<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Emily felt a bit out of place, waiting for Gabriel to sort out the appointment with the detective, in the midst of this crowd which seemed to be mixture of crazies and cops.  Cops were good guys, for the most part, but they could be a bit on the aggressive side, hussling about giving orders.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">She’d worn a long lightweight jacket that hung nicely from her shoulders, a skirt just above the knee, and sandals; done her eyes and lips, and added a mist of perfume; not an unusual outfit for her but it would definitely convey to the cops that she was Miss Respectable and not someone to be involved in anything criminal.  Projecting that you had money did make a difference, even though it shouldn’t.  Not that she actually had money, just cards so she could spend it, but in this situation that didn’t matter.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">But for now she was too smart, too glowing with health even, for this place, and people were looking at her.  Including a tired-looking woman who seemed to be being kept waiting as well and was also receiving a certain amount of attention…</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Emily gave her the usual half-smile that she normally used with random people.  Actually she perhaps wasn’t as old as Emily had thought; younger than herself, even.  But a woman.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Emily still thought of herself as a girl, for some reason.  But this lean, brown woman you couldn’t call a girl.  She seemed quite nice-looking, in a don’t-care sort of way, but she had something in her eyes that stopped her being anyone young and inexperienced: they were eyes that had seen things.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Eyes that she was getting a good look at because they were looking at her!  A bit indirectly but it was quite obvious.  Well, Emily was probably a bit of an expert about that.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">It was almost getting a bit awkward, though the woman was smiling…</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Somehow looking away didn’t seem to be an option:  “Are you waiting too?” Emily tried with a full smile.  As opening gambits went it was beyond obvious, but often that was the best way, wasn’t it?  Easy for the other person to answer, in a way so they could invite further conversation, or not.</span><br/><br/>