To be fair, I didn't really know until after the trail had started. And it was less 'know' and more 'knew she could have done it'.

[He could try throwing her under the bus, but...eh. He's too tired, and this whole thing's shitty enough. He can spin it fine.]

But yeah, I tried to help out someone who means something to me. It's not like I was lying out my ass, she is my special friend. Name a guy who's not gonna try and protect his girl.