I stared at the bracelet in Mia's hand. Then I looked up at her face, which had closed completely whatever uncertainty had been living there was gone, replaced by something that was worse than anger. Worse because it had hurt underneath it, the particular expression of someone who had been betrayed by someone they trusted.
"Lia," I said, and my voice came out strange and far away. "I didn't put that there."
She said nothing.
"I'm telling you I don't know how that got there, but I did not take your bracelet. I didn't. Someone put it in my bag."
"Someone," she repeated, flatly.
"Yes." My voice was steadier now, something hardening in me. "Someone who knew exactly where to look and exactly what this would look like. Someone who wanted you to.." I stopped. I could hear how it sounded. I c
