Diamonds & Deception

by Ellen Butler

  Jillian made a crossing motion against her chest and held up two fingers. “Scout’s honor, I believe she didn’t do it.”

  “Girl Scouts use three fingers,” I muttered.

  She flipped up a third finger.

  I sighed. “Okay, we can make some inquiries.” Jillian reached for the door handle. “But not today. This Tazim guy will surely be around, and he knows you. Not to mention the police. We’ll go tomorrow.”

  “Good idea. When do you want to go?”

  “Let me see what time they close.” I started to do a web search of the hours on my phone.

  “Tyson’s closes at seven on Sundays,” Jillian supplied.

  I should have known my sister would be familiar with the mall’s hours. “I’ll pick you up at five.”

  “See you then.” Jillian and the cat exited. Smokey slipped out of her arms onto the passenger seat of her Hyundai sedan, and I waited for her to drive out of the complex before phoning Jessica again.

  “Karina Cardinal,” she answered. It sounded like a cocktail party going on in the background. “Hold on, let me get somewhere quiet.” The party sounds decreased and I heard a definitive thunk, as though Jessica closed a door. “What trouble are you into now?”

  “Why on earth do you assume I’m in trouble?”

  She snorted. “It happens.”

  “Well, as a matter of fact, I’ve got a new client for you.” I ran down the stats on Sadira’s arrest.

  “I’m out of town for the weekend, but I’ll have one of my associates meet with her and take care of the arraignment.”

  There was a burst of noise on Jessica’s end and a giggling girl’s voice said, “Oops, sorry. Didn’t know it was occupied.”

  “Where are you?” I asked.

  “Hamptons,” Jessica replied.

  “Lucky duck. How much do you think her bail will be for a crime like this?”

  “Not sure. Depends on the judge. If she’s got no priors, and they didn’t find anything at the apartment, she’s not violent. . . . They’ll probably set it at fifty thousand, but the judge might set it at one hundred—the price of the diamonds. That makes her bond ten grand. Do you think she’ll be able to afford it?”

  I considered all the designer tags in her closet. “Probably. Do you have a bail bondsman you use?”

  “We have a few.”

  “At minimum she’s got some property she could use for collateral.”

  “We’ll use one that can work with her situation.” Another burst of laughter filtered through the closed door.

  “I’ll let you get back to your party. Thanks for taking my call, Jessica.”

  “Anytime, Karina.”

  I disconnected and rolled out of the parking lot. Jillian seemed certain Sadira didn’t take the diamonds. However, her home, car, and lavish clothing seemed a bit much, even if she did make a commission on her jewelry sales. I wondered if she carried a lot of credit card debt. Jillian said Sadira had paid for her purchases today in cash. There was such a thing as cash advances for credit cards. Those advances had gotten a number of people into a world of financial trouble. I made a mental note to suggest Jessica look further into her new client’s finances.

  Chapter Five

  The downy clouds shifted overhead, blotting out the sun one moment and revealing it the next. A plastic bag blew past our feet, and I pulled wisps of hair out of my lipstick as Jillian and I hurried through the glass doors of the mall into the food court on the ground level. On the drive over, my sister explained her plan to approach the jewelry store and gain information. Since Tazim didn’t know me from Adam, I was in charge of recon while Jilly waited in a nearby store. If Tazim was on the floor, as I suspected he would be, my mission was to identify another coworker who we could approach after closing when he wasn’t around.

  “You mean stalk her?” I drawled.

  “No, not stalk! Accidentally bump into her after she leaves.”

  “And how do you propose we do this ‘accidental’ meeting?”

  “I haven’t gotten that far yet. Let’s just see what we see.” Jillian swished her hand dismissively.

  “Fine. I need something to drink before heading into the lion’s den.” I pulled my sister over to a Chinese chain and ordered two diet sodas.

