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Jack interjects. “Not necessarily. If it's early on, it could be pretty easy to hide. Even if she is a doctor.”

“But she's nothisdoctor. And she's also a gynecologist, dude.” Dalton points out.

Jack waves. “So what. A doctor is a doctor. Besides, if he's been in the slammer long enough, it's likely he's not going to look like a Gucci model.”

I frown. “True.”

And in the next forty-eight hours, I get the pleasure meeting Mister James McTavish…

Chapter 10

Moira

Thankgoodnessmypatientthat delivered early is doing better. She is responding well to the fluids and antibiotics; the swelling has even dissipated slightly. Her bairn is showing a little bit more hope as well. But what that means is that my mind is all over the place. And instead of bothering Declan with the drama, I decide to give Stephanie a call. She's able to meet up with me for lunch at our usual spot.

The first thing she says is that she wants to see the letter for herself, so I hand it to her. After skimming through it, she sits back, puffs out her cheeks, and exhales. “How do you feel about this?” She asks in her ‘level with me’ tone.

“Confused. Torn. If I don't go see him, I may regret it for the rest of my life. But if I do, I also stand to regret it for the rest of my life. In some ways, my da has been dead to me for a long time. But in other ways—”

She cuts me off. “No, Moira. In no ways. It would be no different if somebody offed him while he was in prison. If he died of a heart attack and didn't have a chance to say goodbye? Same thing. He’ll be gone, and you have no reason to beat yourself up about it. It happens all the time.” Her hand goes to her chest. “I don’t mean to sound insensitive, after all, I know that this is your da, but you have to remember that he’s the reason why you left Scotland. He couldn’t keep his tentacles off you, and as far as I’m concerned, this is no different.”

“But, what if he dies alone, Steph?”

She looks me square in the eyes, lowers her voice, and says. “Then he dies alone. He gets his just desserts. This is a man that has done unmentionable things to innocent people, and that includes you, Moira. He would stop at nothing to throw you under the bus or take his place in jail, if it meant more money in his pockets. This man is a liar, a thief, and a murderer. And as far as I’m concerned, all he ever wanted, since your granddad died, was the money. And I think you know that, too. Don’t let this letter sway you, Moira. You’re far too smart.”

I stare at it for a moment. “If he dies, I’m free.”

Steph’s gaze is still on me. “In more ways than one, Moira. Maybe you can actually start to enjoy your money and your life, and stop worrying about looking over your shoulder, living under a rock.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

Steph’s brows lift. “You think I’m exaggerating? Tell me how much of your granddad’s money you’ve actually enjoyed? And how much of a low profile you’ve been living since you moved here?”

“That’s not fair and you know it. I’m a doctor, Steph.”

“My love, I run a multi-billion-dollar business, and I have way more of a social life than you do.”

“So, I'm antisocial. What’s wrong with that?”

“Plenty, when you’re about to sacrifice the most important relationship you’ve ever had.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “And how am I sacrificing it?”

She sidesteps the question. “If you go to Scotland and see your da, you know what’s going to happen?”

My voice is flat, unimpressed. “What.”

“You have gone months, years, unless you’ve been lying to me, without any contact with your da. The last time he saw you he begged you to testify so he could be freed to continue with his...lifestyle. The only reason why you got the hell out of there is because you grew a pair for once in your life and made a choice to go to school and do something with your granddad’s money. If it weren’t for that, you’d still be doing your da’s bidding, and an innocent man would be behind bars, while your da walked free.”

“Are you saying that I’ll change my mind? That I’ll go back to him? Do you honestly think that I’d give up everything that I’ve worked hard for just to please him after all these years?”

Her face is calm yet indignant. “Will you?”

“Well of course not. Don’t be daft.”

“You say that now, Moira. But I know you. I don’t forget that I had to fight with you, tooth and nail, to move away from that toxic relationship. Plus, you haven’t seen him in years. I’m afraid you’ll crumble like a stale biscuit.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Steph.” I scoff, thinking that this is just about the most insulting conversation I’ve ever had with her. And what’s worse is that deep down I know that she’s right. I’ll never admit to it though.

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