Victor: A federal agent? You've got to be kidding me!
Clara: Do I look like I'm joking, Mr. Vance?
Victor: That girl is a common street thief! She was crawling under the tables near the stage!
Maya: I was just looking for my puppy toy! I dropped it under the cloth!
Clara: Did you hear that? She was looking for a toy.
Victor: That doesn't explain why my experimental cardiac vial was found right next to her feet!
Clara: It was found next to your shoe, Victor. Not hers.
Victor: Are you accusing me of planting my own medical property?!
Clara: I'm saying you've been shouting accusations for five minutes without letting anyone look at the evidence.
Victor: The evidence is right there on the floor!
Victor pointed aggressively toward the black case, his voice echoing off the high ceilings of the ballroom.
Clara: Don't move a single inch. Security, step back right now.
Security Guard: Ma'am, Mr. Vance is the primary sponsor of this foundation gala.
Clara: I don't care if he owns the building. This is now an active crime scene under federal jurisdiction.
Victor: You can't just commandeer a private charity event!
Clara: Try me. Maya, stay right behind my back, okay?
Maya: Okay, Mommy...
The crowd gasped louder, realization washing over the wealthy donors in attendance.
Bystander 1: Wait, that's her daughter?
Bystander 2: Why would he accuse a federal investigator's daughter of stealing?
Victor: I didn't know she belonged to you! But that doesn't change the fact that the seal on that vial is broken!
Clara: Broken? Let me see that.
Clara pulled a pair of clear latex gloves from her pocket, snapping them over her hands with a sharp, professional sound.
Victor: Don't touch it! You'll contaminate the sample!
Clara: If I don't touch it, how can we verify if it's the actual trial drug or a fake?
Victor hesitated, his eyes darting toward the main exit doors near the lobby.
Victor: It's a high-potency compound! It requires specialized lab equipment to test!
Clara: Lucky for you, my mobile unit is parked right outside in the VIP lot.
Maya: Mommy, the man pushed me... he pushed me hard when I found the box.
Clara: What did you say, Maya?
Maya: He was holding the box under his coat. When he saw me, he dropped it and shoved me down.
Victor: She's lying! She's making up stories to cover her tracks!
Clara: My daughter doesn't lie, Victor. But you have three different offshore accounts under investigation for pharmaceutical smuggling.
Victor froze, his jaw tightening as the color completely drained from his face.
Victor: You... you've been tracking me?
Clara: Why do you think I came to this gala tonight, Victor? It wasn't for the champagne.