“Because a mistake you made nearly became handcuffs on someone else.”
“That would have been the officer’s decision.”
Keller looked toward her sharply.
Now that consequences existed, Meredith had already begun distributing responsibility.
“I never told him to handcuff you.”
A man filming near the perfume counter spoke up.
“You absolutely did.”
Meredith turned.
“Stay out of this.”
He lowered his phone slightly.
“No.”
Simone raised her hand.
“Enough.”
Everyone became quiet.
She looked at Meredith.
“You may leave.”
Meredith blinked.
“You’re throwing me out?”
“For today.”
“You can’t punish me for reporting something.”
“I am asking you to leave because you repeatedly interfered with another shopper, accused her without evidence, continued escalating after management confirmed nothing was missing, and encouraged police action without any observed theft.”
Meredith stared at her.
Then remembered exactly who she was arguing with.
Her voice softened.
“This is humiliating.”
Simone’s expression did not change.
“Yes.”
Meredith looked stunned.
Simone continued.
“Now imagine nobody is coming down those stairs to tell everyone you matter.”
That ended it.
Meredith grabbed her handbag.
She walked toward the doors.
Before leaving, she turned toward Patrick.
“You let this happen.”
Patrick stared at her.
Simone almost laughed at the absurdity.
Everyone wanted someone else to own the moment.
The automatic doors closed behind Meredith.
Officer Keller asked to take Simone’s statement.
She agreed.
Upstairs.
In a private conference room.
The three dresses were finally placed on a table.
Only then did Simone realize how badly her arm hurt.
She had held them throughout the entire confrontation.
Keller sat opposite her.
Andrew remained at the far end.
Patrick waited outside.
The officer opened a notebook.
“Start from the beginning.”
Simone did.
She had entered shortly after one o’clock.
The visit was unannounced.
She was reviewing the customer experience and physical changes at the flagship before the holiday season.
Meredith approached about fifteen minutes later and asked whether Simone had an appointment.
Simone ignored the question.
Meredith followed her.
Then asked whether “somebody from staff knew she was back there.”
Simone continued shopping.
When she moved toward the front display, Meredith stepped between her and the entrance.
She demanded to see a receipt.
Simone explained she had not purchased anything yet.
Meredith called Patrick.
Instead of asking Simone what happened, Patrick asked her to leave the dresses with him while they “clarified the situation.”
Simone refused.
Meredith called police.
Keller arrived.
The officer wrote everything down.
When Simone finished, he leaned back.
“I want to clarify something.”
“Go ahead.”
“When I arrived, dispatch had classified the call as possible retail theft.”
“Based on whose statement?”
“The caller.”
“Meredith Sloan.”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone employed by the store tell you merchandise was missing?”
“No.”
“Did you ask?”
Keller paused.
“I asked whether the items were paid for.”
“That is not the same question.”
“No.”
The admission came quickly.
Simone continued.
“Did you ask whether I concealed merchandise?”
“No.”
“Whether I attempted to leave?”
“No.”
“Whether store security had observed theft?”
“No.”
Keller looked at his notebook.
Simone waited.
Finally, he said, “I started from the caller’s conclusion.”