“Ok, so tell me how I’m getting even,” Kim said.
I gave her a devious grin. “I was hoping you would say that.”
Pin returned to the table. He took one look at Kim, who almost had visible steam coming out of her ears and frowned. “So what did I just miss?”
I let Kim take the lead.
“That douchebag Trey is cheating on me,” Kim said. “Or rather, he’s cheating on his wife – Claire’s a fucking PI hired to get proof.”
I almost laughed aloud at Pin’s shocked expression. His eyes widened and his mouth hung open. I needed to reveal myself in more of my cases, it was too fun.
“Sorry,” I said. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s in my job description.”
“No, you’re badass,” Kim said. “And we’re gonna take that bastard down, right?”
“It’s what I do best,” I said. “But I’m gonna need some help from you.”
“I’m so in,” Kim said.
I nodded and hesitated.
“You’re going to have to play nice with Trey for a little longer,” I said. “Just to get him on another date where I can take photos and then, if you’re comfortable, I would love to get some of the texts he’s sent you?”
Kim looked upset at the idea of having to wait even a short period of time before letting Trey have it, but she nodded.
“Ok, wait a second,” Pin interjected. “We just met, this is a lot to reveal, can we get some credentials or something?”
I raised one brow at him. He really was an accountant. An extremely well-muscled and deviously good-looking accountant.
“You’re asking for my badge?” I asked. “PI’s don’t carry badges.”
“Seriously, Pin, why would she lie?” Kim asked.
“I don’t know, maybe she’s Trey’s ex or something,” Pin said.
I scoffed. As if I would ever so much as touch trash like Trey Cook.
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you,” Pin said, holding up both of his hands. “I just think Kim deserves some concrete information before you guys go all Kill Bill.”
Kim opened her mouth, but I held up my own hand. “Fair enough.”
I pulled out my phone and quickly navigated to an article that had been written about Daniel O’Malley a few months ago. It had been a profile piece for the LA Times about an old missing person case Daniel had solved.
It featured a big photo of me, Daniel and Veronica posing in our offices. I handed my phone to Kim while Pin read over her shoulder.
“Shit,” Kim said. “Y’all are the real deal.”
I smiled with pride. Veronica had been unsure about having a photo. She thought it might interfere with cases if too many people recognized us. But in the end, we had been too excited about the article.
“Ok,” Pin said. “I believe you.”
“So kind of you,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
Pin shrugged, but I saw a small smile tug at his mouth. I decided his caution was cute rather than annoying.
Kim recovered with remarkable speed. We finished our drinks while she enumerated all the times she should have seen right through Trey, yet oblivious as he was so doting and into her. But now, she knew better than to be blinded by a crush.
“Don’t beat yourself up,” I said. “Guys like Trey are master manipulators. Trust me, I deal with their wives and those women have been gaslighted all over the place.”
