Page 18 of Fatal Betrayal

"I don't know if that's true. And I told you why you needed to talk to her in the first place. Remember?"

She frowned as she munched on her sandwich. He had a point. She just didn't like it. "All right, you gave Jillian a motive. That was helpful. But now you're done."

"I'm just getting started. I'm part of Neil's circle. I'm on the inside. You need me."

"I don't need you, and the kidnapper may have nothing to do with Neil's circle."

"Really? You don't think whoever did this is connected to Neil?"

"I didn't say that." She paused. "But since we're on the topic of Neil, do you think he would have a motive to hire someone to kidnap his daughter?"

His gaze widened. "No. There's no way that happened."

"But he was here meeting with Jillian, someone who doesn't like him, and who was near his house this morning, when he should have been at home with his terrified wife. His actions today make little sense. He also told us he came here because he didn't know if Jillian had something to do with the kidnapping or not. It's as if he wanted to keep suspicion on her. And she was shocked when he said that. She looked betrayed."

Cooper frowned. "I think you're reading a lot into what he said and how she looked. But why don't I call Neil and ask him more about the meeting? If he doesn't know you're with me, he might be less guarded."

"All right. I'd be curious to see what he says. But not here. Let's go to the car."

They discarded their trash and headed back to the SUV.

"Put it on speaker," she told Cooper as he pulled out his phone. After you ask him about Jillian, find out if he has any suspicions about the nanny that he didn't express to me."

Cooper gave her a smug look. "So I am proving to be useful. Anything else?"

"Don't tell him you're with me."

"I know what to do, Andi."

"But can you do it?" she challenged. "If Neil implicates himself, can you keep him talking? Or will you worry about him being falsely accused?"

His lips tightened at her words. "My only goal is to find Elisa. I'll do whatever that takes." He punched in a number and a moment later, Neil answered with a flurry of words.

"Do you know anything? Has the FBI gotten a lead on Elisa?" Neil asked.

"Not yet," Cooper replied.

"Are you still with Agent Hart?"

"No," Cooper lied. "Are you home?"

"Yes. And there's still no ransom demand. I'm going crazy. Claire can barely speak. This is my worst nightmare."

Every word that came out of Neil's mouth seemed genuine. She could hear his panic, his fear, but neither of those emotions matched his recent actions.

"What were you doing with Jillian?" Cooper asked.

"She texted me when I was at the gym this morning that she had to see me, that it was urgent, and I would regret it if I didn't come. After Elisa was taken, I had this terrible feeling that maybe Jillian was behind it. I had to meet her so I could find out. But you heard what she told me. She was shocked to hear about Elisa and denied having anything to do with it."

"Do you believe she was at Larry's ex-wife's house this morning?"

"I do. You heard her. Jillian is trying to gather a group of women together to take my company down because she has a grudge against Larry. But honestly, I don't know what she's capable of. She could be a pathological liar. Larry claims he did nothing to harass her." He blew out a breath. "What has the FBI come up with?"

"Not much," he said. "Is there anything else you can tell me? I'm trying to help, but they're not giving me a lot, and I need more information."

"I told you to stay close to them, Cooper. I need you to do that for me."

"I am. But they don't let me into every meeting. Tell me about Kristine. Where is she now? Has she told you anything else that she might not have told the police?"

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