Lilah sighed and said, "Alright, tell me everything."

Effie nodded and divulged every intricate detail.

Upon hearing her account, Lilah latched onto a particular point. "Effie, you mentioned that Tess didn't head to the set until a crew member was about to call her. So she was running late, right?"

Effie nodded in agreement. "Yes."

The weight of this realization hadn't quite sunk in.

Lilah's gaze held a steely glint. "I'm going to talk to the props manager," she declared, her voice firm. “Don't worry, Effie. We'll get to the bottom of this."

"Thank you, Lilah," Effie murmured, her voice thick with gratitude.

Lilah offered a reassuring smile and exited the room. A policeman spotted her and greeted her with a friendly, "Miss Phillips."

Lilah nodded curtly. "Where can I find the props manager?" she inquired.

The policeman pointed in a direction. "Right there, actually. I can show you the way."

“Appreciate it," Lilah replied, a glint of determination in her eyes. This, she felt, was a crucial lead.

The officer led her to the designated interrogation room.

He opened the door with a nod. "He's inside."

Lilah entered, her gaze scanning the room until it landed on a man in his twenties perched on a chair. She approached him directly. The man's eyes widened in surprise. "Who are you?" he stammered.

Lilah took a seat opposite him. "I'm not here to cause trouble," she said frankly. "I can help you, but I need you to answer my questions honestly."

This, she knew, could be the key piece of evidence.

The man continued to stare at her, his voice laden with doubt. "Help me? You? After all this?"

Not only had he lost his job, but his reputation was also tarnished.

Lilah met his gaze steadily. "Yes, but only if you're truthful with me."

A flicker of hope ignited in the man's eyes. “Alright,” he conceded. "Ask away. Just promise you'll help me in return."

Lilah nodded. "First things first, did you tamper with the prop knife?"

The man shook his head vehemently. “Absolutely not! I wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a person. Besides, I haven't a single grudge against Tess. Why would I want to harm her or Effie?"

Lilah studied his face, searching for any sign of deception. Seeing none, she continued, “Alright, I believe you. Second question: when you were organizing the props this morning, did anyone visit your room?"

The man furrowed his brow in thought. “Tess came by," he recalled. "She wanted to confirm if the props were ready."