violet presents to gabe

"You're not gonna like this," I began.  "I can't find anything to connect Pattie Cake to the crime."

Gabe's nostrils flared and his hands clenched into fists.  "There better be a good explanation for this," he growled, ready to jump out of his seat and start another beating.

"She didn't do it.  She's too pussy.  I found out who really fucked Winters over."  I slid the file folder across the desk and plastered a smirk on my face, ignoring the nervous tension.  My heart started beating faster, sweat beading on my forehead as he skimmed the papers.

"Vanessa Ramirez?"  He looked back up at me, eyebrow cocked in confusion.  

"She has the background.  She works closely with him.  And she has the access to all of his files.  I bet she could do the same girly voice as Pattie Cake.  She needed someone to take the fall for her."

"If you're going to make such a bold claim, I assume you have more evidence."

I handed him the printed out version of the email I planted in Vanessa's outbox.  

"Why would she write this in an email?  Something is fishy here.  Also, I can't use this in court."  He dropped the paper back on the desk, looking up at me with narrowed eyes.  "What's going on, Violet?"

Gulping, I passed him the next page of 'evidence.'  "You gave me the IP addresses of  all the people with access to Winters' network.  My hacker contacts were able to help me trace everything back.  She's not as dumb as I thought she was... she used a  VPN to hide herself.  But my contacts are smarter.  And as you can see, it traces back to...."

"Miss Ramirez."  He tried to make sense out of the computer jargon on the paper in front of him, then shook his head and looked up at me.  "None of this will hold up in court.  We need more."

"Bro, I've been diggin' into this shit for weeks.  It's her.  I know it."

He stared at me for a moment, thinking.  "Okay.  Tell Chloe to set up the meeting with Winters ASAP."

"Don't you have a little button on your phone that will do that for you?"

His eyebrows raised.  "Do you need an attitude adjustment, Young Lady?"

I laughed.  "Maybe."  But when he started to stand, I changed my mind and scurried away, ignoring the guilty feeling in my stomach.  It wasn't about Vanessa — fuck her, she deserved to be framed.  It was about lying to Gabe.  If he found out, he would see this as betrayal... Lying was what kept us from talking for so long, and now I did it again....

But I owed it to Clo.