  Sucking down the caffeine in hopes of obtaining motivation, I followed Jillian to the second floor, past dozens of glass window dressings designed to entice shoppers. The closer we got to the jewelry store, the louder my instincts bellowed that this was a bad idea. What I’d decided, but hadn’t told my sister, was if Tazim was the only one on the floor, the mission would be aborted. This entire harebrained scheme seemed ridiculous, and if I didn’t owe her one, I’d be home doing something useful with my time.

  On second thought, maybe I’d be stewing over my fight with Mike. I sighed as we passed the Victoria’s Secret and had to give Jillian credit—at least this little trip got me out of the house and my mind off my own troubles by focusing it on someone else’s.

  “Come in here, quick.” My sister abruptly pulled me into a shoe store.

  “What are we—oh . . .” I fingered a handsome navy-blue stiletto sandal that caught my eye. “Aren’t these adorable? I’ve got a polka dot dress that would be perfect with these.”

  “Put those down.” Jillian snatched the shoe out of my hand.

  “Hey,” I protested.

  “We’re not here to shop,” she hissed. “The jewelry store is diagonally across the way.” She made a jerking motion with her head and I glanced across the wide pedestrian avenue at the narrow entryway of the jewelry store. “I can’t see him, so you should go now. I’ll stay here and cover you.”

  I wasn’t sure my sister understood exactly what it meant to “cover” your partner, but I didn’t feel now was the time to point this out. Jillian seemed to be having too much fun with her covert op. “You might want to hide behind that stack of shoes over there,” I told her. “He may be behind that window display. Or if he comes out of the back room, he’ll be able to see you.”

  “Good idea.” She ducked behind the boxes and pretended to become engrossed with a pair of running shoes.

  Sighing, I trotted obediently across the avenue to the jewelry store. The front windows displayed some beautiful matching earring and necklace sets that were far beyond my means. After admiring a sapphire and diamond collection, I entered the store. Glass display cases to my left and right ran the length of the store, connected by a perpendicular case at the end, creating a U-shape. A small island featuring an array of watches stood in the center of the floor. The store appeared empty, not only of Tazim, but of anyone. I strolled over to a display of opal jewelry, and a movement from the back had me glancing up. A young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, approached me. I quickly assessed her. She was of average height, perhaps a little on the plump side, but she dressed nicely in a yellow dress that highlighted the golden tones of her dirty-blonde hair. As she came to a stop in front of me, her thin, gold nose ring glittered in the light reflecting off the glass counter.

  “Hello,” she said with a smile. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”

  “Not really, window shopping.” I sipped my soda. “Those are very pretty.” I pointed to a pair of opal earrings.

  She reached beneath the cabinet and pulled them out. “I love our opal jewelry, the variety of colors from blues to turquoise to green and white all melding together.”

  “Yeah, they make quite a splash, don’t they?” I held one up to get a closer look. “I understand they’re very soft though, and prone to cracking.”

  “They can, but it’s all in how you take care of your opals.”

  I returned the earring back to its black velvet holder. “I heard you all had some excitement yesterday.”

  The salesgirl shot me a wary look.

  Chewing on my drink straw, I asked in a confiding manner, “Do you think she did it?”

  Blondie replaced the earrings. “Have you seen our ru
by selection? We’re running a special this week, fifteen percent off.” She moved further down the display counter, closer to the door. She reached into the case and pulled out a tray of diamond and ruby bracelets.

  I followed dutifully, admiring the display. “Did you ever work with Sadira?”

  Her eyes widened at the mention of Sadira’s name. She picked up one of the bracelets and spread it across her palm. “Not here,” she murmured, keeping her eyes down.

  I took the bracelet off her hand, laid it across my wrist, and whispered, “You know something, don’t you?”

  “Are you a cop?”

  “No, just a friend of Sadira’s. She’s really scared,” I muttered.

  Her eyes darted to the back room doorway before answering. “Meet me at the T.G.I. Friday’s in an hour.”

  “Okay,” I said in a normal voice, handing the jewelry back to her. “Thanks, I’ll think about it. How long did you say the sale was running?”

  “Until Saturday.” She too spoke in louder tones.

  “Great.”

  “If you come back, ask for Misty.”

