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“The only people I can think that might have something to gain from pulling a stunt like this would be the men involved in these women’s lives.”

“Definitely. Although I would think they’d want to do as much damage as possible, not set a blaze that would burn out on its own. The residents will be able to move back in in just a couple more days.”

They walked toward Tanner’s office. “Maybe the plan is to make the women not feel safe at New Journeys so they’ll be more likely to return to their previous situations.”

That was a common enough problem under the best of circumstances for some of these women; it wouldn’t take much to encourage them to leave.

“Pull the files we started on all the men connected to the current residents at New Journeys. We need to cross-reference them with their backgrounds and professions. We’re looking for anyone with a military background or who has worked in construction, demolition or anything that would provide training in explosives.”

Ronnie began the cross-referencing while Tanner put a call in to Cassandra. He didn’t want to cause any undue panic, but he wanted his sister and Bree to be aware of the situation. He promised to call them back if he had any solid suspects.

Three frustrating hours later, despite working through lunch, they hadn’t found any promising suspects. The two men who seemed most qualified to have set the fire both lived out of state. Phone calls to their current places of employment had provided solid alibis. There was no way they could’ve been at work all week across the country and then made it to Risk Peak and back.

The couple of others who might have the knowledge were in prison, including Jared Ellis, Marilyn’s husband, who worked in construction.

Ronnie sat back in the chair across from Tanner’s desk, two files balancing on his leg crossed at the knee. “If our perp isn’t someone associated with New Journeys, could it be someone coming after Bree? She was the only one who had to be taken to the hospital. Granted, most of the Organization is behind bars, but after what happened in Atlanta—”

Ronnie was about to say something else when the phone on Tanner’s desk rang.

“Hold that thought.” Although there damn well better not be anyone coming after Bree again. He picked up the phone. “Tanner Dempsey speaking.”

“Captain Dempsey, this is Conrad Parnam with the Denver County Warrants and Bonding Office.” The man’s voice was sort of distant and breathy, like the phone wasn’t directly next to his mouth. Or like he was bored with the conversation before it even started.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Parnam?”

“I’m trying to reach a Mrs. Marilyn Ellis at a facility called New Journeys but I’m having difficulty. Do you have a way to get in touch with her?”

“I do.” He had a sinking suspicion he knew where this was going and wasn’t going to like it.

“Because of the restraining order against Mrs. Ellis’s husband, Jared Ellis, we wanted to let her know that he was released on bail.”

Yep, he didn’t like it. This already bad day just got worse. “Earlier today?”

He could hear Parnam shuffling through papers. “Actually, no. Mr. Ellis was released three days ago.”

Chapter Five

Tanner fought not to roar into the phone. Jared Ellis was released from a Denver county jail three days ago and no one had told Marilyn?

He forced himself to speak reasonably, even though he had a white-knuckled grip on the phone. “Three days ago? Why wasn’t Mrs. Ellis notified immediately? Jared Ellis is considered to be a threat to both her and her children.”

“You know how it is. Things sometimes fall through the cracks.” There was no apology in Parnam’s tone.

Tanner wrote the word Noah on the notepad and spun it around so Ronnie could see it. Ronnie nodded and Tanner tapped the phone in his hand to indicate Ronnie needed to tell Noah about Jared Ellis’s release. Ronnie already had his phone in hand as he walked out of the office.

This was definitely a police matter, but when it came to protecting Marilyn and those kids, it was a personal matter also. Noah would want to know.

“I’m going to need the details about Ellis’s release,” he said into the phone.

“Is there some sort of problem?” Finally something else took the place of boredom in Parnam’s tone: irritation. But Tanner didn’t give a damn if Parnam was perturbed that he would have to actually do his job.

“Yes, there’s a problem. We have a woman in our care here who was damn near beaten to death by her husband. So finding out he’s been out on bail for three days and nobody saw fit to notify either her or my office is very much a problem.”

“Look, I just run the paperwork for whoever the judge tells me to and make the calls that come across my desk. Nothing more or less than that. But hang on a minute and let me see what I can find out.” Irritation still painted the other man’s tone, but at least Tanner could hear the clicking of his fingers on the keyboard. “Judge doesn’t usually let violent offenders out on bail.” More clicking. “Well, that explains it. Oscar Stobbart. He’s a very high-end defense attorney—has a great record of getting people out on bail, and honestly, getting them reduced sentencing. Ellis must have a ton of money to hire someone like him.”

Tanner was now frustrated with himself that he didn’t know more about Jared Ellis. But he honestly hadn’t thought there would be much he needed to know since the man was behind bars. Did he have money? Tanner didn’t know.

But he was out. And more important, had been out of jail within the window for setting the detonator for the fire. “Do you at least have his last known address?” They would definitely be paying a visit to Jared as soon as possible.