Chapter 2 #3
Victoria’s brows lifted just a fraction. “You think I need to hold your hand through an interrogation?”
“Not at all,” Isabel said smoothly. “I think you need to see what I see.”
Victoria’s expression didn’t change, but something in the air between them did. The shift was subtle—just a flicker of awareness, a beat of silence that stretched too long.
Isabel had been around enough strong-willed women to recognize the signs. Victoria wasn’t just annoyed with her; she was studying her. Measuring. Calculating whether Isabel was worth the effort of engaging.
She took a slow step forward, watching the way Victoria held her ground, not moving back. “I get that you think I’m looking in the wrong places. That I don’t know this city like you do.”
Isabel’s voice dropped slightly, the challenge evident. “But what if I’m onto something?”
Victoria’s gaze was sharp, locked onto hers like a blade pressed just shy of skin.
“You’re confident,” she said at last.
Isabel smirked. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”
Victoria’s lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite. “Fine.” She straightened, grabbing her blazer off the chair. “Let’s go see if you’re wasting my time.”
Isabel’s smirk deepened. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
The tension between them crackled like a live wire as they stepped out of the office.
This was going to be fun.
Isabel walked behind the captain as they exited the precinct, watching every sharp step and stiff-backed turn until the bright sun blinded her briefly.
The crisp morning air from earlier was now humid and inching towards sweltering with each passing hour.
Isabel pulled out her aviator sunnies, adjusting her eyes to the glare bouncing off all the car windows in front of her.
Victoria stood facing her on the edge of the sidewalk, arms crossed in front of her. She arched a brow. “Where’s your car?”
Isabel hesitated just a second too long.
Victoria’s smirk was instant. “Torres.”
Isabel sighed, slumping against the nearest wall. “It…decided this morning wasn’t worth showing up for.”
Victoria hummed, amused. “Ah. This that car trouble you mentioned?”
“Yeah, well, when you drive a car that’s older than some of the rookies at the precinct, things happen,” Isabel muttered. “Not everyone’s riding around in a department-issued luxury vehicle.”
Victoria’s lips quirked as she unlocked her sleek SUV with a quick press of the key fob, the headlights flashing in acknowledgment. She slid into the driver’s seat with practiced ease, adjusting the mirrors before glancing toward Isabel, who was taking her time buckling in.
Victoria’s quirked lips bloomed into a full smile as she started the engine. “Next time, try leaving for work before your alarm clock gives you a heart attack and maybe you’ll have time to fix that car and still get here on time.”
Isabel turned to face her fully, expression incredulous. “Did you just make a joke Captain Langley?” She drew out the name longer than necessary and continued, “A joke?”
Victoria put the car into reverse and backed out smoothly, her eyes fixed on the road. “Don’t get used to it.”
The corner of Isabel’s mouth lifted. “Too late.”
The tension in the car shifted, settling into something quieter. Heavier. For a moment, the only sound was the soft click of the turn signal and the hum of the engine as Victoria navigated toward the main road.
Isabel exhaled, rolling her shoulders, pushing past the lingering amusement. “All right. Here’s who I want to talk to first.”
Victoria’s gaze flicked to her briefly before returning to the road. “Go on.”
Returning to business talk, Isabel’s voice took on a more serious tone as she explained. “I have two potential suspects on the gala staff.”
Victoria’s eyes widened, but she remained silent. Isabel leaned back, stretching her legs slightly. “First, Kara Delaney. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, let me enlighten you.”
Pulling the files out of the bag she brought with her, Isabel held up Kara’s. “Her emergency contact? Her cousin - Veronica Delaney.”
Victoria sucked in a breath. “Veronica? As in Lily Harper’s ex-girlfriend?”
Isabel nodded, dropping the file in her lap. “Yep. More like crazy stalker ex-girlfriend.”
Victoria nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with the logic. Isabel grabbed the next file, waving it in the air like a trophy. Victoria eyed it briefly before turning her gaze back to the road ahead.
“And after Kara Delaney?”
Isabel opened the folder, beginning to pull out some papers as she replied, “Keene.”
Victoria’s gaze flicked to her, but no emotions crossed her race as she simply asked, “The caterer?”
“The broke caterer,” Isabel corrected. “The one drowning in debt who just happened to work the biggest event in the city and somehow didn’t notice anything.”
She let that sit for a beat. “I don’t buy it.”
Victoria sighed, fingers drumming against the steering wheel. “Desperate people don’t always think ahead.”
“Exactly,” Isabel said, watching her. “And desperate people break really easy under pressure.”