  “Sure thing, Misty.” I meandered out of the store and turned toward Macy’s.

  Jillian joined me. “Did you find out anything?”

  “We are meeting Misty at the T.G.I. Friday’s in an hour.” A trash can came up on the left, and I chucked my empty cup in it.

  “Does she know something?”

  “Dunno. She was hesitant to say anything. I think Tazim might have been in back.”

  “Hmm . . . interesting. What shall we do in the meantime?” Jillian’s cup followed mine.

  “Destination—Macy’s. I need to look for a new black belt.”

  An hour later, Jillian and I sat at a high-top table in the bar area at Friday’s. Jillian nursed a beer while I flicked salt off the rim of a very weak margarita.

  “She’s late.” Jillian restlessly shifted on her stool.

  “Give it time. Maybe closing is taking longer than she anticipated.”

  “What if she doesn’t show up?”

  “Then we’re no better or worse off than we were before.”

  Jillian scanned the room again. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

  “Then go.”

  “I don’t want to miss her.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh, for crying out loud, just go.”

  Jillian slid off the stool and hustled to the back of the restaurant.

  “Hi,” a voice chirped at my shoulder. Just like a watched pot—Misty arrived when we weren’t looking.

  “Hi, Misty.” I delivered the hearty greeting with a big, fake smile. “Have a seat.”

  “What would you like to drink?” The cocktail waitress placed a napkin in front of Misty, and she requested a beer.

  “Have you already ordered your dinner?” Misty asked after the waitress left.

  I shook my head and handed her a menu. “No, my sister and I were waiting for you to arrive.”

  She perused the options. “Gosh, I’m starving. I think I’ll get a hamburger.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Jillian spotted us from across the room and speed-walked her way back to our table. “Hi,” she waved, “I’m Jillian.”

  “Misty.” They shook hands. Misty turned back to me. “I didn’t get your name.”

  “Karina,” I supplied.

  The server arrived with Misty’s beer. “What can I get for you folks?”

  After ordering, we all took a drink and an awkward silence settled over the table. Jillian stared down, picking at her napkin, so I decided to get the ball rolling. “I appreciate you meeting with us. It seemed you had something to say back at the shop, but I suspect Tazim was nearby.”

  “Yeah.” She flipped her hair and let out a puff. “I don’t think Sadira stole those diamonds at all.”

  “Really?” My surprise was not false. “Who do you think stole them?”

  “Tazim.”

  “Tazim?” Jillian exclaimed. “But—he owns the store. Why would he steal from his own stock?”

  I took a stab at the answer. “For the insurance?”

  Misty clicked her tongue and pointed at me. “Ding-ding.”

  “Why would he need the insurance?” Jillian leaned forward on her elbows.

  “Tazim has a gambling problem.”

  “Really.” My sister rested so close she practically put her chin in my margarita.

  I shifted the drink out of danger. “Tell us more.”

  “He gambles at the MGM National Harbor. I can always tell when he’s winning because he bounces around the store, practically jubilant. But when he’s losing—” Misty made a thumbs-down motion. “He’s cranky and short with everyone. He won’t even go out front to talk with the customers because he’s in such a bad mood.”

  “How do you know this?” I asked.

  “Last year he had to take on a silent partner. I’ve only seen him in the store a few times. His name is Vijay. One day about a year ago, I came in early. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there, but to my surprise the gate was up, so I walked in. I could hear them arguing in the back, so I eavesdropped.” Misty winked. “Vijay was chewing Tazim out. I remember him telling Tazim that he wouldn’t be there if Tazim could control his gambling habit. But now that Vijay was there, Tazim had better straighten up. Vijay said he was bringing in a third party to go through the books and take a full inventory, and everything’d better be in order and stay that way.”

  Jillian sat back in her chair with a triumphant grin on her face. “How did you know Tazim gambles at the MGM?”

