As I laid in Izaak's bed staring at the ceiling, I thought back over the last 24 hours. All the research I'd done — not only on Chloe Peterson, but also the handful of other young women who could potentially be Pattie Cake. The conversation with Molly. Gabe's insistence that I give him some concrete evidence after the weekend. Taking Clo to the rooftop, high out of my mind, numbing the anger, betrayal, and fear. Izaak's protective vibe and curiosities about if he knew the truth with his roommate. And now, laying next to her in bed, completely sober, my impulsive instincts wanting to take over.
"Why did your dad go to jail?" I rolled over to face her, even though it was dark and I could barely see the outline of her thin body.
Her breathing stopped for a moment, and I wondered if she would ignore my question. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft and measured. "He had some elaborate con with some business in Chicago. I don't know all the details... I was pretty young and my granny kept me out of the loop." She swallowed. "Why do you want to know?"
"How did he get caught?" I wondered aloud, then thinking of my wonderful therapist friends, I added, "What was it like for you?"
There was an awkward silence. She clearly didn't want to talk about this, but as I've been told, I don't know when to stop asking questions. Or maybe I do, and just don't give a fuck.
"It was weird. He wasn't around much anyway... always going out on jobs. When he pulled the con, we weren't even living in the same state. I don't know what actually happened... just one day my granny was there with me, and the next she was packing her bags for an extended trip to Chicago."
"If he had so much money, why didn't he win the case? He must've hired a good lawyer... someone on Gabe's level, and Gabe rarely loses..."
My eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough to see her head snap towards me suddenly. "Why all the questions about my dad? You know he's the last thing I want to talk about. Do you want me to give you the third degree about your family drama?"
I shrugged. "Go ahead. Ask away." I'd called her bluff, though. She wasn't actually going to go there because she didn't care anymore than I did.
"I have better gossip for you. I've been debating whether or not to tell you."
My eyebrows raised and I urged her to continue.
"Promise you won't say anything to Izaak?" She held out her pinky finger, and I looped mine around it.
"What'd you do, fuck him finally?"
Through the momentary silence I felt her blush (typical Clo). "Yes..."
"Bro really?!" I said a little too loudly, half sitting up. "Let's hear it! What happened? How was it? What's gonna happen next?" If she wanted to change the subject from her dad, she succeeded.
"Shhh, you can't say anything... please."
"No worries, your secret is safe with me. But I need more info."
"It was after the family meeting."
I nodded. "Yeah, that caning from Gabe got you all worked up, right? He went so easy on you! Must've been the perfect amount of sting, then with Izaak being all protective and holding your hands. What happened when you got home?"
"We were just talking and you were in my head pestering me about why we hadn't fucked yet and... I dunno... I just initiated it."
"Then what?! Was it fucking hott?"
If the light had been on, I'm sure I would've seen the pink in her cheeks at that question. "Yeah, it was. He's so dominant, but caring at the same time. He took care of me first — twice..."
"Yo! That's..." I giggled, "exactly what I would expect from him."
She went on to give a few more little details, getting my imagination all active and curious about what it'd be like to be in her position. But a nagging thought in the back of my mind wondered if she'd only done it to get him even more attached to her so he would protect her from the inevitable consequences of the Winters case. Even though I suspected he would protect her anyway.
"Wait, but what about the doc? Ain't you got the hots for Toby?"
"I do. And I have a date with him on Sunday. And I like him a lot. I don't know."
"What a telenovela," I laughed. "Don't worry, sis. You'll figure it out." As if on cue, I yawned. "I'm good at keeping secrets when necessary," I said as I settled back into Izaak's comfy bed. "So I have to ask you one more thing, but you can't get mad."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Are you Pattie Cake?"
We were frozen in silence for a beat, before she asked simply, "What?" That was it. No follow up. Just confusion.
She's good at this.
Her tone was so spot on that I wasn't sure what to believe. Criminal father, born to be a con — started helping out with jobs when she was a kid. The best case scenario of asking her this question was that she would admit to it. The worst case... well, I didn't want to think of that.
"There's a lot of overlapping evidence, pointing me in the direction that you might be her." My default was to say too much, but I stopped there, waiting for something to point me in the right direction.
Clo laughed. "Vi... I wish I had the ability to con a wealthy dude like Winters. But if I did, do you really think I'd be here right now? I'd be living a lavish life in California. Besides, wouldn't he have noticed me when he came up to the office last week?"
She didn't say no.
"Yeah, you're right." I snuggled up in the blankets, turning off the vulnerable connection we'd had a few minutes ago, feeling anger rise within me but trying to breathe through it. I couldn't get mad, not yet. "No way would you ever be stupid enough to get caught." Like your dad. "Goodnight, Clo."
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