Chapter 1 #2
“Chloe Harper, 16 years old, daughter of Lily Harper - CEO of HarperTech.” Darcy turned to face Victoria once more as she continued.
“She was taken last night from the HarperTech charity gala at the Phoenix Ridge Grand Hotel. Security footage shows a staged fire drill created chaos, and in the confusion, Chloe was lured outside. She never made it back inside.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened as she rounded the desk and sat back in her chair as she began rifling through the report and evidence in the folder. Her eyes darted from page to page, attempting to parse through the information as quickly as possible.
“Any leads?”
Darcy hesitated, “A black SUV with fake plates was seen leaving the area minutes later. Forensics is analyzing Chloe’s phone and shoe, which were found discarded near the hotel’s back exit. No ransom demand has been made public…”
At the pause, Victoria’s head popped up. Her brow quirked up in a questioning curve as she repeated, “No public ransom?”
Darcy sighed as she sat across from Victoria, wringing her hands as she replied. “Given HarperTech’s profile, this could be about more than just money. We don’t have a ransom note, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was one out there. Lily Harper seemed cagey. She’s definitely hiding something.”
Victoria nodded, absorbing the details. “All right. Keep this contained for now. I’ll brief the team in 20.”
At the dismissal in Victoria’s tone, Darcy shot up and made her way to the door. “Got it, Captain. The crew will be gathered and ready at oh-five-hundred.”
Twenty minutes later, Victoria stepped through the glass doors of the conference room where officers had already gathered.
Conversations hushed as she approached the front, the digital board displaying Chloe’s image - blonde hair, bright smile, high school soccer uniform - alongside a timeline of events and a map marking key locations.
Victoria’s voice carried authority as she addressed the room.
“Good morning, everyone. Today, we have a top priority kidnapping case. This is to be handled with absolute confidence. If I hear about one leak to the media, this whole room will be put on administrative leave until we find and fire the culprit. Understood?”
The eyes gazing towards Victoria all widened in unison as she spoke, and then the officers in unison retorted, “Yes, Captain.”
Not wanting to waste a minute, Victoria continued.
“Chloe Harper was last seen leaving the gala at 8:42 p.m. Hotel security footage confirms she walked toward the parking area but never reached her car. A black SUV with fake plates was spotted leaving the vicinity shortly afterward. We have no official demands yet, but we are treating this as a targeted abduction.”
She let that sink in before continuing. “We are likely dealing with professionals here. We have no evidence pointing to it, but we strongly believe The Iron Fang Syndicate is involved, as there are no other organized professional syndicates in Phoenix Ridge capable of such a clean crime.”
A murmur rippled through the room.
Victoria’s gaze flicked to Darcy. “I want traffic cams reviewed for every black SUV matching that description within a ten-mile radius. These people are good, but they’re not ghosts.”
Darcy nodded, making a note.
Victoria turned to the gathered officers. “Get forensics on the gala staff. Someone helped the kidnappers get in. Background checks, employment records - if anyone was recently hired and then disappeared, I want to know.”
The door opened, and a figure stepped inside, drawing attention.
Detective Isabel Torres.
Victoria recognized her from the transfer paperwork.
Isabel strode in with a flippant smile and ran her hand through the longer front of her dark brown hair, displaying the edging undercut underneath.
Late, disheveled, wearing a leather jacket over a button-down shirt that probably used to be white but was closer to a cream, and all-black chucks, she didn’t exactly exude regulation professionalism.
“Torres, nice of you to join us,” Victoria said coolly. A few officers exchanged brief glances, their postures shifting as if they’d walked into the middle of something unspoken.
Isabel smirked, unfazed. “Car trouble. Didn’t expect Phoenix Ridge to be so damned humid.”
A few quiet chuckles rang through the room but were cut short when Victoria crossed her arms.
“Noted. Since you’re here, you’ll be working with me on this. Hope you’re ready to move fast.”
“Fast is my specialty,” Isabel shot back, moving to stand beside Darcy.
Victoria ignored the flicker of something - annoyance? amusement? - and refocused. “We have limited time before the syndicate disappears with Chloe. Torres, you’ll dig into the gala staff - someone let them in. Find out who.”
Isabel gave a mock salute. “On it, Captain.”
Victoria exhaled through her nose and turned back to the group. “We don’t have time for mistakes. Let’s move.”
Victoria exited the briefing room, her heels clicking sharply against the linoleum as she stalked toward her office.
Irritation sat heavily in her chest, twisting tighter with each step.
Late. She hated tardiness. If this became a pattern, she would rip Torres a new one.
Victoria hated nothing more than patterns she couldn't control.
The bullpen was busy but not chaotic—just the usual hum of ringing phones, murmured conversations, and the occasional laugh from a rookie who hadn’t yet learned to temper their reactions.
She ignored it all, pushing through with a nod here and there, keeping her expression carefully composed.
It wasn’t difficult. She’d perfected the art of restraint years ago.
Her office door shut behind her with a quiet click, sealing her off from the rest of the precinct. Exhaling slowly, she moved to her desk and placed both palms flat against the wood. The tension in her shoulders remained, though she tried to will it away. This wasn’t just about tardiness.
It was about Isabel.
Everything about the woman tested Victoria’s patience—her smirks, her casual disregard for authority, the way she seemed to always have a retort ready as if she thrived on getting under Victoria’s skin. She was reckless. Unpredictable. Dangerous in a way Victoria didn’t like to examine too closely.
And yet, she couldn’t ignore the way her pulse had jumped when Isabel had walked in, unapologetic as ever, her gaze sharp and knowing. Like she could see right through the professional mask Victoria wore so damned well.
She shoved away from the desk, pacing to the window. The city stretched beyond the glass, bathed in the golden glow of late afternoon. She should be thinking about the case, about logistics, about anything other than the way Isabel’s voice had made her toes curl.
This was a problem.
She had always prided herself on discipline, on control. It was why she was where she was—a captain, respected, untouchable.
Her fingers curled into fists. No. This was temporary. A physical attraction to the hot new detective. It would pass. It had to.
Straightening, she inhaled deeply and smoothed a hand down her blouse. There was work to do. This was a case that would either make or break her career. A young woman’s life was on the line.
Her stomach twisted, anticipation and dread warring in her gut.
This was going to be a long day.