” Titus let out a heavy sigh. “We have nothing.”
“That’s the gist of it.” Colt nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry, Titus. I know this isn’t what any of us wanted to hear; however, I’m not giving up. I also believe the harassment is getting more personal.”
The group discussed a few more ideas and upcoming security jobs before calling it a night.
Titus felt a deep sense of disappointment that they had no clue who was harassing Emelia and was upset that she still had to be concerned about her safety.
The one thing he knew for sure was that it was going to get worse before it got better, and they needed to step up their game if they wanted to keep Emelia safe.