Fortunately, another big-name star was walking down the street and the herd of independent photographers moved toward him. Some remained and continued to snap pictures. When they entered the Michael Kors boutique, Emma tugged her to the row of suits. “I think you’ll like it here.”
Gabby had a feeling she would too. It wasn’t as pricey as the other designer brands, but it was modern and sophisticated in its simplicity.
Declan and Levi waited on the couches at the entrance, flipping through their phones, maybe catching up on emails. She quickly checked hers but there were no messages from Kelso.
Theo and Emma were conferring on one of the suits and Gabby was secretly amused. She looked back at Declan who was watching them, and he gave her a two-thumbs up.
Gabby shook her head and mimed strangling her neck. Declan smiled and she returned her attention to the teenagers before they got carried away trying to dress her up.
It wasn’t all that bad, and if Gabby were honest, she liked each suit the sales associate brought to her to try as selected by her brother … son … shit, her brain did the double stutter, and she decided to refer to him as her brother for now so she wouldn’t slip before she was ready. This idea that Theo was making an effort to take care of her? She liked that and she got it.
The price tags were as she expected as she went inside a fitting room. She found herself not minding dipping into her emergency fund to cover the purchase which would probably amount to twenty thousand by the time she was done. Still, she wasn’t wearing these suits to chase a suspect or when she knew she was doing field work. And it wasn’t because it would get dirty or ruined. She didn’t want people intimidated by what she wore when she had to interview a vic or a witness. She’d known a couple of homeless people who used to live in Beverly Hills. Drugs and gambling were a fast track to the soup kitchen. And, homeless or not, they’d never forget pawning off a prized Chanel bag to pay off an addiction.
After several changes of suits and doing a mock fashion show for Theo and Emma, Gabby was relieved that the two were satisfied with her selections. Three trouser suits, four button-down shirts, and why wasn’t she surprised to see shoe boxes waiting for her to fit?
“I’m not wearing heels,” she said before anyone could say anything.
“Do these look like heels to you?” Theo smirked.
Gabby peered into the box he was holding. Nestled inside was a pair of dark loafers. Her fingers couldn’t resist touching them.
Lambskin.
Soft.
Her feet were begging to try them on. Not that she didn’t have sensible shoes.
“You gotta have new shoes to go with your clothes.”
Since they were black, they’d still work well with her gray suits, not the clashing color of her brown loafers, but she bought those because they were damned comfortable.
“Oh, all right. But if I can’t run in these, I’m not buying them.”
Theo burst out laughing.
“What?”
“Roarke was the one who brought these three pairs over. Said to get them all and don’t worry, you’ll be able to chase your suspects in them.”
Gabby couldn’t name the emotion that came over her heart, but it made her smile. And to keep her face from pulling into a silly grin, she bit her bottom lip, and sat on the dressing room settee as the others encouraged the would-be-fitter to max out her credit card.
She slipped on the first pair, a black one, and gave it a walk through. She didn’t want to take them off.
The same thing happened with the other two, a chocolate pair, and another black that was shinier than the first, and a different style.
“I don’t need three pairs,” she told the SA. “I’ll take the black one and the other black shiny one.” She could use them when she visited City Hall or had to go to court.
“Are you sure, ma’am?” their shopping assistant asked. “We don’t have these often as they’re specially made in Italy.”
Impeccably soled detectives were not unheard of, especially in LA, but Gabby noted she’d be giving Delgado a run for his money. He was the most snazzily dressed cop, not only in their Division but most of Hollywood.
“I’m sure.” She glanced at Theo, daring him to object, but he simply shrugged as