The list crumpled in her fist. “I barely shop for me, and I’ve never shopped for a kid, so how does Bliss expect me to get any of this right?”
Luther took the list from her, smoothed it out so he could read it, and recoiled. That wasn’t a small compilation meant to tide things over for a night or two. It looked more like Gaby planned to settle the children in for a lifetime.
“Gaby . . . ”
“You’re not interfering with this, remember?”
A knocked sounded on the door, and Ann called in, “Wrap it up, Luther. The eyebrows are starting to waggle.”
Damn it, he’d already been upstairs too long, but he couldn’t leave something this monumental open- ended.
“Hold that thought, Gaby.” He strode to the door and opened it for Ann.
She started to speak, paused, and gave him the once-over. She shook her head. “Shame on you, Luther. A little decorum is in order. This
Luther dropped back against the door frame with a sigh. “It’s that obvious?”
“You do have a glow about you.” She smirked, looked beyond him to Gaby, and smiled. “Nookie in the conference room. Scandalous. It’s amazing how you’ve gotten him to loosen up, Gaby. I’d say that’s not an altogether bad thing.”
Luther waited for Gaby to turn defensive the way she often did around Ann, and instead she looked at Ann like all her problems had just been solved.
“You should make a run for it now,” Luther told her.
Ann hesitated. “What are you talking about?”
“Ann.” Coming closer, note in hand, Gaby said, “You’re into fashion, right?”
“Uh . . . ” Ann looked between them, fearful of a trap but unsure how to avoid it. She smoothed a hand over the front of her expensive, tailored suit. The almond color made her skin glow and showed off the highlights in her blonde hair. “Yes, I like to think so.”
Amazed, Luther watched as Gaby reeled her in.
“You probably even enjoy shopping, don’t you?”
“Sometimes . . . ” Unwilling to commit, Ann dragged out the word and then flung her distrust at Luther. “What’s going on?”
Luther opened his arms toward Gaby. “You’ll have to ask her, because I haven’t a clue.”
Gaby handed Ann the list. “How about you pick up that stuff for me?”
Ann glanced at the list, and her eyes widened. “All of it?”
“Yeah. We’re starting at ground zero here. The girls have what’s on their backs, and a pathetic bundle of rags. But don’t worry, I’ll pay you back. Oh, and the sooner you can get on that, the better.”
She started past Ann as if that decided it.
Luther caught her arm and swung her back around. “Hold up, Gaby.”
“Don’t you have some detecting to do?”
It was unfortunate that Ann stood there, still too stumped to remember etiquette and extend them a measure of privacy. She just stared at the note, tallying, perhaps, all that her shopping trip would entail.
“Tell me about the girls.”
Gaby folded her arms and met his gaze. “Sure. I’m keeping them.”
“Keeping them?”
“Yeah. They can stay with Bliss for now. She’s good with kids. But I’ll provide for them.”
“Gaby—”
“You are not going to call social services, Luther. I forbid it.”
That snapped Ann out of her trance. “Oh, perhaps I should wait outside.” She made as if to do that, but didn’t quite leave the room.
“When you get the stuff,” Gaby told her, “drop it off for Bliss, okay? The girls could really use a bath and all, but they need something clean to change into first.”
She turned back to Luther. “I won’t have them put into a flawed system, separated, and left with . . . with . . . ”
“With the kind of foster homes you had?”
Her chin shot up. “They wouldn’t. I was—
“You won’t take the chance.”
“Stop finishing my sentences for me!”
Instead of obliging her, Luther hauled in close. “I know you, Gaby. I understand how your mind works.” He took a deep breath. “And I promise you, we’ll work this out together to find the best solution for the girls. Okay?”
If she’d expected real resistance, Luther surprised her.
“How?”
“I know people. I have friends who run social services. We can do a lot off the radar, maybe even find the perfect adoptive parents for them.” She wanted to protest, but he didn’t give her the chance. “The names sounded Hispanic.”
“They are, I think. Dacia has an accent. I haven’t heard Malinal say much yet.” A fond smile showed in her eyes, if not on her mouth. “She’s pretty shy.”
Always amazed with Gaby’s capacity for caring, Luther hugged her close. “So the kids would probably like a surrounding of their own culture, don’t you think? It’s something to consider.”
Skeptical, she nonetheless shrugged. “I guess.”
“Either way, I can ensure that they stay close, so you can still watch over them. What do you say?”
The idea had merit with her, given her lack of complaint. “You promise you won’t let them go unless we know for sure—”
“That they’ll be safe, cared for, and loved? What do you think?”
She glanced at Ann, let out a huff. “Yeah, you wouldn’t. You’re too nice for that.”
“Thank you.”
Ann stepped into the discussion. “You know, Gaby, the girls will need school. It’s important for them to be around other kids their own age. But if you’re doing things outside the law, you can’t enroll them.”
Gaby put a hand to her head. “Shit.” She paced away, turned back. “I’ve got a lot to think about.”
“At least for now, they’re someplace warm and safe, right?” Ann squeezed her shoulder. “You did a very good thing, Gaby.”
Her eyes softened, a direct contrast to the words that left her mouth. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t going to let those drug dealers get to them.”
Luther did a double take. “More drug dealers?”
“A brother, and an even bigger asshole than the one I cut up.”
Luther groaned; Ann cleared her throat.
Gaby paid no attention.
“His name is Whit, and I’m sure I’ll have to deal with him again, but don’t worry. I didn’t tear out his spine yet—even though I wanted to.” She kissed Luther quick and hard. “And thanks to you, I no longer have the urge to go back and find him and do it even though you asked me not to. So thanks.”
Left floundering in his own mixed emotions, Luther watched her go.
Folding the list, Ann whistled. “She’s something else.”
“I know.”
“I think I’ll take off early while you finish studying those arson reports.”
“Shopping?”
She shrugged. “I have my own soft spot for kids.” She paused. “Does Gaby really have money to pay me back?”
“Yeah, she does.” Luther thought of her graphic novels and wondered if she’d be writing again soon. Feeling his own amazement, he said, “She’s a lot more resourceful than you’d ever imagine.”
