Deltta nodded, but he wasn't hopeful. Time had a way of erasing things.
Yarr asked for the owner. The alpha immediately came out when he heard who was looking for him, bowing and gushing over Deltta.
Deltta grimaced.
Yarr stepped in. “We’re investigating a private matter. Do you have security footage from five years ago?”
“I’m sorry. Our security system keeps footage for a few months. It deletes everything automatically if there are no enquiries.”
Yarr deflated.
“I assume other eateries use the same system?” Deltta asked, looking around. The place was vibrant and relaxed, but it wasn’t his usual style. Why was he there?
Doing a three-sixty, Deltta tried to remember.
Serving bots moved around tables; customers inputted orders or took out their food. Deltta watched as an alpha, a few tables away, punched in a code on the serving bot’s user interface to unlock it.
Deltta froze.
How could he forget about that?
Serving bots at eateries had safety locks. Only the customer who ordered the food could unlock it, which means, whoever poisoned him worked at one of the eateries.
Deltta turned to the owner. It was a long shot but…
“Do you still have the same staff from five years ago?”
“Yes, most of them. I was lucky. It’s hard to get good help and have them stay on for long, especially in our industry. People come and go.”
“Do you mind?” Deltta pointed to the door leading to the massive cooking station.
“Uhh…no,” the alpha agreed, even though it was clear he wanted to refuse. Deltta walked to the door before he changed his mind. He didn’t have a concrete plan, only the driving need to reclaim his life.
Deltta stepped into the room and stopped in his tracks at the chaotic sight that met him. Empty serving bots lined up on one side while the loaded ones exited on the other. Orders rang out, adding to the din of sizzling pots on the large burner and clanking dishes being washed in the corner. It felt like he’d stepped into the grinding bowels of a machine, and everyone was too focused on making it run they didn't notice him.
Now to get their attention.
Deltta allowed his alpha scent to thicken and fill the room, overtaking everything else. He watched in satisfaction as the room quieted, and one by one, they turned to stare at him, except for one.
He stood in front of a sink full of dishes. Eyes cast low, hands trembling at his sides, he tried hard to look small, to hide behind the beta loading the bots.
Interesting.
Deltta turned to the owner.
"May I speak with him alone?” He pointed at the omega.
“Of course, Sula come.”
Deltta turned and walked out of the room.
“Do you think he’s the one, master?” Yarr asked. His excitement was palpable.
Deltta clenched his jaw. He wanted to be as excited as the beta, but since the incident five years ago, omegas got tense around him. The omega could have been reacting to his presence alone, nothing more.
He hoped not.
The owner showed them to his office and left them alone. The omega fidgeted, looking everywhere but at him.