Kaitlyn Dunnett - Scotched (Liss Maccrimmon Scottish Mysteries)

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Table of Contents

And special thanks go to
Peggy Baker (Blair Somerled), Angie Hogencamp,
Betty Jean Neal, Patricia Ruocco (Glenora), and Sandra
Sechrest for their invaluable help with character naming
and to Sally and Dina
(they know why)

Books by Kaitlyn Dunnett

KILT DEAD
SCONE COLD DEAD
A WEE CHRISTMAS HOMICIDE
THE CORPSE WORE TARTAN
SCOTCHED

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

A Note from the Author

Some of the mystery writers attending my fictional First Annual Maine-ly Cozy Con, or mentioned by fictional fans at this conference, are real. They all write their own books. The others, along with all editors, agents, book doctors, managers, and conference organizers who appear in these pages, are figments of my imagination and bear no resemblance to any real person, living or dead. The same is true of the residents and businesspeople of Moosetookalook, Maine, a made-up town in a fictitious county.

Ive taken a liberty with television news coverage here in Maine. Although there is local news at 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 every weeknight, on weekends there is only one broadcast, at six, and half the time that one is bumped because of sporting events that run long. In my fictional Maine, however, Liss and her friends have three chances to hear the local news, even on a Saturday.

To learn more about Moosetookalook and its inhabitants and to see photos of Lumpkin and Glenora, you can visit www.KaitlynDunnett.com .

Epilogue

A full day later, Liss was still haunted by Dougs confession. Filling Sherri in on the details helped. Repetition dulled the sharp edges and reinforced the most important facts: She was safe; Yvonne was safe; and Jane and Nolas killer would get what was coming to him.

After Sherri left, Liss sat in the rocker in her bow window, waiting. Shed left a message on Gordon Tandys voice mail, asking him to stop by. Shed not yet had the chance to clear the air between them on a personal level. She could not move on until they talked.

Gordon arrived just before five that afternoon. Liss invited him in, settled him on her sofa with coffee and coffee cake, and resumed her seat in the Canadian rocker with her hands primly folded in her lap. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dan crossing the town square. She knew the moment he spotted the state plates on the unmarked vehicle parked in front of her house. He stopped dead, right in the middle of the street, then turned back the way hed come.

He wasnt angry, or jealous, either, only considerate. He would keep watch from his own front window and when Gordon left, hed return.

The thought comforted her and gave her the courage to say what needed to be said to the only other man shed ever considered as a potential husband.

I should have told you myself when I accepted Dans marriage proposal, she said. You shouldnt have had to hear about it from your brother.

Shed succeeded in surprising him. He set his cup aside and left the coffee cake untouched. Thats what you wanted to talk to me about?

Yes, it is.

Liss, I wasnt around for you to tell. I was out of state at the time.

Right before you left, I wasnt sure you wanted to be around me. I caused you a great deal of trouble. You broke the rules because of me. And I almost got both of us killed.

You have a way of convincing me to let you in on things you shouldnt know anything about, he admitted, with a rueful smile. That doesnt seem to have changed since you got engaged to Ruskin. What the hell was I thinking yesterday, letting a civilian conduct an interview with a suspect?

Will Dougs confession hold up in court?

It should, especially since he broke down and repeated it a couple of hours laterwith his lawyer present. He reached for the coffee and sipped.

Are you in trouble because of my meddling?

I doubt it. It got results. He started on the coffee cake.

Liss sighed. You wouldnt tell me anyway, would you?

As to that, its on a need-to-know basis and you dont need to know.

Well, at least your sense of humor is improving. Liss bent forward, inclining her body a little closer to him in an attempt to gauge his reaction. I need you to know this, Gordon. It wouldnt have workedyou and me.

I know. He polished off the coffee cake. If Id ever gotten around to proposing, and if youd been foolish enough to accept, wed probably have been divorced within a year. His eyes locked on hers. Still, it would have been one hell of a year.

Be serious!

What makes you think Im not?

Ive never been able to read you, she complained, exasperated. Im trying to apologize here, Gordon. I should have phoned you, or at least written to you.

Because a Dear John letter would have made things so much easier on me? The glint of amusement in his dark eyes was unmistakable.

Youre not going to make this easy on me, are you?

In fact, I am. Id already done a lot of thinking about us before my brother sent me the news of your engagement. Id decided it wouldnt be smart to continue to see you after I returned home. I was planning to keep my distance. We arent good for each other, Liss. I dont know how to explain it any better than that, but thats the honest truth.

I cant explain it either, Liss admitted as she sat beside him on the sofa, but I know exactly what you mean. You tell me things about your cases that you shouldnt, even when I dont ask. And I ... take risks. I still get the shakes every time I think about what happened just before Christmas. I should never have

He touched a finger to her lips to stop her words. Its over. Done with. And so is this case. Youre going to marry a good man and try harder to avoid getting tangled up in unsolved murders.

Yes, I am. And you?

He chuckled. Ive been seeing someone for the last couple of months. Its getting serious.

Thats wonderful, Gordon. Im happy for you. Is she anyone I know?

He rose and she walked him to the door. You met her once, he said, back when you first got back to Carrabassett County. He stepped out onto her front porch, turned, and grinned at her again. Her name is Penny Lassiter.

Liss was frowning as she watched him get into his car and drive away. The only Lassister she knew was

Good grief, she whispered.

Good grief, what? Dan asked, overhearing. As shed expected, hed lost no time trotting across the square to her house once he saw Gordon leaving.

Gordon is dating Penny Lassiter.

Who?

Penny Lassiterthe sheriff of Carrabassett County. Liss could see them together, and the image made her very happy.

So, loose ends all tied up? Dan asked as they went inside. Air cleared?

She slipped her hand into his, savoring the warmth and firmness of his grip. Now all I have to worry about are my lists of things to do before our wedding.

Uh, Lissabout the wedding?

Youre not backing out, she said, giving him a poke in the arm with her free hand, and were not eloping. A laugh caught in her throat when she looked up and saw the serious expression on his face.

I got a phone call a little bit ago, Dan said, turning her so that they were standing face-to-face in the center of her living room. From your parents. You remember how they were going to leave ahead of schedule and drive straight here because Dolores Mayfield told them what was going on?

Please tell me they decided against it. I love them dearly, but there was no reason for them to change their original plan. Theyll still be here in plenty of time for the wedding.

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