Hard As Ice (Fortis Series 1) by Raven Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

colleague, Raymond Blunt. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us.”
    Nia shook both their hands, but remained silent. Though they both seemed professional and cordial, she knew better than to relax. These men were hired to find professional thieves and millions of dollars in jewelry, and they needed to do it fast. Like Edward had reminded her, they were going to take the straightest path to the truth, and unfortunately she was directly in their sight lines and could easily get run over in the process.
    “Have a seat, Ms. James, and we’ll get started,” added Raymond.
    She did as he offered, choosing the seat at the head of the table. Raymond sat in the chair to her right, and Michael remained standing behind him.
    “Has Mr. Worthington explained the purpose of this meeting?” Michael asked.
    “Yes, of course. It’s regarding the robbery,” she replied, glancing back and forth between them. While Michael looked to be taking the lead on the interview, he seemed like the younger of the two. He had a rich, deep brown skin tone and clean-cut appearance, while his partner was in his early thirties, with fair skin, and long, dark blond hair and goatee, in a more rugged look.
    “That’s right, ma’am. In order to find the stolen items, we need to determine how the facilities and safe were accessed,” continued Michael.
    Nia nodded.
    “I understand,” she stated.
    “Good. Then let’s get started,” he replied. “You are the managing director, correct? The sales team reports to you?”
    “Yes.”
    “So you are familiar with each of the items that were stolen, correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Can you go through the list provided and tell us who was responsible for each of the accounts?” Michael asked, while Raymond removed a sheet of paper from a folder and slid it in front of her.
    “I’m sure I could, but I already provided all the information to Edward two days ago,” Nia replied, recognizing the document she herself had created right after finding the safe empty. “It’s all right there.”
    “Yes, but we’d like to reconfirm all the details from the very beginning. So let’s review each of the nine items one by one.”
    Nia nodded again, but wondered at their tactics. Was it an attempt to shake her with seemingly minor questions? Or did they know something she didn’t, and were testing her honesty? Whatever their strategy, it wouldn’t work. She had nothing to do with the robbery, so none of their evidence could possibly lead back to her. Could it?
    She took her time going through each piece of jewelry, confirming the sales manager and client, including the particulars of the contract to sell the piece in the August auction.
    “The Crimson Amazon necklace was mine,” Nia stated when they reached the bottom of the list. “I mean, it’s my client.”
    “Is that common in your role? Do you do a lot of sales?” asked Michael, while Raymond continued to take notes.
    “I carry a sales quota like the rest of the team, plus responsibility for our overall sales target,” she explained. “So I will often bring in my own clients.”
    “So tell us about the seller. A Mrs. Aubrey Niknam?”
    “Yes. I met her at another jewelry auction about a year ago. She’s been slowly liquidating her assets after a divorce. The Crimson Amazon necklace was her prized possession. But based on the unfavorable terms of her divorce agreement, she couldn’t afford not to sell it. So she approached me earlier in the spring.”
    “How did she get it? Mr. Worthington mentioned that it had an interesting history?”
    “Well, it’s a known stone. Red diamonds are very rare, certainly ones that size. The Crimson Amazon was mined in Brazil in 1936 by the DeWeer mining company. It was 23.4 carats uncut, the third largest ever found in the world,” explained Nia. She had seen pictures in her gemology books.
    “Wow,” Michael replied, sitting back in his chair. “How did Mrs. Niknam acquire it?”
    In her comfort zone,