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“While she’s here, just be supportive, keep her mood up. Try to avoid business talk.”
Lila sighed. “That’ll be a challenge.”
He patted her shoulder. “I believe in you.” Nyland smiled. “Are you taking over the bakery?”
“That’s the plan. But I’m not running her out.”
“No.” At the nurse’s station, he stopped, folding his arms. “She has a lot to offer and she loves to stay busy. Needs to feel involved.”
“You know her well.”
He tipped his head. “I like to think so. We’ll take good care of her.”
“Thank you.” Lila nearly ran back to the room, desperate for every possible moment with Gram.
She paused, hearing voices. Hearing Will, she opened the door. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all.” Will smiled, though it was strained. “Just going over a few things.”
Gram was scowling again. “Apparently no one saw anything helpful. The lock on the back door was busted and everything was trashed when we walked in.”
A tremendous wave of relief rolled over Lila. If Gram had interrupted the vandal she might’ve been seriously injured. “I’m sorry. We’ll fix it,” she said. “I promise.” She avoided Will’s gaze.
“What about the cameras?” Gram asked Will. “We installed those to prevent this nonsense.”
“I’m glad you did,” Will said. “So far we don’t have hard information, but we’re just getting started.”
“Excuse me.” Lila slipped out of the room. She’d ask Travis how much time those searches usually required. No sense upsetting her grandmother further by making Will explain it now. She checked her phone for messages. There were hours yet before opening hours and she didn’t know what to do. She was out of her depth. Heading for the coffee station, her mind went back to the pictures Will had shared, particularly that message on the wall.
This was about the theft and the stolen items she didnothave. Her grandmother had been targeted, caught up in a mess she didn’t deserve. That wouldn’t do. There had to be some way to catch this thief and bring this situation to an end.
The shock, the full scope of the danger pressed in on her. Everything inside her went tight. Her heart felt pinched, herlungs too small. She stepped away from the coffee machine and found a chair.
“Lila?”
She looked up, baffled to see Travis striding toward her. “You’re at the bakery.”
“Not anymore.”
She wasn’t proud of the way she jumped up and threw herself into his arms. But she was so grateful for his warmth and strength as he held her in a secure hug. He cuddled her close, kissed the top of her head. “How is she?”
“Dr. Nyland says she’s mostly fine.” She explained what the doctor wanted and why. “Will’s in there with her now.”
She looked up at him. “Is there any news?”
“Not really.” He swallowed and she saw the trouble brewing in his gaze.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Travis's mouth set in a flat line, his brow knitting. “Obviously, we’re dealing with an escalation.” He walked her outside to the patio. Faint sunlight filtered through the pergola, but the early winter-morning chill lingered. “Jess tells me the officer keeping watch was drugged. Connor hasn’t spotted the woman we suspect anywhere in the area.”
“How is that possible?”
He tucked his hands into his pockets. “I really don’t know and that makes me mad. No one should be able to move about so freely.”
“Average height and build makes it easy to blend.”
“So I’ve heard,” he grumbled. “Whoever is behind this is watching you too closely. They know where to strike for maximum effect. I don’t like that.”
