The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 297

The officers taking her statement exchanged hesitant looks. One of them finally said, "Ms. Joplin, given the massive value of the item, going through the formal judicial process will be incredibly complex. You'll have to come in for multiple statements, accompany us to the scene for reconstruction... it's going to eat up a lot of your personal time."

Lavinia didn't flinch. "I don't care. Take all the time you need."

She was determined to catch Sigrid by her metaphorical tail and completely crush her this time.

The officer tried again. "There was no actual material loss tonight. The suspect voluntarily returned the item, so... strictly speaking, this might not meet the legal threshold for grand larceny."

Lavinia instantly flared up. "At the exhibition, the appraiser publicly pointed out that the bangle in the display was a fake. Sigrid was standing right there! Why didn't she speak up and pull the real one out? Instead, she secretly hid it in her bag! If someone hadn't caught her red-handed, she would have walked right out the door with it. If that isn't theft, what is? The malicious intent is incredibly obvious!"

The officer sighed helplessly. "We can only investigate the hard facts, not inferences. And the fact is, she handed it back."

The other officer chimed in. "We deal with cases like this all the time. Even if it goes to court, it almost always ends in a private settlement. You'd be better off negotiating a hefty financial compensation right now while you have the upper hand."

Lavinia shook her head. "Even if she avoids prison time, can't she at least get a few days in holding for a misdemeanor public disturbance?"

Both officers rubbed their temples in unison. "Do you have a law degree? You've got an answer for everything."

"Knowing the law and using it to protect yourself is every citizen's duty," Lavinia replied smoothly.

The officers shared a defeated smile.

"The application of the law has strict guidelines; it's not that simple. If you don't believe us, consult your lawyer. We're just offering practical advice."

By the time Lavinia finished giving her statement and walked out, it was 2:00 AM.

She had pulled all-nighters for a week straight preparing for the exhibition, only to end the night in a police station.

Charley and Julian had already finished their statements and were waiting for her in the lobby.

Lavinia walked over to them, but before she could even say a word, the sound of frantic, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Garnett had arrived.

His face was pitch black as he demanded, "Who called the cops on Sigrid?"

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