The Perfect Solitaire. Carmen Green

we did some checking and found out that not only was a three-carat pair of earrings, platinum cufflinks and a gold and diamond tennis bracelet stolen from your store, plus—”

      “Yes, I know, but—”

      “Let me finish. They haven’t turned up in any pawn shop, either, so they were stolen for personal use and can be on ice for a long time before someone decides the public has forgotten about them. Other items were stolen from another jewelry store seven miles from the mall.

      “A platinum-and-white-diamond tiara worth eighteen thousand dollars. Gold cuff bracelets are worth five, and unset diamonds wholesale for fifteen. You didn’t see this in the news because they aren’t insured. The owner didn’t want people coming around thinking his store was fair game.”

      The notion sent shivers down Zoe’s spine. “That’s crazy. Why weren’t they locked in a safe?” She didn’t realize she’d sat forward until she heard Ben speak in a confidential tone.

      “They were. The manager had just left and the silent alarm was tripped. She went back and was seriously injured. Her arm was broken.”

      “Oh. Well, hell.”

      “Yes, let’s continue.”

      “I assume they got away.”

      “Correct. It was never reported. The tiara wasn’t insured and never recovered, I’m afraid.”

      Cold fear struck Zoe in the chest. “All of my jewelry is insured, except I haven’t reported all the break-ins because I don’t want my premiums to skyrocket and I don’t want to lose my investment. I figured I could take the hit once. But this has happened three times. Hiring this firm is my Hail Mary.”

      “Then we take no chances. You do what I ask and we work together. Okay?”

      “Okay, but you have to understand, I have a business to run and this feels so overwhelming. I want to be able to have fun with my customers, and do shows, and loan out jewelry. That’s how Zoe’s got its name.”

      Ben hated bargainers, but he went along with it to appease Zoe and his brother. He’d deal with each incident as it arose. “Fine, but loaning jewelry to celebrities or politicians must be preapproved and only after a background check.”

      “Okay,” she finally agreed.

      “Well, it sounds like we’ll be working together. Welcome to Hood Investigations. We’re going to solve this problem, Zoe.” Rob stood, and shook her hand.

      “Thank you. I appreciate your time.”

      “You’re welcome. My next appointment will be here in a few moments. I’ll leave you in Ben’s capable hands.”

      She looked into her untouched water, her cheeks remembering the capability of Ben’s hands. “Of course. Take care, Rob.”

      The door closed, and Ben set down a fresh cup of water for her and a cup of coffee for himself.

      “Oh, no, thank you,” she said in a rush. “I brought a flash drive of our day-to-day schedule of operations. I expect you’ll want to do an in-store visit, maybe as a customer. You’ll be able to see things from your own perspective. Also, posing as a customer, the staff won’t know who you are and you can get a feel for them. I trust them implicitly, but that may be the problem. I have to get going. I’ve got a full day ahead. Here’s the drive. The schedule is on there, as well as the staff with photos. Signed confidentiality agreements are also included. I thought that would be helpful. And—” she opened her bag and pulled out the check she’d endorsed last night. “Your fee. I’ll see you later, I’m sure.”

      She got to the door, her hand on the knob. She’d never spoken so fast.

      “Zoe, come here.”

      His voice reached into her and took her places she’d not been since she’d been with him. The resonance offered assurances it didn’t have the right to give. He wasn’t her man and he wasn’t even commanding her, and her body felt like responding. But the yellow caution sign in her brain flashed bright.

      Her hand wouldn’t obey the command to open the door. “Sit down, Zoe. We need to discuss the ground rules when it comes to you and me.”

      “What? Why?” She laughed, but heard how grating it sounded and stopped. “There is no you and me.”

      “While we’re working together, this relationship has to remain professional at all times. I can’t and won’t sleep with you.”

      She sat down then. “That’s a little presumptuous since I didn’t ask you the first time. But that’s fine. Agreed.”

      “Good. Since that’s out of the way, I’ll have to know about all your lovers. You could be a target because of one of them. Or one of them could be using you. Names, addresses and phone numbers. If you’d be more comfortable, you can write it down yourself. But I’ll have to check them out. Personally.”

      Chapter 3

      “I have half a mind to take my check and walk out of here.”

      Zoe’s portfolio hit the table and her no-nonsense glare reminded him that she was a successful businesswoman for a reason. He’d more than struck a nerve. He’d plowed into the circuit board. Her eyebrows were raised and she looked as if she was about to ball up her fists and take the first swing.

      Ben rolled the pen through his fingers. “I’m not making any judgments.” Though he was. He wanted to know all of her business. Why she hadn’t called? Why hadn’t she returned his calls? If there was someone else keeping her warm at night. Life had an explanation for everything, and he could accept the explanation of being busy, but not another man. Not after their night together.

      “Ben, don’t lie. You’re definitely making judgments. I don’t sleep around, and the implication that I can’t control myself around you is ludicrous.”

      “I’m sorry I offended you.” The check was still between them on the table. Rob would kill him if Zoe’s check didn’t clear the bank because he’d allowed a personal matter to interfere with business. “It’s just that we have history. A short history, but it’s there, so I thought we should talk about it.”

      “There’s nothing between us, Ben. Not that I didn’t want it to be, but I need to get my new stores launched and established. And I don’t have time for a personal life right now.”

      Maybe he just had to accept that sex was all it had been to her. Glancing over the fuchsia dress that hugged her curves, he forced his mind back to winning the account he was presently losing. “I just didn’t want there to be a problem between us because I didn’t call you back.”

      “Hold on one second. I didn’t call you back.” Her eyes narrowed. “I get the reverse game going on here.” She shifted her hands from side to side. “I remember what you said that night at the party. ‘I allow the woman to set the pace of the relationship because I don’t want her to feel as if she’s being rushed into anything. She can call me after the first date,’ and I didn’t!”

      “You’re right, I did say that. I’m saying from this moment on, everything between us has to remain strictly business. At some point, I may be trying to save your life and I don’t want you second guessing me because of some history—like now.”

      Ben put the check in the folder and typed on a keyboard installed beneath the table where he sat. “You made the right decision calling us. We’re going to find out who’s robbing you and we’ll put an end to it.”

      The lights in the room dimmed.

      “There are six members of the Hood team. You need to know who they are by sight. There’s Rob and me. There is Hugh, my first cousin. He’s the camera-and-computer specialist. Zachary is my younger brother and the security expert. Then there is Amelia, known as Mel, and she’s part of Hood Trap Team and Alexandria, known as Xan, the head of Hood Trap Team.”