Page 197 of Titus

He set his tablet aside. “Unfortunately, no.”

The answer hit harder than I’d expected. “Damn. Still nothing?”

“Nothing useful,” he shrugged, standing up and walking over to pour himself a glass of bourbon. “Care for a drink?” he said with a sympathetic grin.

“I’m good with coffee, thanks,” I smiled.

“Wyatt and Colton were finally granted permission to visit him today,” Jim said, sitting on the long couch, reclining and obviously taking a break from numbers for half a minute.

“They’re only just now allowing his family to visit him?”

Jim nodded. “Federal detention isn’t designed around convenience.”

“Which means?”

“Which means that after four days, somebody decided to trust that he wouldn’t disappear.”

The way he said it told me that Jim was just as frustrated as I was with all of this.

“They’ve spent the last several days working through attorneys, so they’ve managed to ensure he’s doing okay in there at least.”

I rubbed my forehead for the millionth time since all this started. “And they still don’t know anything?”

“Not enough.” Jim leaned back in his seat. “The government isn’t exactly sharing its entire strategy.”

“What about Titus? What does he know about everything that’s happening?”

“He only knows as much as his attorneys can tell him,” Jim said, taking another sip.

Poor Titus was probably sitting in that place with fewer answers than the rest of us.

“Do you really think he’s okay?”

Jim studied me for a moment. “I think he’s seriously pissed off.”

I grinned in response. “I’m sure that’s true.”

“I know the man’s frustrated,” Jim said, staring into his drink, “and I think he’s trying to figure out who caused this.”

“Who’s standing in his place while he’s in there?” I asked. “I mean, I know you’re both business associates and own properties together, so I would assume you know.”

He nodded. “Sebastian Aster is managing the company so Colton and Wyatt can continue working as Titus planned,” Jim answered. “The Aster and Hawk families have always been close. Old man Aster was never crooked, though. A brutal man, yes. He still is, but he was never crooked like Herbert.”

“Strange that they were friends then,” I said.

Jim’s lips twisted. “East Coast billionaires have always been the odd ones, in my opinion,” he smirked. “So, it doesn’t surprise me they would maintain a friendship and look the other way when they knew one was up to no good.”

I laughed. “The rivalry between you East Coast and West Coast elites,” I took a sip of coffee.

“I imagine you enjoyed planning events for each coast, trying to outdo the other?”

I laughed. “The demands were pretty high, that’s for sure, and the East Coast elites definitely looked down their noses at the West Coast.”

Jim laughed into his bourbon. “I imagine they would, since hiding on the other side of the country is their safest bet in business.”

“Do you believe Sebastian’s father knew anything about this… about what Herbert did?” I asked, unintentionally killing the humorous moment.

“No,” Jim shook his head. “We’ve already spoken with him, and it appears Herbert kept the darker side of things quiet in those circles.”