IMPERSONATION: CHAPTER II

IN CHAPTER I:

"Clara, hold on!" Isabelle, Clara Dawn's best friend, called to her. Clara had been out for some fun boating in a lake, but then a storm broke out, capsizing the boat! Clara wasn't an excellent swimmer. Actually, she didn't even know what swimming was! Slowly, Clara fell out of the boat, into the water. Isabelle jumped in, worried and determined to save her friend. "Clara! I am coming! Breathe normally, please!" Called Isabelle. Clara didn't answer but. "Oh no!" Her friend thought. 

But, when Isabelle looked closely, Clara's hand was above the water. Clara was desperately trying to call her friend, for help. Luckily, help came. Isabelle held her hand, pulled her, and they both slowly motioned to the shore. When they had reached the shore, Isabella tried to wake her friend. Clara opened her eyes groggily. "Clara! Are you okay?" Asked Isabelle. "Yes-I-I-am-ok-okay," Clara stammered. "Thank goodness!" Isabelle thanked. Clara Dawn slowly recovered, and she said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Isa. I could've been killed! After all, I don't know how to swim!"

"Don't be silly!" Isabelle laughed. The two girls stood up, eager to get home. Isabelle was an orphan, so she used to stay at Clara's house.

When Clara and Isabelle reached, a well-dressed person stood in the room. Isabelle knew him well, but Clara didn't recognize him. "Who is he?" Clara asked. "He is Monsieur McMurphy. He is French." Isabelle explained. "Sorry, but I still do not understand." Clara denied. "Hmm. Well, he is the owner of Dazzling Diamonds, the jewelry store. Now did you understand?" Isabelle asked. Clara nodded. She went inside. "Hello, Monsieur Murphy!" She greeted. "Salut!" He said in french. "Sorry, but I don't know French!" Clara said, laughing. "Hello, Ms. Dawn. Actually there's no time to chit-chat. Please give me the payment already,"

McMurphy told sternly. "What payment?" Clara asked, confused. "Yesterday you came at the store. You selected a gorgeous diamond bracelet worth a lakh. You told us that you'd give the payment the next day, which means today. We trusted you because we know you and your parents well." McMurphy told. "1 lakh! Sorry, sir. But I never purchase things that are so expensive! And, most important of all, I didn't come at your store yesterday! I don't even remember the last time I came there, sir." Clara explained. "You must've been mistaken,"

Murphy denied. "Clara is right," Isabelle came to defense. "Yesterday Clara didn't go anywhere. She was here, at her home." Clara nodded. "Oh, but then, who was the other Clara Dawn?" Monsieur McMurphy asked. "I get it," Clara began. "Someone is trying to impersonate me!" "Impersonate?" Isabelle repeated. "Okay, let's not get carried away. Clara, let's wait. If we face any problems in the same way, let's then assure ourselves that someone really is trying to impersonate you, dear." Isabelle suggested. Clara nodded. She was worried. Who, or why was carrying out this impersonation? 

THE SEQUEL; CHAPTER 2: 

Clara Dawn and her whole family including her best friend, Isabelle were really worried about the next step the impersonator might take. It was dangerous. Yes, Clara had impressed everyone by her great detective skills, but, somewhere, in Clara's mind, wild thoughts disturbed her. She thought, 'What if the imitator plans to ruin my reputation?!' 

Reputation is lovable to all. Clara was taken aback from her insane and wild thoughts by her mother, Annie Dawn. 

"My dear child. Please relax. Now, keep your hand over your heart and ask it with full faith if have you done anything wrong. I trust you." 

Clara obeyed the order. She placed her hand over her heart. Clara knew that she had not done anything wrong. So, she finally relaxed for a moment. "Aunty is right. Clara, we trust you. We believe that you haven't done anything wrong. And, as the world says, your good deeds will surely come to you in an amazing way! Relax, detective madam!" Isabelle said, smiling happily. 

Clara couldn't resist laughing. "Why don't you watch some Television?" Annie suggested. 

The young detective turned on the television. The news channel popped up on it. 

The trendiest headline flashed everywhere, and the news reader couldn't help but shout loudly, informing viewers about the news. Well, that news was shocking for Clara and her family. 

"Famous detective Clara Dawn accused of sending hateful comments on social media! Viewers are already disgusted by the act......." The news reader shouted. 

"What? I didn't do anything!" Clara was shocked. 

Then, thousand of messages popped on her mobile. Everyone was confronting her on chats. "Clara! What am I hearing on news channels!" "Didn't expect this type of behaviour from you!" 

Someone had sent her screenshots of the comment box of YouTube. It seemed as if Clara really had sent hateful comments. Well, Clara's impersonator to be exact. 

"We need to find this impersonator!" Clara was determined. Everyone was determined to find the young sleuth's impersonator. Actually, everyone had one question stuck in their minds: WHY, is the impersonator, first of all, trying to impersonate Clara? Is it Clara's enemy? Or who? 

Everyone was confused. 

"Hey! I got an idea! I'll ask my friend to send me the screenshot of the email I'd through which the account was made on my name, and then someone commented." Clara shouted. 

A moment later, the screenshot was sent. 

"But this is my email Id!" She said, looking around in confusion. "Clara, I think somebody is a traitor. I am sure you haven't shared your email password with anyone. Someone knew it, and he or she probably shared it with someone else! You've been betrayed, I bet!" Clara's dad, James Dawn said, putting his hand on his daughter's shoulder. 

Clara frowned at the moment. She quickly logged in. She checked her account activity. And, it was displayed on the screen that Clara had commented on YouTube on 3rd January. Someone had logged in! Perhaps Clara Dawn was betrayed. But, who is the traitor? 

"So I guess someone, who knew my password, shared it with someone else..." Clara said. "Exactly.. that's what I was trying to say...," James Dawn nodded. 

"Remember McMurphy told that my impersonator bought some jewelry? Let's go there!" Clara decided. "There are definitely some clues there!!" Annie Dawn told.

They reached the store as soon as possible. The owner, Monsieur McMurphy, greeted Clara. He asked her whether she had found out about the impersonator. Clara said no, and there was a look of sadness on McMurphy's face. "Where had you kept that bracelet that the fake Clara Dawn stole?" The real Clara asked. "It's here," He replied, pointing to a glass case. "Well, the impersonator said that she wanted some anklets too. We have kept display pieces of the anklets on the top floor. When I went to get one and show her, she and the bracelet had disappeared! And, you know the rest of the story, Clara." McMurphy explained the entire story.

*TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER III*