“What does somebody who belongs in a store like this look like?”
Meredith inhaled sharply.
“Don’t make this about race.”
Simone had not mentioned race.
The silence became heavier.
Officer Keller shifted his weight.
Patrick looked toward the floor.
Simone watched all of them.
At thirty-three, she had spent much of her professional life walking into rooms where people formed conclusions before hearing her name. Sometimes the assumptions were about age. Sometimes gender. Sometimes race.
Eventually she learned that trying to manage everyone’s first impression was exhausting.
Better to watch what they did with it.
Keller held out his hand again.
“The dresses.”
Simone did not move.
“Why?”
“We need to establish what happened.”
“Then establish it.”
His jaw tightened.
“Hand me the merchandise.”
Simone remained still.
“If I refuse?”
“You may be detained until I determine whether an offense occurred.”
The word changed the room.
Detained.
Patrick finally stepped forward.
“Officer, maybe we don’t need to—”
Meredith turned on him.
“Why are you backing down?”
Patrick stopped.
Simone noticed the reaction immediately.
Meredith possessed no authority inside the boutique.
But she behaved as if she did.
More importantly, Patrick reacted as if she did.
Simone looked at him.
“Does Mrs. Sloan shop here frequently?”
Patrick hesitated.
“She is one of our platinum clients.”
Meredith lifted her chin slightly.
There it was.
A customer tier had somehow become social authority.
Simone already knew Meredith’s history from quarterly reporting. Roughly $210,000 spent over seven years. Several difficult service escalations. Multiple complimentary adjustments after complaints.
Nothing criminal.
Nothing extraordinary.
But enough money that employees had learned discomfort followed disagreement.
Keller reached toward the dresses.
Simone took one step back.
His expression changed immediately.
“Do not move away from me.”
She stopped.
Both hands visible.
“I stepped back because you reached toward me.”
“Toward store property.”
“Correct.”
“Then give it to me.”
Simone looked up at the ceiling camera.
Then back at him.
“Your body camera is recording?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
The officer looked annoyed.
“Why is that important?”
“Because I want a record of the answer when I ask again.”
She paused.
“What factual basis do you have for believing I committed theft?”
Keller’s patience broke.
“You don’t get to conduct this investigation.”
“No.”
Simone looked directly at him.
“But you are required to actually have one.”
A murmur moved through the store.
Meredith stepped closer.
“Just arrest her.”
Keller looked at her.
Meredith pointed toward Simone.
“She’s obviously trying to intimidate everyone.”
Simone almost laughed.
“By asking questions?”
“You’re deliberately making this difficult.”
“I am carrying three dresses.”
“You were heading toward the entrance.”
“I walked toward the window display.”
“With unpaid merchandise.”
“In my arms.”
Meredith’s voice rose.
“I called because somebody had to protect this store.”
Simone’s expression changed.
“From me?”
“Yes.”
Meredith hesitated.
Then repeated it.
“Yes.”
Simone looked at her for several seconds.
“You still believe you are protecting this business.”
“I spend more money here in a year than people like you probably—”
Meredith stopped.