Jake stared at Chelsea; he could see the cautious hope shining in her eyes, "Pull up a chair," he waited as she settled next to him; pulling his brother's laptop toward her, he selected a document Jason was working through, "Jason was busy working through several accounts from that list of social media platforms which seems to be the vector we have been missing, I need you to locate people who have been targeted by Brad and have been using these accounts or changed to these specific social media platforms from others."

"How do we know it's Brad targeting them?" Chelsea asked.

"Facial recognition," Jake said, "we found out he has several identities, so a name will mean nothing."

"How many so far?" Chelsea asked.

Jake frowned at her as confusion settled in his expression.

"How many identities so far?" Chelsea repeated with more clarity.

"Oh, so far …" Jake looked at the list, "nearly twenty."

"Wow, where did he get these identities from?" Chelsea asked, starting to work.

"Stolen a few, invented others and …" he paused, "oh, here is a classy move ... from the newspapers."

"Newspapers?" Chelsea frowned, looking at Jake, her eyes widening, "not the obituaries?"

"Yep, that is where some came from," Jake sighed, shaking his head, "dead people."

"Real charmer," Chelsea shook her head, "Oh, here is something," she clicked a few more buttons, "looks like there are missing person reports for the first five that Jason put together here …" turning the laptop toward Jake and pointing at the screen, "that is Brad's picture … and these over here are the people who used the platform after meeting him, and now they are missing ... I wonder ..."

"Who filed the reports?" Jake asked.

"Hmmm ... ah ... family members, girlfriends, friends ..." she said, moving through the list while typing quickly, "the last one here by their employer."

"Nice employer," Jake said, "why did they report him missing?"

"He was taken from the office," Chelsea said, "the police report states there are signs of a struggle and …" she gasped, "an empty syringe was found at the scene."

"That's a gutsy move," Jake said, "and totally out of character. Usually they are taken when coming from a store, arriving home or in the home. Late at night where there are no cameras… and no one around ..." he paused, "is there any footage of the abduction?"

"I'll have a look," Chelsea said, typing away and clicking on various applications, "seems to be …. yes."

"Okay, let's look in a minute ... what were you wondering," Jake asked.

"I see there is a list of apartment buildings Jake owns," Chelsea said, "if I look for vectors that cross-reference the other factors being considered, perhaps we'll be able to find people who have been taken and not reported as well."

"Good idea," Jake smiled, "... pull up the footage and let's see what we have," he rose, moving to stand behind her and watch over her shoulder.

Leaning against the dining area archway, Jason watched his brother with Chelsea. What he saw reminded him of the man he knew, the person he had grown up with, the unfiltered Jake. A smile broke over his lips, slowly reaching his eyes as he noticed Jake's ease with Chelsea.

"What you looking at?" Josiah asked, looking over his son's shoulder.

"Jake and Chelsea," Jason whispered, "it's good to see that he is still the same man. He seems so at ease with her, not like he was with Ms Prim and Proper."

"How was he with the ex?" Josiah asked.

Jason frowned, "Hard to explain," he said, sighing, "as though he was stretched, awkward while trying to be a version of himself that would suit her."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Oh, that sounds ..." Josiah shuddered, "painful."

"I had to watch it," Jason said, shaking his head, "the word painful doesn't cover it … I often wondered who would be coming home."

"He was staying with you through all of this?" Josiah asked.

"Toward the end … yes," Jason sighed, "one night I couldn't take it any longer and had to tell him what I thought …" Jason grinned, "I've never seen him so relieved that someone picked up on what was happening. A few days later, he booked those tickets and a day after that, the breakup happened."

"Wow," Josiah muttered, "that certainly is … quick. Do you think he did it on purpose?"

"What? The trip thing?" Jason asked, glancing at his father over his shoulder, "perhaps … one never knows with Jake."

"That is very true," Josiah said, "oh there is your mother … time to run interference; leave those two to work and let's help out in the kitchen."

"You're determined to get these two to bond, right?" Jason said, following his father into the kitchen.

