Isabel froze for a moment, her eyes flickering as she avoided Annabel''s gaze.


    Carole watched Isabel with obvious concern. Isabel was still too impulsive; it looked like she''d already given herself away.


    Isabel realized it too. She needed to take the initiative.


    "If that''s what you want to think, then there''s nothing more for me to say!" Isabel spun on her heel, ready to leave.


    Effie cut in, "Hold on. No one''s going anywhere until we find that diamond."


    Isabel narrowed her eyes at Effie. "You think I took it? I haven''t even used you yet, and you''re already pointing fingers at me?"


    Effie''s voice was calm. "I''m not using anyone in particr. But let''s be honest everyone here is a suspect."


    "Oh? So you''re saying Lyman is a suspect too? This is his ownpany''s property. Why would he steal from himself?"


    Isabel let out a coldugh. She fixed Effie with a hard stare. "You know exactly where youe from, Effie. If you need money, you could''ve asked me, or even the group, for a loan. No need to get your hands dirty."


    Effie replied, “Thanks for the offer, but I don''t think that will be necessary."


    Isabel hesitated for a split second. Effie sounded so sure of herself-did she know something?


    Effie continued, "I asked the photographer to show me the pictures from earlier. The earring was intact when you were wearing it. But right at the beginning of my shoot, the diamond was already missing. I was never out of anyone''s sight the whole time. So I couldn''t have done it."


    She paused, then added, "If anything, you''re looking a lot more suspicious."


    For a moment, Isabel was so stunned she couldn''t even speak.


    She finally managed, "That''s impossible. There''s no way the photos are that clear."


    Effie shrugged. "You didn''t know? Modern cameras have amazing resolution. You can zoom in dozens of times and still see every detail. And this one''s a professional camera."


    "I don''t believe it! Not unless you show me." Isabel held out her hand.


    Effie lifted the camera as if to hand it over, but just as Isabel reached for it, Effie pulled it back, leaving Isabel grasping at air.


    Isabel''s eyes darkened, sharp as knives. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    Effie arched an eyebrow. "What do You really think I''d


    s You really think I''d be


    enough to hand you thee


    so you could destroy it?"


    Effie''s tone turned steely. "Just be honest. Tell us what really


    happened. Otherwise, I''m calling the


    police. When they get here, you''ll


    have a hard time exining


    yourself."


    Just then, Carole suddenly piped up, "Oh! It was all just a e


    misunderstanding. I went back to the dressing room where Isabel changed earlier, and I found the diamond."


    She held up the diamond, and Isabel finally let out a breath she''d been holding.


    She shot Effie a murderous re, gritting her teeth. "Well? Care to exin yourself now?"


    Effie just smirked, her eyes full of mockery.


    "Why should I exin anything?" she replied. "You''re the one who was shouting ''thief'' the loudest."


    "I''m done with this," Isabel snapped, turning to leave.


    Effie called after her, "Not so fast. You broke the earring-someone''s gotta cover the repair bill, right?"


    "Who says I broke it? I have no idea what happened," Isabel insisted, sticking to her story.


    Effie shrugged. "That''s fine. I''ll just call the police. I''m sure they''ll agree it has nothing to do with the staff."


    "Fine! I''ll pay. Happy now?" Isabel''s eyes shed with anger.


    Just wait, she thought. If she couldn''t drag Effie down this time, she''d make sure


    to find another chance.