Page 99 of The Last One to See Him

‘She started blackmailing me,’ Rowan says. ‘After I ended our relationship and told her I couldn’t be her therapist any more. Let’s just say she didn’t take that well. She threatened to tell my wife, and report me.’ Rowan’s eyes narrow. ‘I can’t lose my wife. And I’ve worked too hard for my career. Kate would destroy my whole life if she talks about our affair. I can’t let that happen. Do you understand that, Jamie?’

‘So she was forcing you to stay in a relationship with her?’ Jamie can’t get his head around this. He’s no expert but Kate hadn’t seemed the obsessive type.

‘No, that’s not what she wanted,’ Rowan says. ‘She wanted me to keep being her therapist. She didn’t care at all about our affair being over.’

Jamie struggles to comprehend this. ‘That doesn’t make sense. Why would she force you to continue as her therapist?’And why wouldn’t she want this despicable man out of her life?

‘Because she developed an attachment to me. Not in a romantic way – I don’t think she gave a damn about our relationship – it was never me she wanted, it was only ever my help. She was under the false impression that I was the only one who understood her, who could help her heal.’

‘What were you planning with her? Why did you want her drugged?’

‘I’m sorry, Jamie. You’re just collateral damage in all this. I didn’t want it to be this way. Any of it.’ Rowan glances around the room. ‘This wasn’t exactly what I had planned, but it could still work. Kate was here for long enough to have left DNA evidence. And with her anger issues added to the mix…I’m sorry, Jamie. It’s the only way I can make sure she can never hurt me, and make sure it never comes back to me.’

Jamie is confused again. Nothing Rowan says makes sense. But then, when Rowan steps towards him, pulling something from his coat, Jamie finally understands. ‘No,’ he says, as his palms begin to sweat. ‘Don’t do this. Please.’

Rowan moves closer towards him. ‘Kate’s already killed someone. It’s not too much of a stretch for people to believe she could do it again.’

The last thing Jamie sees is the blade of the knife, and the last thing he feels is the cold chill as Rowan thrusts it in his neck. And his last thought is that Kate Mason doesn’t deserve this.

FORTY-FIVE

SIX MONTHS AGO

Rowan feels as though his life’s hanging by a fine thread, and Kate Mason has the power to pull on it and unravel everything. He’s sick of the way she strolls into her appointments as though nothing has happened, as if equilibrium exists between them, and she isn’t forcing him to sit there and listen to her. He didn’t mind before – he wanted to help her, but the way she’s made him feel powerless sickens him. He can’t let her keep doing this. And Rowan might just have found a way to makes sure that happens.

Walking to the door of his office, he plasters a smile on his face and prepares to greet his next patient. Jamie Archer. Rowan quite likes him, he’s an interesting man, but Rowan can’t see how he’s going to get himself out of the mess he’s in unless he’s willing to do some serious work on himself. After all, most of the time there’s a reason we are the way we are if we search hard enough to find it. ‘Hello, Jamie,’ he says. ‘Would you like to come in?’

Jamie nods and follows Rowan into his office, keeping his head low. Shame seems to surround him whenever he walks in here, and Rowan wishes he would shed it and fully embrace his therapy. Perhaps today will help.

‘Take a seat, Jamie. How have you been this last week?’

Jamie sinks onto the sofa and shakes his head. He’s leaning forward as usual, never at ease enough to sit back and relax. ‘Not good. I don’t know how to get out of this hole I’m in. I’ve got those women demanding their money back. I’ve tried to stop but I need to pay my debts. I promised Harper I wouldn’t do it any more. I tried to stop… you know, with the women at the gym. But how else can I get out of the mess I’m in?’

Interesting. Will this change Jamie’s susceptibility?‘Do you think there might be other ways to sort out your financial situation?’ Rowan asks. ‘There’s always another way.’

Jamie shrugs. ‘No job will clear my debts. And I’m not declaring myself bankrupt. The only reason I can afford therapy is because Harper insists on paying. She thinks it will help stop me going back to my old ways so we can save our marriage.’

Even though he shouldn’t be – and wouldn’t normally be – Rowan’s silently pleased to hear about the mess Jamie’s in. ‘Are you sure it’s just your financial situation that got you involved with these three women?’ Rowan asks. ‘Could there be another reason?’

Jamie wrinkles his nose. ‘This isn’t about the women. It’s not aboutsex. Not at all. It’s about me trying to claw my life back. For my family.’

Rowan’s not convinced; if Jamie would open up about his childhood, there’s sure to be something there that led him down this path, with no regard for the women he’s conning. But from what he’s learned about Jamie so far, his mother was a strong figure in his life. Hardworking and nurturing. His father too. Rowan’s not quite sure what could explain it, and if he’s honest with himself, what Jamie does disgusts him.

‘I’m desperate,’ Jamie says. ‘This is affecting my whole life.’

‘Do you believe that if your debts were all cleared, you’d be able to make a fresh start?’

Jamie nods. ‘Yeah. Definitely.’

Rowan needs to test the waters. He leans forward and lowers his voice. ‘Can I trust you, Jamie?’

Jamie frowns and shifts on his seat. ‘Yeah. But what do you mean exactly?’

Rowan glances at the door. ‘I’m taking a huge risk here. This is completely outside of my capacity as your therapist, and I’m risking my professional reputation.’ He pauses. No going back now. ‘But I want to help you, Jamie, and I don’t think, for you, the answer to this particular issue lies in therapy.’ Rowan takes a deep breath. ‘What I’m about to tell you absolutely can’t be spoken about outside these walls.’

Jamie’s eyes widen. He must be confused that his therapist is having this kind of conversation with him. He has no idea that Rowan is just as desperate as he is. ‘I might know someone who could help you,’ Rowan says. There. It’s said now and can’t be taken back. This is the biggest risk of Rowan’s life and he’s taking it because of Kate. Rowan’s hatred towards her intensifies. If only he hadn’t stopped to have that drink with her. A dreadful mistake on his part. What had he been thinking? He’s never done anything like that before.

‘I don’t understand,’ Jamie says.

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