"Jake needs someone who can understand him and the world he is in," Josiah whispered, glancing over his shoulder, "Chelsea gets him, and she is in the world, so it's a short step to being a couple."

"Dad, they work together," Jason said, frowning, "it's not a good idea."

"I'm not saying we have anything to do with it," Josiah smiled, "we'll let nature take its course."

"You're worse than Mom with the matchmaking," Jason chuckled, shaking his head, "Candy wants us at the prep counter."

"What is there to prep?" Josiah asked, looking around.

"Apparently, a lot," Jason said, grinning as he took in the eggs, various veggies, and fruit.

"I thought pancakes were supposed to be simple," Josiah said, looking at his daughter.

"They are, but there are the toppings, and if we decide to do crepes as well, there are the fillings which need to be thought of," Candy said, "plus should we do a few omelettes, we need to put something inside of those. So ..." she pointed at the preparation area, "we need veggies peeled and diced or sliced, and we need the fruit cut into pieces and mixed for a fruit salad."

Jason looked from his sister to Bevis, who seemed to be coughing suddenly, "What do you have to say to this?"

She spluttered and mopped at her streaming eyes as she doubled over with laughter, "I had nothing to do with it, but your faces were well worth watching."

Josiah's frown disappeared, replaced by a grin, "Good to see someone has a sense of humour."

"I was telling Candy there are a few of us," Bevis said, "and she told me she needed to feed three men …" Bevis spluttered, "... since you are the ones we're feeding, Candy thinks you should be part of the prep."

"Can't agree with her more," Caroline said, smiling as she rounded the corner holding two aprons, "come on men … here are your aprons; it's time to get to work."

"I should have stayed at the table," Jason muttered, glancing at his father as he put on the apron, "what's your excuse?"

"Should have gone fishing this morning," Josiah sighed, "come on … let's get to work."

Standing in the shadows, he watched the new tenant hang curtains in a newly vacated unit in one of his apartment buildings. She was exactly what was required on the list.

The insistent vibration in his pocket brought his attention to his phone. Pulling it out, he sighed. The building Bevis had lived in had been put on the market, and a generous offer had come in for it, he quickly replied, smiling; he had no use for it anymore; whoever it was that wanted it could have it.

He had been fortunate with the various jobs he had held over the years; they had assisted with locating the requirements to fill the shopping list from his website. The law had been after him for decades but had never gotten close. The strangest need of all of them had come when information was requested about a family, not a desired taste. Getting that close had been frankly distasteful, but he had endured the pain of being around the goody-two-shoes who would still pay for the crippling kick that had him in the hospital for overnight observation. Bugging her best friend had been a stroke of genius, and the payment for the information had lined his pocket well. But he still didn't know the location of the family. It was frustrating; thankfully, the client had worked some kind of magic and gotten him released from police custody. He had to wonder who they were that strings like that could be pulled, but presently, he wasn't complaining. He still had a shopping list to fill and work that never ended.

What happened after the requirement was filled didn't interest him; as long as he was paid and paid well ... that was all that mattered. He had often heard people use the excuse of "this life found me", but for him, it was a reality that had worked out well due to his natural ability and disposition toward obtaining those requirements.

His phone vibrated again, and looking at the message, he sighed, "You can't be serious."

Shaking his head, he wondered why they would want Candy personally even after he had gotten them into her apartment. Perhaps they needed her for leverage. One could never tell, but the pay for getting her into their hands would be substantial. Nodding, he pocketed his phone and raised the camera hanging from his neck toward the window snapping photos of the new tenant. Work was never done in his line of work. There was always something more to do or obtain. A slow cold smile spread over his lips, and then there was the preparation for their journey and destination. Some were easy, and others not, but the latter was the challenge he enjoyed. The former was quick work and easy money. Fortunately, he had the required skill to get the job done, and so far had no complaints. The new challenge excited him … getting close to Candy, with both her brothers being highly protective and the subject being of the cautious variety … he nodded; it would be a challenge he would relish. He owed her a painful delivery to the client; he would enjoy it ... immensely. Quickly sending an acceptance text to the number, he continued snapping photos of his current subject.