Victoria shot her a look, something unreadable passing through those ice-blue eyes. “That’s your plan? Lean on him until he cracks?”
Isabel smirked. “It’s not not my plan.”
Victoria exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Torres.”
Isabel relaxed into her seat, her smirk widening just a fraction.
She was looking forward to this.
The Phoenix Ridge Grand Hotel’s employee lounge was a sterile, windowless space tucked behind the main ballroom, a stark contrast to the glitz and glamour of the event space beyond its doors.
A vending machine hummed in the corner, and a half-empty pot of burnt coffee sat on a side table next to a stack of wrinkled employee handbooks.
Victoria and Isabel sat across from Kara Delaney, the young server who’d drawn Isabel’s suspicion earlier. Kara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, fingers twisting in her lap, her dark eyes darting between the two detectives.
“So,” Victoria said, her voice crisp, “why didn’t you mention the argument when officers first interviewed you?”
Kara swallowed, glancing down at her hands. “I—I didn’t think it mattered,” she admitted. “It wasn’t about Chloe. It was—” She hesitated.
“About Lily Harper?” Isabel guessed, watching Kara’s reaction closely.
Kara’s head snapped up. She gave a small, reluctant nod. “Yeah. But it wasn’t me. It was my cousin Veronica. She showed up at the gala.”
Victoria and Isabel exchanged a glance.
“Veronica Delaney was at the gala?” Victoria’s tone sharpened. “She was supposed to be keeping her distance.”
“She wasn’t there long,” Kara said quickly. “Security kicked her out after she tried to confront Lily.” She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “She’s…not doing great. Still bitter. I told her it was stupid to show up, but she didn’t listen.”
“Did she seem angry? Threatening?” Isabel pressed.
Kara hesitated, then shook her head. “No. Just… sad. Drunk, maybe. She was upset, but she wouldn’t hurt anyone. I swear.”
Isabel studied her, looking for cracks in her story, but all she saw was exhaustion and genuine concern.
She glanced at Victoria, who gave a subtle nod. They were thinking the same thing.
Veronica Delaney wasn’t their suspect.
Isabel leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly. “All right. If anything else comes to mind, you let us know.”
Kara nodded quickly, relief flashing across her face as she slumped in her chair.
As soon as they stepped into the hall, Victoria turned to Isabel. “That angle’s dead.”
Isabel nodded. “Yeah. Which means our caterer is looking a whole lot more interesting.”
Victoria smirked. “Good. Let’s turn up the heat.”
Daniel Keene sat stiffly in the metal chair, his arms crossed over his chest and his jaw clenched so tight the veins in his neck stood out. He was a man cornered, and he knew it.
“I already told the officers everything I know,” he said, his voice edged with frustration. “I was working the whole night. I didn’t see anything.”
Isabel leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “That’s interesting,” she mused, flipping through his file. “Because your financial records tell a different story.”
Keene’s fingers twitched.
“Bankruptcy filed four months ago,” Isabel continued, tapping the page. “Foreclosed home, maxed-out credit cards. But you land the biggest catering gig in the city, and what—suddenly, everything’s fine?”
Keene’s jaw twitched. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating—”
“I think you were paid to look the other way,” Isabel cut in smoothly, her voice turning sharp. “I think you were so deep in debt that when someone approached you with a way to make some quick cash, you took it.”
Keene scoffed, shaking his head, but sweat formed at his temple.
“You thought it was just a robbery,” Isabel continued, voice dropping slightly. “That’s what they told you, right? Just sneak in some equipment, give someone a uniform, and walk away.”
Keene’s breath hitched.
Victoria’s eyes flicked toward Isabel, recognizing the shift in his demeanor. She leaned in, pressing the advantage.
“But it wasn’t a robbery,” Victoria said, her voice ice-cold. “It was a kidnapping. And now you’re sitting in the middle of it.”
Keene’s hands clenched into fists on the table. “I—I didn’t know,” he stammered. “I swear to God, I didn’t know they were going to take her!”
Isabel sat back, crossing her arms. “Then help us fix it.”
Keene wiped a hand down his face, his breath coming fast. “I—I can set up a meet.”
Victoria and Isabel exchanged a glance.
“With whom?” Victoria demanded.
“I don’t know his real name,” Keene admitted. “But he’s the guy who paid me. I was supposed to get more when the job was done, but I haven’t heard from him. If I tell him there’s a problem with the payment, he’ll come to fix it.”
Victoria studied him for a long, silent moment before giving a sharp nod. “You set it up. And if this works, maybe we’ll talk immunity.”
Keene sagged in relief. Isabel smirked slightly as she closed the file. Now they were getting somewhere.