Paradise Crime Thrillers Box Set
Page 176
Childer looked her over as he took a seat, clearly surprised at her accent. “Delightful to encounter a fellow countryman in this place, and a cup of tea as well, Ms. Smithson.” He tugged a handkerchief from his front pocket and mopped his shiny forehead, pale eyes blinking rapidly. “Infernal Hawaii heat. I don’t know how you stand it.”
Sophie set a computer tablet, already loaded with the company’s intake forms and disclosures, at the man’s elbow. “Actually, I’m American and Thai, but educated in Europe.” She walked over to a glossy wood credenza and pushed a button. A coffee and tea service, along with the equipment for preparation, rose from within. Paula, her assistant, cleaned and stocked it daily, and all Sophie had to do was press a button to begin the water heating. “Do you take lemon or milk in your tea?”
“Milk and two sugars, please. Anything can be endured with a spot of tea, they say, but I’m afraid this is a most distressing situation.”
“You said diamonds are missing?” Sophie assembled the tea things on a tray.
“I’m manager of the Honolulu branch of Finewell’s Auction House, as I told you. Are you familiar with our company? We’re the premier auction house for luxury collectibles in the Western Hemisphere.”
That was a big claim to make, but Sophie nodded politely. “Please elaborate on how you came to have the diamonds, and what you know about their disappearance.”
“The stones are part of a family-owned set that is being auctioned off next weekend. They arrived at our vault and were authenticated upon arrival—all part of our protocol. We cannot vouch for something that is not truthfully represented.”
Once she had their cups prepared, Sophie arranged them on a tray and returned, setting the beverages down on the low table in front of the couch where Childer sat. She took a sleek modern armchair across from him and propped her own computer tablet on her knee, tapping to wake it up. She dosed her dark Thai tea with honey, and began inputting details for his case into a new file.
“This appears to be in order.” Childer stashed a pair of reading glasses in his breast pocket, and handed her back the intake information. Sophie scanned the forms as he lifted his teacup. He pursed pink lips and blew upon his tea, then took a sip. “Excellent, my dear. The set was received, verified as authentic, and stored in our secure vault. All was in order at that time; I watched a video of that process and signed off on it per usual.”
Sophie held up a hand. “I see, from this application, that you are hiring Security Solutions yourself. Not as a representative of Finewell’s.”
“Correct.” Childer’s cup rattled in its saucer as he set it down.
“I see. Please, go on.”
“It’s part of my role to oversee preparing the items for sale—photographing them for the publicity catalogs and whatnot. I went to the vault to pull the set for the photographer, and it was gone. I was most perturbed, but had the presence of mind to reschedule the photography shoot. I verified that the other items for that weekend’s auction were all accounted for. Only the diamonds had disappeared; the parure included a necklace, earrings, a ring, a bracelet, and even a hair clip. Assessed value was three million dollars.”
Sophie blinked at the cost. “Why didn’t you notify the police?”
“A theft from our supposedly secure location would be a great scandal. Terrible for the company, and catastrophic for me personally. That’s why I’m here on my own dime, as the Americans say.” Childer dabbed his mouth with a paper napkin. “I will, of course, disclose the theft if we are not able to reclaim the jewels by next Friday.”
“The sale is next Saturday, you said?” Sophie frowned. “Today is Thursday. Eight days is not long to find something like this. That’s cutting it close.”
“All I can ask is that you try.” Childer reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and removed a checkbook. “What do you require for a deposit?”
After the contracts were signed and funds exchanged, Childer pointed a plump finger at Sophie. “I researched whom to approach. I want you to work on this for me. I can’t have this case given to someone who won’t treat it with the sensitivity it deserves.”
“Mr. Childer.” Sophie set her tablet down. “I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’m CEO of Security Solutions. I no longer personally handle cases.”
“Please.” Childer placed his hands palm-to-palm and bowed a little in her direction. “I looked for the best private investigators and company available, and was delighted to find Security Solutions right here in Honolulu. I was even more impressed with you personally.” He ticked off her accomplishments on his fingers. “A trained ex-FBI agent with a background in tech. Inventor of the Data Analysis Victim Information Database crime solving software, and CEO of the top-ranked security company in the United States with a seventy-five percent case closure rate.” He gave her a frank once-over. “And a goddess in the flesh who makes a lovely cup of tea.”
Sophie smiled at the praise, and ducked her head. “That last part has little actual application to crime solving. I will have to run this by Kendall Bix, our President of Operations. He is in charge of case assignments.”
“But you’ll consider it? Tell me you will.”
“I’ll consider it. You’ve caught me at a vulnerable moment, Mr. Childer. I’ve been up to my eyebrows in quarterly reports. Who wouldn’t rather get into the field, while a clock is ticking, to solve the mystery of a set of missing diamonds?” She stood, smoothing sleek black pants made for movement, and braced herself to shake his damp hand again. “We’ll need to come in to review your video footage and see the scene of the crime, as it were. I’ll be in touch.”
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Toby’s Bookshelf
PARADISE CRIME SERIES
Paradise Crime Mysteries
Blood Orchids
Torch Ginger
Black Jasmine
Broken Ferns
Twisted Vine
Shattered Palms
Dark Lava
Fire Beach
Rip Tides
Bone Hook
Red Rain
Bitter Feast
Razor Rocks
Paradise Crime Mysteries Novella
Clipped Wings
Paradise Crime Mystery
Special Agent Marcella Scott
Stolen in Paradise
Paradies Crime Suspense Mysteries
Unsound
Paradise Crime Thrillers
Wired In
Wired Rogue
Wired Hard
Wired Dark
Wired Dawn
Wired Justice
Wired Secret
Wired Fear
Wired Courage
Wired Truth
ROMANCES
Toby Jane
The Somewhere Series
Somewhere on St. Thomas
Somewhere in the City
Somewhere in California
Somewhere in Wine Country
(Coming 2020)
Standalone
Somewhere on Maui
Co-Authored Romance Thrillers
The Scorch Series
Scorch Road
Cinder Road
Smoke Road
Burnt Road
Flame Road
Smolder Road
YOUNG ADULT
Standalone
Island Fire
NONFICTION
Memoir
Freckled
About the Author
Kirkus Reviews calls Neal's writing, "persistently riveting. Masterly."
Award-winning, USA Today bestselling social worker turned author Toby Neal grew up on the island of Kaua`i in Hawaii. Neal is a mental health therapist, a career that has informed the depth and complexity of the characters in her stor
ies. Neal's mysteries and thrillers explore the crimes and issues of Hawaii from the bottom of the ocean to the top of volcanoes. Fans call her stories, "Immersive, addicting, and the next best thing to being there."
Neal also pens romance under Toby Jane and writes memoir/nonfiction under TW Neal.
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