The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 218

Noella nodded slightly. "Thanks for the assist, Galen."

"It's no trouble at all."

Sweat was beading on Terrell's forehead as he waited anxiously!

How could Ryder be taken away so easily? Most of the shady deals had Terrell's fingerprints all over them. If Ryder's wrongdoings were uncovered, Terrell knew he wouldn't stand a chance of getting away!

Just days ago, Terrell had visited Travis, who was now getting a taste of prison life. It was far from living; it was surviving. Lights blazed 24/7, sleep came in fits and starts under harsh fluorescent bulbs, and even a trip to the can was under the unblinking eye of surveillance cameras. No privacy, not even dignity, remained for those behind bars.

The mere thought sent shivers down Terrell's spine!

If Noella got wind of his part in these shenanigans, he'd be bunking with Travis soon enough.

Terrell swallowed hard, silently praying Galen wouldn't notice the tampering he had done to the instruments.

Noella stood aside, silently observing as Galen and his team of technicians were busy with their assessments.

Half an hour later, Galen peeled off his gloves.

"Ms. Schnabel, we need to take these samples back for a thorough analysis with our high-tech gear, but at first glance, none of these instruments were crafted by Master Rainer, and the inlays and carvings certainly weren't the handiwork of Master Sylvie."

Gritting his teeth, Terrell insisted, "Galen, could you take another look? How are they not Master Sylvie’s creations?"

Galen waved him off, his face a mask of reverence and seriousness. “Master Sylvie is my idol! I've studied every single one of her sculptures meticulously, and I can tell you, the pressure and technique used in these carvings are nothing like her signature style!"

Galen was dead serious, offended that someone would dare question his idol right before him!

Noella glanced at Galen, surprised. The owner of the appraisal center was a fan of hers?

Galen continued to point out several inconsistencies in the carvings on the instruments, minor details that only a true aficionado would notice.

Indeed, he was a fan.

Noella nodded in acknowledgment. "If they're all fakes, there's no need to send them for further appraisal. These instruments, mere antiques with no real value, are likely bought from some flea market to pass off as rare finds."

Realizing they were dealing with counterfeits, there was no sense in wasting more time on appraisals.

Terrell, clearly distressed, dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief. "Ms. Schnabel, the nephrite in these instruments is genuine. Even if the instruments aren't the work of Master Sylvie or Master Rainer, the nephrite alone is quite valuable. I was duped by Ryder. Just a single piece of the nephrite alone is worth two hundred thousand!"

Noella laid her hand on one of the nephrite pieces and, with a firm twist, removed it from the instrument.

Without the wooden backdrop, the stone's impurities were glaring under the bright light. It was the lowest quality of nephrite.

"Two hundred thousand? For that sum, I could get you a hundred thousand pieces just like it. I thought maybe two thousand was a fair estimate but seems I've overrated this trash and underestimated your nerve."

Terrell was stunned; he never expected Noella to physically dislodge the nephrite!

Even a novice could discern the quality of the stone. This piece of nephrite was coarse and grainy, the kind that wouldn't even turn heads in the jade market.

Noella raised an eyebrow at Terrell. "As the manager of a music store, conspiring with appraisers to cheat customers by flipping real for fake, buying low and selling high, and charging exorbitant fees for false certificates. Your city mansion was probably funded this way, wasn't it? The shop's salary can't afford you a Lamborghini, yet you boast three, all collectors' editions. Terrell, you and Travis truly are cut from the same cloth. I reckon you'll be sharing a cell soon enough."

Seeing the tide turning against him, Terrell backed away, defiant but desperate. "You... You're talking nonsense. I earned my money through hard work. I've been with this store for years, and not even Mr. Horwich could fire me. Don't you go too far!"