She hesitated.
Then:
“I saw her handling the bracelet.”
The officer waited.
“And?”
“She walked away.”
“Did you see her put it into her bag?”
The blonde’s confidence flickered.
“I saw enough.”
The officer’s expression changed.
“That wasn’t my question.”
The Black woman watched.
Good.
The officer turned toward the associate.
“Was the bracelet missing immediately after this woman handled it?”
“No.”
“You checked?”
“Yes.”
“Was it there?”
“Yes.”
The blonde interrupted:
“She could have come back.”
The officer raised his hand again.
“Ma’am.”
She stopped.
The officer looked toward the Black woman.
“Would you mind telling me what happened from your perspective?”
The blonde scoffed.
The officer glanced at her.
She went quiet.
The Black woman answered.
“I examined the bracelet with an associate.”
“I returned it.”
“I went shopping in another section.”
“I used a fitting room.”
“Then this woman demanded I open my handbag.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because she is a stranger.”
The officer nodded.
“Fair.”
The blonde rolled her eyes.
“She’s stalling.”
The Latina officer turned.
“Ma’am, if you continue interrupting, I’m going to ask you to wait outside.”
The blonde stared.
“I am the person who reported the theft.”
“And we are taking your report.”
The officer’s voice remained calm.
“That does not give you control of the investigation.”
The blonde’s face reddened.
The male officer looked toward the handbag.
“Ma’am, I’m not asking to search you yet.”
The chairwoman nodded.
“I appreciate that.”
“We need more information first.”
The blonde snapped:
“More information? The bracelet is in her bag.”
The officer looked toward her.
“How do you know?”
Silence.
The question landed differently this time.
The Black woman noticed.
So did the young associate.
The blonde recovered.
“Because where else would it be?”
The officer’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The blonde continued.
“She was the only suspicious person near it.”
The Black woman finally allowed emotion into her voice.
“Suspicious because of what?”
The blonde looked at her.
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“No.”
The Black woman stepped closer.
“Say it.”
The blonde hesitated.
“I mean the way you came in.”
“How did I come in?”
“Dressed like…”
She stopped.
The Black woman looked down at her silk blouse and emerald skirt.
Then up.