"I'm withholding judgment."
My dad's voice faded as he moved into the living room, then strengthened again as he returned with my tablet in hand.
As I ground the beans, he flipped open the tablet's protective case and started tapping at the screen.
"I had a hard time getting a bead on him last night.
I just wanted a little more information.
I found some pictures of the two of you together that looked promising."
He gaze was on the screen.
"Then I found something else."
He turned the tablet around to face me.
"Can you explain this to me? Is this another sister of his?" Leaving the ground coffee to sit, I moved closer, my eyes on the article my dad had found on Page Six.
The picture was of Gideon and Corinne at some sort of cocktail party.
He had his arm around her waist, and their body language was familiar and intimate.
He was very close to her, his lips nearly touching her temple.
She had a drink in her hand and was laughing.
I picked up the tablet and read the caption: Gideon Cross, CEO of Cross Industries, and Corinne Giroux at the Kingsman Vodka publicity mixer.
My fingers shook as I scrolled to the top of the page and read the brief article, searching for more information.
I went numb when I saw the mixer had been Thursday, from six to nine, at one of Gideon's properties - one I knew all too well.
He'd f**ked me there, just as he'd f**ked dozens of women there.
Gideon had stood me up for our appointment with Dr.
Petersen to take Corinne to his f**k-pad hotel.
That was what he'd wanted to tell the detectives that he didn't want me to hear: His alibi was an evening - maybe the whole night - spent with another woman.
Setting the tablet down with more care than necessary, I released the breath I'd been holding.
"That's not his sister."
"I didn't think so."
I looked at him.
"Could you do me a favor and finish making the coffee? I have a call to make."
"Sure.
Then I'm going to grab a shower."
He reached over and set his hand on top of mine.
"Let's go out and erase this whole morning.