Elena’s POV

The private room seemed to shrink as the police unpacked their testing kits.

What had once been a relaxed gathering of designers now buzzed with an undercurrent of anxiety.

People who usually argued passionately over gemstones and cuts were suddenly quiet, their curiosity poorly hidden behind stiff expressions.

Some leaned forward instinctively, craning their necks to see the officers’ hands. Others whispered behind their palms, eyes flicking back and forth as if afraid ...