Page 66 of Fatal Betrayal

"I know they met in their twenties. Shana was an actress. Neil was writing a screenplay. They were both moonlighting as servers in a restaurant. Together, they pitched one of Neil's scripts to a production company. It almost got into development before being scrapped. But from that venture, they made valuable connections and ended up getting a backer and taking the project to market themselves. The film was a modest success and brought them enough funding to do other projects. They spent the next thirteen years together as husband and wife and business partners."

"Maybe that was too much togetherness," Andi said dryly. "Was Neil cheating on Shana with Claire?"

"I don't know. He told me that he met Claire after he and Shana separated, but they weren't divorced yet."

"I wonder why Neil decided to have kids with Claire when he didn't want them with Shana."

"He was just at a different point in his life. When he was with Shana, they were working a lot, traveling for productions. He told me it just didn't make sense. But when he got together with Claire, his feelings changed. Plus, Claire really wanted a baby, and he really wanted Claire."

"He wanted to make Claire happy but didn't feel the same way about Shana."

"Maybe, but no one knows what goes on inside a relationship besides the two people involved, and we're here based on an anonymous tip, which could be completely wrong."

"You're right. I'm just considering motivations."

He jumped to his feet as Shana entered the lobby. Shana had a much different look than the blonde and waifish Claire. Shana was tall and fit, with dark hair and olive skin. An energy radiated off her.

"Hello, Cooper," she said, then turned to Andi. "I understand you're from the FBI. I assume this has something to do with Neil's daughter?"

"Yes," Andi replied. "I'm Agent Hart. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

"Let's go into the conference room." Shana led them into a nearby room with a long table and a dozen chairs and closed the door. As they sat down at the table, she added, "I don't know what I can tell you, but if you have questions, fire away."

"Do you know anyone who would have a grudge against Neil, who would use his daughter as leverage?" Andi asked.

Shana gave her a direct look. "Are you talking about me? Do you want to know if I have a grudge against Neil and if I'd kidnap his daughter to somehow punish him or hurt him? Is that what you really want to know?"

"I'd be happy to hear your answer to any of those questions," Andi said evenly.

"Look, Neil and I had a bad ending. We started out wanting the same things and ended up with dreams that were far apart."

"Did you want a child with Neil?" Andi asked.

Shana didn't even flinch. "Yes, I did. I wanted a family. Neil kept putting me off. It wasn't the right time. There was a new production about to start. We had business trips somewhere, but, clearly, he just didn't want to have a baby with me. He felt differently after he married Claire. That hurt. But Neil was and is a selfish person. He wanted what he wanted when he wanted it. I'm sorry their baby has been taken. I certainly didn't do it, and I have no idea who else could be involved. Neil can piss people off, but I can't imagine why someone would take his child. I assume it must be about money. Neil's last two films have been very successful. Maybe someone wanted a piece of that." Shana frowned. "And, no, I'm not that someone. I'm doing fine on my own. I actually prefer not having to answer to Neil. We started together, but at some point, he thought he was in charge. Now, I call all the shots."

Cooper couldn't help but admire Shana's direct candor. It was refreshing, and it felt remarkably honest.

"What can you tell me about Larry Friedman and his problems with women?" Andi asked, changing the direction of their discussion.

"How much time do you have?" Shana asked cynically. "Larry is a pig. He's a known harasser and predator, and while no one has come out and called him a rapist, I would not say that is out of the question."

"I understand Jillian Markham is trying to get some accusers together."

"She reached out to me, but the truth is I didn't work a lot with Larry. His partnership with Neil didn't start until after we divorced."

"Neil's defense of Larry seems to have made Ms. Markham very angry," Andi said.

Shana tilted her head. "You think she would kidnap Neil's child because Neil is defending Larry? That's ridiculous. Although, she might have done something stupid because I think she's crazy in love with Neil."

"Did she tell you that?" Cooper asked in surprise.

"Of course not. But she said they hooked up, and I believe her, but Neil has never been a faithful person." Shana gave him a questioning look. "What's your involvement in all this, Cooper? I thought you hated the FBI."

"Neil asked me to make sure everything that needed to be done was being done."

"So you're looking over Agent Hart's shoulder." She looked at Andi. "You must love that."

"Dr. Bradford has actually been helpful," Andi said, shocking him with her words. "Is there anyone else you can think of, Shana, that would go after Neil in this way, because it feels very personal. Whoever took Elisa knew the layout of the house, how to get in and out without anyone seeing them."

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