Page 34 of When You're Close

McGregor rubbed his temples, clearly wearied by the series of revelations. Amelia eyed him closely, her brow furrowing. "You went through the effort of setting up a staged escape from this cottage, McGregor. Why go through all that trouble?"

McGregor let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "It's probably going to get out now anyway," he began, a tinge of bitterness in his voice, "I have a record."

Kirsty's eyes widened, shock evident on her face. "What do you mean, a record?"

He took a deep breath, his gaze drifting away as he recalled painful memories. "It was years ago, back when I was in my late teens. I was at a pub on the mainland. There was an argument, and I... I threw a punch."

Amelia's eyes didn’t leave his face, waiting for him to continue.

McGregor's voice shook slightly as he said, "The man, he didn't just go doon, he fell the wrong way and hit his head on the pavement. He didn't get back up. They said he died instantly."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of the revelation sinking in.

McGregor, looking close to tears, added, "It was an accident. I never intended to kill him. But they sent me to jail for it, and I can't ever forget the time I spent inside. I thought if you knew about my past, you'd think I was capable of the murders on the island. That's why I panicked and tried to hide."

Kirsty, the color drained from her face, reached out and held McGregor's hand, offering silent support.

Amelia spoke up, her voice softer but still stern, "Your past is your past, McGregor. But it's important to be honest about it, especially now. We are trying to piece together what's been happening on this island. Hiding the truth only makes things murkier for everyone involved."

“What I want to know,” Finn said, “is did you have an altercation with Ivar Ward?”

McGregor nodded. “Yes. That was another reason to be scared. I knew that if ye found oot about that, you'd think I killed him. But I didnae!”

“Then why did you get into a fight with him?” Amelia asked.

McGregor looked sheepish. “Tae tell ye the truth, he knew Kirsty a little. And he knew Kirsty's man. He thought I was too old to be breaking up a marriage like that, and that I should walk away.”

Finn sighed. “Right, I think that's enough for now, McGregor. It looks like you're going to keep your freedom if Kirsty is vouching for your alibi. But you're still a person of interest. We can't arrest you, but running away would look bad. It might make us and the entire community think you're hiding something. If I were you, I'd stay here until this is over. With you or someone else behind bars.”

“Let's go,” Amelia said.

“Kirsty...” McGregor said, but she only nodded at him, said nothing, and then left with Amelia and Finn.

Kirsty's eyes lingered on the silhouette of McGregor's door as the trio walked away. The heavy clouds above, pregnant with the promise of rain, mirrored the mood of the group.

Finn's mind involuntarily darted back to the memories of his ex-fiance, Demi. The bitter pang of betrayal, the nagging thought of her perhaps having cheated, seemed to sting more today. It wasn't just about their professional setback but a personal one that had been dug up from the past.

Kirsty's soft voice broke his reverie. "I'm sorry about all this. I didn’t want to drag anyone into my personal mess."

Finn gave her a sideways glance. "Life is messy, Kirsty. People drift away, feelings change, and sometimes, we make choices we're not proud of." He thought of Demi for a fleeting second before continuing, "It's about how we handle what comes after."

Kirsty gave him a small smile, thankful for his understanding.

Amelia, always the more pragmatic one, said, "We need to focus on the task at hand. Let's get our heads back in the game." As if on cue, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and muttered, "Just the person I didn't want to speak to right now."

Finn raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Chief Constable Collins," she groaned. “He's going to want a report.”

A sigh escaped Finn's lips. "From a potential lead to zero in under an hour. That's got to be a new record."

Amelia answered the call, her face tightening as she listened to the voice on the other end. Finn couldn't hear what was being said, but she gave a series of short polite replies, her gaze wandering over the grasslands that stretched endlessly around them. As she hung up, their situation became evident in her eyes. She walked back over to him.

Finn looked at the vast expanse of land. "Do you think the killer is still here, Winters? On this island, hiding among these people?"

Amelia paused, her gaze distant. "If he is, he's good at hiding. But if he's gone... then he's left behind a puzzle that might never be pieced together."

The wind carried whispers from the grasslands as if the island itself was trying to say something. If only it could have spoken, it would have said, someone is watching you right now.

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