Page 267 of Innocent

I fall under another practiced gaze. “Stella said he’s self-conscious about his leg.”

Now I allow some of my anger to bleed through. “It’s not just his leg. I’m not going to tell you all the details. Let’s leave it at it’s not only part of his leg that he lost. What he lost doesn’t impact how well he can do his job. Let him have his dignity, all right? There are things he hasn’t told his family, and he doesn’t have to. There’s a reason he’s only allowed me and Leo to help him, because he doesn’t want people running their mouths about something he doesn’t like to talk about.”

Again, none of that’s technically a lie. He lost his peace of mind, too, with the PTSD he struggles with.

Not my fault she’s inferring things from what I said.

That she’s so easily steered in that direction means she’s already trusting me a little and willing to swallow a hook.

Excellent.

Her eyes widen. “Sorry. Calm down.” Feels like she’s buying it. Hopefully, that “revelation” knocks her off-center enough to give me the tactical advantage.

“Look, I’m going to help you, but I love Elliot like a brother. My best friend. He really is the best choice for president. That’s why I don’t want to be directly fingered in this. I don’t want him to hate me.”

“Okay, I said I’m sorry. Can he still have children?”

I glare at her. “I told you, I’mnotdiscussing his injuries. Let’s just say you can use his firm opinion on not having children as a legit reason to divorce and pretend to still be on good terms with him. And, yes,that’swhy he’s single, because he’s extremely self-conscious about his…injuries.”

I can see from the way her shoulders deflate a little she was hoping to tie Elliot to her with kids. Glad I burst her bubble. Obviously, that’s all a lie on my part, but I need to thoroughly shake her confidence in the strength of Stella’s intel and drive a wedge between the women.

“Oh.” Yep, she sounds disappointed. “Guess that plan’s out, then,” she mutters.

“Sorry to burst your bubble.” Not at all, but I’ll say or do whatever’s necessary to protect Elliot from this psycho.

She waves my comment away. “No, it’s fine. Leaves me free to keep working after, I guess.”

“What’s Stella going to say? Can you count on her to back you up on this? I don’t want her to know I’m helping you beyond verifying you and Elliot had a secret relationship.”

Her sly smile is probably genuine. “Oh, I have that handled. We know each other’s dirty secrets. I won’t have to tell her about your involvement.”

“But can you trust her?”

“Yeah.” She laughs and looks what might be wistful on anyone else. “As an offer of good faith, I’ll let you in on a little something. Stella’s the only one who knows this. Back in college, she forced me into NA.”

“NA? Narcotics Anonymous?”

“Yeah. Ecstasy, K, a few other party drugs. Used to go to a lot of raves and clubs. She helped me get and stay clean.”

I point at her martini glass. “But you’re drinking.”

She shrugs. “I’ve never had a problem with alcohol. Just drugs. Sampled cocaine and heroin, and used to abuse Adderall, but E and K is where I really had trouble.”

“You doing anything now?”

Another shrug. “Xanax, but I have a prescription for it, and I am careful. Helps me sleep.”

“No other things in your past that could taint Elliot?”

“I’ve been very careful. Stella’s my ride-or-die. I’d never hurt her, and she’d never hurt me.”

No, they’d just metaphorically gut Stella’s brother, the greedy bitches.

“How much are you telling her about this?”

She snorts. “Nothing. Once I’ve spoken with Elliot, I’ll tell her the public version, and she’ll back me up. Whatever I ask her to say, she will. Because we have some of the same friends, and they’ll be even happier with her, too.”

Okay, then.I glance at the time. “I hate to cut this short, but I’ve had something come up I need to take care of. We need to get together again soon. Early next week. I’ll have some ideas by then, and a better grip on his latest schedule. I’ll let you know when.” I rise, and she does, too.