Page 79 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

I shrugged. “Maybe. I think that’s probably why he keeps these kinds of things from me. But I wish he’d just tell me the truth. I don’t care if it’s embarrassing or painful, I just want to know what’s going on. I thought Tristan understood that.”

Her lips tugged at the corners as if she were fighting a smile. “I thought you were mad at him because he was using someone else and didn’t tell you?”

I picked up my mug and tried to smother my embarrassment with a swig of caffeine. “I am. The worst part of all this is knowing I can’t trust him. I think I’m in love with him, Kel. After everything that happened between us, I really wanted it to work out. But how can I trust him now? That other woman showed up at his home. How could I believe all the things he said after seeing that?”

She clucked her tongue. “I do agree, that was messed up.”

I took another drink and swallowed, wishing I could swallow my feelings. “But I’m happy you’re happy, Kel. It’s nice to see you excited about someone other than Harvey.”

“I’m not the only one about to be happy.” Ignoring my quip, she took hold of the change of subject and flipped open the manila folder she brought in.

“What’s this?” I asked, squinting at her perfect cursive.

“Forensics identified the voice, and it wasn’t our guy. After we reviewed the tapes and he wasn’t sighted in the footage during the times the victim claimed, they combed through the audio clip again and confirmed it wasn’t him.”

I picked up the file and brought it close to my face, skimming her notes and bracing myself for either the rush of vindication the truth brought, or the pain of it. “Did they confirm who was on the tape?”

“A voice actor the woman hired a month prior.”

“No way.”

Kelly nodded and I whooped, clapped and stomped my heeled shoes against the floor. “Yes! Oh, suck on that, Harvey!” I yelled.

From just outside the kitchen door frame, Harvey’s voice asked, “What? Did someone call me?” and Kelly let out a laugh, shushing me.

I lowered my voice and said, “Now we just need his alibi.”

Kelly frowned. “I don’t know if you’re going to get that, boss. Even when he thought he might have to go to jail, he still denied giving us an alibi. He probably won’t give it to you now that he’s pretty much off the hook.”

I shrugged and gave her a smile. “That’s okay. I have his bank records.”

“What do those have to do with anything? His accounts didn’t show anything suspicious.”

“His secret account did.”

Kelly slumped, visibly disappointed. “Let me guess. Secret family?”

I shook my head. “He’s a New York State Rifle and Pistol Association supporter.”

Kelly’s eyes narrowed until her thick lashes covered the whites of her eyes. I was so glad that when I now saw that look, it held zero dislike for me. “I don’t get it. Was he at some sort of event that night?”

“He was, actually. And at this event, he donated a large amount to the association so they could keep campaigning against the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence protesters, whom his wife happens to be a member of.”

She straightened and folded her arms. “Oh... an anonymous donation from a secret account, right? And he didn’t want the alibi to be recorded in case this whole thing got dragged into court and his wife found out he was cutting down her group efforts to change legislation.”

“You got it, Kel.” We broke into matching wide grins. “Now I just need to convince our client it’s in his best interests to confirm our theory, and the case is in the bag.”

She laughed. “Wow. You’re good, Nikki. I knew you had this thing won; I knew it. Looks like Harvey isn’t getting that speech after all.” She turned her face to the side and clucked her tongue. “I guess maybe it wouldn’t be the worst decision to take you up on your offer.”

I lifted a shoulder and winked at her. “I mean, let’s face it, you could have a worse mentor.” Leaning over, I whispered, “My study sessions come with PB&J, red wine and loads of cheesy pastries. No one else is going to offer anything half as good.”

I held out my hand.

She took it, laughed and said, “Honestly, at this point I’m hungry enough to try anything.”