Page 51 of Scotch & Shortbread

“My God, I can’t imagine.” Quinn’s arm was loosely resting around his neck. Her hand was on his strong shoulder.

“He was arrested, and in his plea bargain, he gave up the whole nasty plot that Kate had cooked up. It was supposed to look like a drug deal gone bad.” He scoffed. “It could huv been believable as I was in a dark place and had withdrawn from my life.”

“You were taking drugs?” she asked gently looking at him worriedly.

“Naw, I’m a cop. I’d seen enough broken lives from drugs that even in my darkest hour I wouldnae go there. It’s nasty stuff.”

“The whole thing sounds like a twisted movie plot,” Quinn said, settling in closer to him.

“Aye, it felt like one. To be honest, her trying to huv me killed was probably the best thing that could’ve happened. Turned out, it wasnae the first time she’d tried to huv someone killed.”

“No!” Quinn could hardly believe it.

“Aye, before movin’ to Scotland, she hired someone to murder her ex-husband, but she got off because, at the time, they had no witnesses and apparently not enough evidence. When this came out though, witnesses came forward, and they ended up with a shit tonne of new evidence. She was retried for her ex-husband’s murder as well as new charges of attempted murder and a whole host of other charges.

“Other guys on the squad came forward too with their stories about how she’d blackmailed them. This woman was a piece of work. She had covered her tracks right up until the thug who tried to kill me. I’m almost grateful for the prick as he was her undoing. Ironic really that she’d gotten away with so much—fooling some of the smartest people I’ve ever met—but then some low life is the one who finally takes her down.”

“The ultimate revenge.” Quinn grimaced.

“Aye. Everything came out. It was nuts, and she couldn’t hide from the truth. She not only admitted to everything, but she bragged about it like she was some kind of mastermind.”

Quinn was shaking her head. “Insane.”

“Totally. It was expected that she’d get life in prison with all the charges against her, but the morning of sentencing, they found her hanging in her jail cell.” His look was distant.

Quinn’s fingers found the nape of his neck, and she stroked him tenderly as she tried to comprehend all he was telling her.

“Typical Kate. She always found a way out when she was backed in a corner.”

Concerned big brown eyes looked into his. “How on earth have you dealt with all that?” she asked gently.

With a sad smile, Alex shook his head. “Kate’s death gave me some closure. Not that I wanted her dead per se, but somehow, it gave things a definitive end.” He adjusted Quinn in his lap. “The department re-instated me to full status and issued a public statement apologizing for their error. I was completely exonerated of any wrongdoing.”

“Wow. Well, that’s good at least.”

“Aye, it was good,” he said. “The problem was, at that point, my head just wasn’t in it anymore. I lost my drive. Instead of loving the job I’d been trained for, it felt like a constant reminder of the hell I’d been through. I considered leaving policing altogether.”

“I can’t blame you.”

“An exchange came up for Canada, and I dinnae ken. It just felt like something I needed to do. A chance to start over I suppose. I didn’t even ken where the hell Calen was, but I was happy to just get out of Scotland and get away from all the memories that were still too fresh.” He sighed. “Do ye ken the worst part of it all?”

Quinn shook her head. “What?”

“I fell for it—for the lies. Fell for her. She had me completely fooled. I should huv known. How could I not huv known that she was a pathological liar, a master manipulator, a fucking psychopath? I still don’t understand how I didn’t see it,” he berated himself.

Quinn could see that it ate at him, and she could only imagine how horrible it would be to be caught in someone’s lies and deceit.

“You said yourself, she blackmailed and manipulated many people, intelligent people. The fact that she was even able to get the job as your boss goes to show that this woman was exactly as you say—a master manipulator. She even managed to get away with murdering her husband! Thank God, the truth all came out. It sounds to me like everyone was fooled by her at one point or another. You’re only human, Alex. How could you have known?”

Alex absently squeezed the gentle curve of Quinn’s hip in his lap. “She did dupe a lot of people, but I just can’t understand how I didn’t see it sooner. Looking back I did notice things, but I brushed them under the rug. I never would huv thought she was completely mental. I felt on top of my game, invincible until she came along. I was young, successful, and loved my career, and in an instant, my life fell to shite. That woman is my one regret,” he said resentfully.

Quinn could hear the indignation in his voice, but she didn’t agree with regrets. For a guy who liked to be in control, she could see how frustrating it all must have been, but she saw things a bit differently.

“I get that, but if it weren’t for all that happened,” she said softly, “would you have come to Canada? I know it sounds cliche, saying things happen for a reason and in this case maybe a bit extreme, but still, maybe there is at least a silver lining to it all.”

Alex tensed. “I think ye might be missing the point. I loved my life as it was. I didnae want it to change.”

“You aren’t happy here?” She cut to the chase.

---