Page 59 of A Trial of the Heart

“Her.” Shiloh pointed. She lifted a frame from the box.

“How do you know her?” she asked again, handing me the frame.

“That’s Lauryn. She and I used to date.”

The picture she was referring to was one Lauryn and I had taken at a black and white party. That frame and a few other things were packed in the box that Lauryn was supposed to retrieve long ago.

“How long ago?”

“Not anytime that I was fucking with you.” I had to clarify it since it seemed she was implying I’d wronged her.

With a sigh and look of confusion, Shiloh lifted her hand to her forehead in distress. “This is Arthur’s daughter.”

I didn’t get her point, and I damn sure didn’t know who Arthur was. “Am I supposed to know what’s up?”

Low mumbles came from Shiloh while she walked to the couch, continuing to stare at the picture of Lauryn and me. “This doesn’t make sense.”

Since I was confused, I stood there waiting for her to say why she was shocked and mentioning people I didn’t know.

She looked up from the frame. “You dated this girl?”

Was this a damn interrogation?I had already confirmed I had dated Lauryn, so her continuing to ask was annoying. “Not my proudest relationship, but yes.”

“This girl is the daughter of Arthur Whitlock. It’s his office that I work for… the same office that brought the charges against you. The connection is there, but why?”

Shiloh was rambling almost like I wasn’t there, and she was communicating with her own self.

“How did the breakup go?”

“Wasn’t the best.”

“Oh my gosh.” Shiloh cupped her hand over her mouth. “You’reinnocent.” She stood.

Every single day, I woke up knowing I was innocent. My reputation was on the line, so I was moving silently, waiting for others to know the truth.

“Of course, I am. But how’d you come to that solution?”

“They set you up in retaliation for you breaking up with her. They set you up,” she repeated, seeming to come to the realization of what she’d said.

How would she even know or think that was the reason for the charges? Did Shiloh know more than she had said?

“I have to go.” She hurried to the door still holding the picture. “Can I borrow this?” She was damn near out the door when she asked that.

“You can do what you want with it. It’s trash.”

Since Lauryn hadn’t come and gotten her things even after thereconnection,I assumed she didn’t want it. The box was going to trash later in the week.

“Okay, I gotta go. I will explain later.” Shiloh rushed out my place. The door was still open behind her.

I stood there confused and excited. Confused on how she came to such conclusion. Excited because if what she said was true, could this nightmare I’d been fighting lately disappear? I wasn’t sure about either. I just knew I wanted this shit over with. I needed to get back to living life how it once was.

Chapter

Thirty

Shiloh:

“Good morning. My name is Shiloh Monroe, and I’m trying to reach Anita Robinson.” I spoke into the speaker of the phone.