Page 11 of Under Her Command

“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 wasat 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 werepaidto look the other way,” Isabel cut in smoothly, her voice turning sharp. “I think you were so deep indebt 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 itwasn’ta 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.”