  Misty lifted a shoulder. “A few months before Vijay came on, Tazim asked me if I knew how to get to the MGM. I told him I did, and also told him the best place to park. He wrote it all down. You see, at that time, I dated a guy who worked the craps tables. He said he saw Tazim a number of times. Apparently, he even played in the high rollers room. After Vijay came on, things changed, Tazim was never late to the store, paid attention to the customers, the black moods vanished. My boyfriend said he didn’t see Tazim anymore.”

  “Then how do you know he’s still gambling? Has your friend seen him recently?” I asked.

  “We broke up.” Misty shrugged. “Tazim’s gambling is a hunch. The black moods returned a few weeks ago. He’s been snappish, ordering the staff to do things rather than asking, and he’s barely been out front to meet potential customers. The last shift I worked before today was Wednesday. Today, I see Tazim. He’s got a cast on his arm and Sadira’s been accused of stealing a bunch of diamonds. It doesn’t take an Einstein to put two-and-two together. You want to know what I think?”

  Jillian and I nodded.

  Misty put her arm on the table and leaned forward. “I think he’s been gambling. And I bet he lost a bundle. Panicked. Went to a loan shark thinking he could win back his money—but we all know what happens when you go down that rabbit hole.” She tsked. “Stupid. I’d wager the loan is due, and whomever lent him money sent in some muscle to rough up Tazim. That’s what happened to his arm.” She tapped her temple with a black painted fingernail.

  I sat back, contemplating my watery margarita. “Did the police come by to speak with you today?”

  “Yup.”

  “And you told them all of this?” Jillian asked.

  Misty’s head moved side-to-side. “It’s just my guess.”

  I swallowed the last of the margarita. “But the conversation you heard between Vijay and Tazim. You told them about that?”

  “Nope.” She sat back and sipped her beer. “They never asked. It was all about Sadira. Sadira this, Sadira that. How long had I worked with her? When was the last time I worked with her? What did I know about the diamonds? Were they there when I worked on Wednesday? You know, that sort of stuff.”

  Jillian grabbed my thigh and shot me a wide-eyed look. She’d been right about the police simply seeking to hang the theft around Sadira’s neck without investigating further.

  I pushed Jillian’s h
and away and asked Misty, “Has the insurance adjustor been in yet?”

  “Not yet.” Misty drew lines in the condensation on her glass. “Tazim told Vijay that the adjustor would be in on Monday.”

  “So you saw Vijay today?” Jillian asked.

  “Yeah, he came in to talk to the detective. And I’ll tell you what—I’m not sure Vijay is buying Tazim’s story either.” Her eyebrows waggled at the declaration.

  “Why do you think that?” I took the bait.

  “The way he watched Tazim as he spoke to the detective. His eyes were kind of narrowed and he scrutinized his partner as one would a bug beneath a microscope lens.” Misty demonstrated, squinting her eyes and crumpling her face. “After the detective left, Vijay told me to man the front while he and Tazim disappeared for an hour in back. Let’s just say, Vijay did not look happy when he finally left. A little while later, Tazim came out and told me he needed me to work Monika’s shifts the rest of the week.”

  Our waitress arrived with our meals. Jillian helped sort the dishes to the appropriate person, and after assuring her that we had everything we needed, the server retreated.

  “So, he fired Monika,” I said, returning to our discussion.

  “Yeah.” Misty munched on a fry. “If she really did give Sadira her code to the safe—that is totally a fire-able offense. It’s, like, store policy 101. You don’t share any passwords, safe codes, or cash register logins. Monika should have closed the shop. There are all sorts of insurance ramifications for what she did. And if the diamonds don’t turn up, I bet they could prosecute her too.”

  Jillian gasped. “That’s terrible.”

  Misty shrugged and bit into her hamburger.

  “Why do you think he took the loose diamonds rather than a necklace or fancy bracelet?” Jillian asked, absentmindedly spearing a piece of chicken with her fork.

  “Easier to fence. Each piece in that store has been photographed and would be identifiable.”

  I swallowed a mouthful of rice pilaf and asked, “But haven’t the diamonds been photographed and identified by the four C’s?”

  “Yes. However, it’s not like they’ve been marked in any other way. Without paperwork, it’s just another diamond.”