When I considered paying with a credit card or cash, two policemen blocked my way and said impolitely, âMiss, we have received a police report that you stole something from a jewelry shop. Please cooperate with our investigation.â
âWhat? Who called the police? How ridiculous! Can the informer talk to me face-to-face?â I was bewildered, for I only passed by the jewelry shop just now and didnât enter it. Although I always loved jewelry, it didnât mean that I had to buy and wear it. To me, jewelry was ostentatious but didnât serve any other purposes.
âMiss, please donât think of denying it with mere words. Allow us to inspect your handbag.â As one of the policemen got impatient, he stretched out his arm and wanted to grab my handbag directly.
I couldnât help but feel furious. As I handed over my handbag, I said disgruntledly, âGo ahead. However, remember to apologize if you canât find anything inside.â
I was confident that it was a mistake. However, once the policemen found two rubies, which were wrapped nicely, my face turned pale. I had no idea why there was jewelry in my handbag, for I had checked my belongings before I left the house.
âMiss, would you mind explaining?â One of the policemen put the rubies in his hands and awaited my response. They would bring me back to the police station if I couldnât explain myself.
Meanwhile, another policeman had already taken out a pair of handcuffs. Since I knew very little about the law, I wasnât sure if police officers had the right to handcuff me without ascertaining the truth. However, I could imagine how shameful I would be if they handcuffed me.
âHow is it possible? I never took these. Moreover, I didnât even enter the jewelry shop,â I yelled anxiously.
âMiss, please come with us to the police station,â One of the policemen said impatiently, âWe donât mind resorting to force if you refuse to cooperate with us.â
After cursing them silently, I bellowed, âI said I didnât take these. How can you hastily conclude your investigation? Besides, you donât even allow me to meet the informant. In that case, how would you know if Iâm framed?â
âYvonne, I suggest that you should admit to it. You see, the policemen have already found the stolen goods. Also, since many people are watching, denying it wonât help you in any way.â Yvette showed up out of nowhere and said to me maliciously. I couldnât help but feel that she was like a lingering ghost.
âMy goodness! How shameful! Who would have thought our family member stole things? Iâm sorry. This lady is my stepdaughter, and she loved stealing since she was young. Even though I used to teach her a lot of times, she is still pig-headed. So, itâs all my fault as a stepmother. Please forgive us. Sir, we are willing to cooperate with your investigation. Can we follow you to the police station as witnesses?â
Scarlett apologized to the people around them while smearing me. As such, I was infuriated upon hearing it. Also, I finally understood why they let me leave back then: they waited for this opportunity to set me up.
âThat will be great. Since youâre the wrongdoerâs family members, please come with us to the police station,â one of the policemen agreed.
âWait a minute!â I yelled. I definitely wouldnât go to the police station. Once I went to the police station, my name would make the headline tomorrow. Moreover, Yvette and Scarlett would grab the chance to defame me to the core.
At that moment, I was surprisingly calm. Perhaps because I was with Christopher for a long time, I became a lot more resourceful. As a crappy explanation flashed through my mind, I grabbed the rubies and said, âThe labels are attached with the rubies. If I were to steal, the anti-theft alarm would detect the items once I leave the counter. Anyway, I merely put them in my handbag and havenât paid at the counter. Therefore, wouldnât it be far-fetched to accuse me of stealing?â