Page 17 of Tempted

Steph

“You didwhat?” Moira squeals at me as we leave the funeral home.

“I said I did something stupid.” I tell her, frustrated. It’s bothering the shit out of me that it happened. And I’m so glad that Malcolm stopped me, even though I’ll never admit to it. Well, maybe to Moira, but that’s it.

“What...did you do?” She asks, stuffing the flower arrangements into the back of her car, so that we can drop them off at the senior’s home where granny lived. “Is this anything todo with Malcolm?” She guesses. “Because you seem to lose your head when it comes to him for some reason.”

I hop into her car, leaving mine behind, so that I can give her a hand dropping the arrangements off. “Yes, it’s to do with Malcolm.” I lift a finger. “But, just to be clear, everything else went well at the funeral. Callum wasn’t stupid enough to show up.”

“There’s that. But who knows where he is. Twenty bucks says that if I call around to any of my brothers, that he’ll be hiding out with one of them.”

“You really think he’s that stupid?” I squeak.

“Well, he better not come after me.” Moira states.

“Why. Because you’ve got your big, burly boyfriend and his entourage to protect you?” I comment snidely, but half teasingly.

She shoots me a look. “It’s not just that, Steph. I’ll take him on a run for his money, the way that he spoke to me on the phone.”

“He’s delusional, Moira. Courtesy of your da, he’s got it in his head that you’re the villain here. But I’ll fix him.” I add under my breath.

“What do you mean?” She looks at me, her interest suddenly piqued.

I hadn’t planned on telling her what I know, but since I seem to have taken leave of my senses...and of my mouth...it’s too late now. “Let’s just say that I’ve got something that may deter him from coming after any of us, should we need it.”

She’s aghast. “Well, Jesus, Steph! Why didn’t you say something! My God, do you know how much trouble we’ve caused the Harris family! Do you know that Dougall thinks that we’re a fucking charity case?!”

“I heard.” I say, unimpressed.

“Well...out with it, Steph. What do you have?”

I look at her. “Granny’s pillowcase. It’s got Callum’s filthy prints all over it.”

Her eyes bulge. “Are you daft?! Why the hell are you holding on to that! You should have given it to the police, Steph!” She’s shrieking.

I round on her. “Sure, Moira! I’ll give it to the cops! They barely believe us that granny was killed to begin with! They’re liable to lose the one piece of evidence that we have and then Callum will never be caught!”

“Well, what then, Steph! Do you have a fucking forensics lab? Are you going to run tests on the thing? And then what? Are you going to hand that to the police? They’ll laugh in your face! That’s tampering with evidence, and you’ll likely be charged yourself, Steph! God! What were you thinking!”

“I was thinking that they’d fuck it up, Moira! You know that the judicial system here in the states sucks!”

Her mouth opens wide. “How do I know that? Have I been arrested? Do I know anyone that’s been arrested in the states? No! My da is in Scotland! His case is in Scotland, Steph!”

“I’m not daft! I know that!” I sober slightly. “I don’t know...I just...I panicked. I figured I’d have a bargaining chip. I’ll...send it to Scotland. Let officials over there deal with it.”

Moira shakes her head. “What would be the point? Granny was murdered here, Steph. The case is being investigated here. Not in Scotland. They’ll have nothing to do with it except if Callum is there, and even then, he’ll just be extradited. You need to take that pillowcase to the police, Steph. Like it or not.”

“Well, what if I tell Callum about it first? What if I threaten him? Make him confess or else tell him that I’ll take it to the cops?”

She gives me a look like I’m an idiot. “He’s more out of his mind than you are, Steph. He’ll think you’re bluffing.”

“It’s worth a try.”

She chuckles mirthlessly. “And how are you going to contact him to threaten him, hm? Lord knows where he is, Steph. If he’sgot any brains he’ll be hiding. And I’m sure that he is, seeing as authorities haven’t found him yet.”

“And that’s where I’m confused. If Dougall Harris has eyes on him, then how come they haven’t located him yet?”

Another exasperated sigh. “Because you heard yourself that Dougall Harris isn’t impressed by us. He had to have his arm twisted to send Rory with Declan and Malcolm to the funeral. He doesn’t have a team of investigators working on this. We’re lucky that he’s letting the lads even come around us.”

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