The soup, she knew from a previous visit to Lydia, was delicious. And Stasi had remembered how much she’d liked it and had requested the palace chef prepare it to cheer her up. A rainbow of roasted peppers floated alongside olives and chunks of zucchini and beef in a savory broth. The aroma teased her nose, but Ruby’s stomach churned with anxiety. Kirk had insisted Galen join them for supper since they’d made plans to visit the studio later that evening, as soon as the investigation team called to say they were ready for them. Until then, they hashed out theories while Ruby sipped her soup and wished it wasn’t so difficult to swallow. She felt as though she’d betrayed her friend. Granted, she didn’t know why Luciano had singled her out as the best way to get his hands on the royal jewels. But he’d chosen her—gone after her specifically twice in a row. What did he think he would gain from grabbing her? Or was she, as her father had long ago suggested, the kind of person who was easily tricked into giving things away without knowing it?
