Read Online Hard As Ice (Fortis Series 1) by Raven Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Raven Scott
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week.”
“And Matt Flannigan? He was the security guard on shift Monday night,” Michael stated, and Nia swallowed. “I’ll assume you’ve seen the news? He was shot to death yesterday. What do you know about him?”
“Not much, really. He was here before me, also. But, he used to have the day shift until a couple of weeks ago,” she told him.
“Do you know why he changed shifts?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I got the sense from Emma that it was for something personal,” Nia explained. “Something about his girlfriend, I think? I’m sure Chris will know the reason.”
Michael nodded as he sat back down in his chair.
“I think we both know Matt Flannigan was involved in the robbery, and was killed for his efforts,” Michael said in a silky voice. “Did you work with him to steal the jewels?”
“No!” Nia immediately replied.
“Did you give him the security code to the safe?”
“No! I had nothing to do with any of it!” she insisted.
“Well, someone gave the safe code to either Flannigan or another party. Who could have done that other than you?”
Nia couldn’t answer. What else could add to her defense? Without proof, it was fruitless.
“I don’t know who it was, but it certainly was not me,” she finally told him, her throat tight with anger, fear, and frustration.
“Okay, Ms. James. We only have a couple more questions for you. Let’s start with last Friday when Edward changed the security code and gave it to you.”
Nia went through the details that she was certain Edward has also provided.
The password administration for their digital safe was managed through a secure cloud solution, with a private key encryption code and digital signature validation. It allowed Edward to remotely generate a unique access code to the safe remotely. That Friday, Edward was in town, and gave Nia the new code verbally in her office. She memorized it, with nothing written down anywhere. That was their protocol, though they had only employed it twice in the last eleven months.
Then, Michael asked her to walk them through everything that happened from the time she woke up on Tuesday morning, through opening the empty safe just before noon. There was nothing significant that she could provide.
By the time the interview ended, Nia was exhausted and it was only eleven o’clock in the morning. But at least it was over. As she walked away from the two imposing investigators, Nia felt conflicted emotions of relief and anxiety. While they obviously didn’t have enough to prove to Edward that she was involved, it was clear they thought she knew more than she was saying. Nia was smart enough to know someone at Worthington had something to do with the robbery. Her own history had proved the best person to pin something on was often the easiest, whether it was the truth or not. And, once again, all the fingers were pointed at her
Chapter 5
“She’s definitely hiding something,” Michael stated.
Evan looked at Raymond, and the other man shrugged ambivalently.
Michael and Raymond were back from their interviews with select Worthington employees, and had just debriefed the team in the control room. Other than Nia James, everyone at the gallery was told they were going through a professional review of their security system and protocols.
“Why?” asked Evan.
“She’s cagey, walled off. It was odd,” explained Michael. “Particularly about the other people at Worthington. Getting even the smallest detail was like pulling teeth. And she got pretty defensive when I pushed a little.”
“You think she knows more than she’s saying?” Evan probed.
“No doubt. I just can’t say what or who about,” Michael admitted. “When we asked about everything else to do with the robbery, she was calm, articulate, and responsive. Even while showing concern about the situation and her exposure as the likely suspect. But as soon as we mentioned the other employees, she clammed up.”
“Too calm at
“And Matt Flannigan? He was the security guard on shift Monday night,” Michael stated, and Nia swallowed. “I’ll assume you’ve seen the news? He was shot to death yesterday. What do you know about him?”
“Not much, really. He was here before me, also. But, he used to have the day shift until a couple of weeks ago,” she told him.
“Do you know why he changed shifts?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I got the sense from Emma that it was for something personal,” Nia explained. “Something about his girlfriend, I think? I’m sure Chris will know the reason.”
Michael nodded as he sat back down in his chair.
“I think we both know Matt Flannigan was involved in the robbery, and was killed for his efforts,” Michael said in a silky voice. “Did you work with him to steal the jewels?”
“No!” Nia immediately replied.
“Did you give him the security code to the safe?”
“No! I had nothing to do with any of it!” she insisted.
“Well, someone gave the safe code to either Flannigan or another party. Who could have done that other than you?”
Nia couldn’t answer. What else could add to her defense? Without proof, it was fruitless.
“I don’t know who it was, but it certainly was not me,” she finally told him, her throat tight with anger, fear, and frustration.
“Okay, Ms. James. We only have a couple more questions for you. Let’s start with last Friday when Edward changed the security code and gave it to you.”
Nia went through the details that she was certain Edward has also provided.
The password administration for their digital safe was managed through a secure cloud solution, with a private key encryption code and digital signature validation. It allowed Edward to remotely generate a unique access code to the safe remotely. That Friday, Edward was in town, and gave Nia the new code verbally in her office. She memorized it, with nothing written down anywhere. That was their protocol, though they had only employed it twice in the last eleven months.
Then, Michael asked her to walk them through everything that happened from the time she woke up on Tuesday morning, through opening the empty safe just before noon. There was nothing significant that she could provide.
By the time the interview ended, Nia was exhausted and it was only eleven o’clock in the morning. But at least it was over. As she walked away from the two imposing investigators, Nia felt conflicted emotions of relief and anxiety. While they obviously didn’t have enough to prove to Edward that she was involved, it was clear they thought she knew more than she was saying. Nia was smart enough to know someone at Worthington had something to do with the robbery. Her own history had proved the best person to pin something on was often the easiest, whether it was the truth or not. And, once again, all the fingers were pointed at her
Chapter 5
“She’s definitely hiding something,” Michael stated.
Evan looked at Raymond, and the other man shrugged ambivalently.
Michael and Raymond were back from their interviews with select Worthington employees, and had just debriefed the team in the control room. Other than Nia James, everyone at the gallery was told they were going through a professional review of their security system and protocols.
“Why?” asked Evan.
“She’s cagey, walled off. It was odd,” explained Michael. “Particularly about the other people at Worthington. Getting even the smallest detail was like pulling teeth. And she got pretty defensive when I pushed a little.”
“You think she knows more than she’s saying?” Evan probed.
“No doubt. I just can’t say what or who about,” Michael admitted. “When we asked about everything else to do with the robbery, she was calm, articulate, and responsive. Even while showing concern about the situation and her exposure as the likely suspect. But as soon as we mentioned the other employees, she clammed up.”
“Too calm at
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