KILTED DESIRE 3 - New Blood (13 page)

   “Hey tough guy, remember me?’ Scott asked.

Duncan started to move his hand towards the bedside table and glanced across towards it.

   “Looking fer this big man? it’s yer gun!” he said pointing
to the gun in his other hand.

   “What do yer want, and what are yer doing with her?
” He asked angrily, looking at Irina.

   “We’re just going tae collect a few things fae yer closet, th
en we’ll be on our way.”

   “Yer messing with the wrong people, yer a dead man!” he shouted.

Scott smiled.

   “Go get the drugs Irina,” Scott said calmly.

She went into the closet and removed a panel from the wall, revealing a hidden storage area. She came out with a small bag of marijuana in her hand.

   “This is all, but I know there’s more. They keep cocaine in the safe,” she said pointing out the large safe to Scott. It was built
into the back of the closet and hidden with hanging coats.

   “Do yer have the combination?”

   “No they do not give me that, but he knows. I see him open it many times,” she said looking at Duncan.

   “Open it now,” Scott said to him, pointing the gun at his head and moving closer.

   “Yer nae going tae shoot me, yer an old army guy. Yer play by the rules,” he replied cockily.

   “Och yer’d be surprised. I think there’d be a few people alive and dead, who may
disagree with yer there,” Scott answered. He wasn’t going to shoot him but he didn’t want to let him know that.

   “He may
play by rules, but I don’t. You raped me you pig, I’ll shoot you like a dog. Now open it,” Irina screamed, the loathing in her eyes was easy to see as she pointed the gun at him and walked towards him menacingly, in a hate-filled rage.

   Duncan’s tone and demeanor changed instantly and he suddenly became more helpful. Whatever he’d done to Irina, he must have known it was bad and that she was deadly serious about killing him. Scott smiled, that was the first time he could remember a woman being more intimidating to someone than he was. He didn’t mind though, they didn’t have a lot of time so it was good she’d got him to co-operate. They both had their guns pointed at the large man as he made his way from the bed to the closet. He opened the safe quickly, without arguing and returned to the bed. Scott kept the gun on him as he taped his hands together and then bound them to the corner post of the bed. While Scott was restraining Duncan, Irina was looking in the safe.

   “Here it is, cocaine,” she said as she handed the bag to Scott. It was still a fairly small bag. Not the huge stash Scott was hoping for.

   “Are there any more bags?” he asked.

   “No, just that bag and some papers.”

   “Papers, let me see,” Scott said as he moved towards the safe, recovering the huge file, which was filled with various papers. Scott spent a few minutes looking through it. He’d found his pot of gold, this was way better than a stash of drugs. Everything was there, documented. There were times, names, places, details of various illegal payments. There were enough details to put Fitzgerald away for a long, long time. It implicated him in virtually everything that the police had suspected him of. Not only him, but many of his associates further down the chain of command were implicated too.

   “Irina,
leave the cocaine here. We’ve got what we need. Let’s get oot of here,” Scott said excitedly.

   After making sure Duncan was securely tied, then going upstairs to check and make sure Fitzgerald hadn’t been able to get himself free, Scott left the house with Irina. He left the guns in the house, they didn’t need them anymore. Soon they were back at his car and Scott was on the phone. It was the middle of the night but this was the kind of news that his ‘contact’ would appreciate at any hour. He passed on all the details about finding the evidence and that there was cocaine in the house. Plus, that he had Irina with him, who Fitzgerald had been holding against her will, and that she was willing to testify against him. Despite the early hour, this was a huge deal for the authorities and lots of people sprang into action. Scott arranged to take Irina to a safe house, and a specially trained female police officer was assigned to meet her and take care of her. He drove her to the arranged meeting place back in Glasgow. Irina was very quiet, but seemed relieved. She was unsure who Scott was, but was just happy to be out of the situation she was in. Scott wished her good luck in finding her brothers and gave her the file full of information to give to the police officers. After making sure Irina was safely with the police officer that his contact had arranged, Scott left. It was over and Scott was happy that he’d done all he could. It was up to the legal system now, but the impression he got from his contact, was that this information was the ‘smoking gun’ they’d been looking for. Scott returned to the hotel, and was about to get into bed with Tiffany. She was already asleep, but he didn’t mind. It had been a long night, he climbed into the bed and snuggled up behind her, putting his arms around her.

Chapter 11

   The soft feel of lips pressing against his cheek awoke Scott, he hadn’t been asleep for very long.

   “Morning baby, what time did you get back?” Tiffany asked.

   “Och, morning gorgeous, I did nae get in tae bed until after six,” Scott said sleepily as he looked at the clock. It was only 7:30 a.m.

   “Sorry for waking you. I di
d try and stay awake last night. How did it go?”

   “It’s okay, I’ve got things tae do today anyway. It went well last night. Hopefully everyth
ing should be sorted oot now,” he replied as he got out of bed and stretched. Scott was exhausted but was still on an adrenaline high. He knew he needed to make some more calls, plus he wanted to arrange a meeting with Sharon to let her know what was happening. And, they had to pack. It was nearly time for them to go back to California. He explained a few things about the previous night to Tiffany as they ate their breakfast, without going into too much detail.

   Scott made some calls later that morning and found out that numerous people involved with Fitzgerald, had already been arrested. Including the main man and his bodyguard, who had been apprehended at the country house a few hours earlier. He learned that there was no chance of bail, due to the seriousness of the charges, and that the police hoped to get some of his own people to testify against him. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. Scott knew there was nothing else he could do, he was content. He arranged for Tiffany and himself to meet with Sharon early that afternoon at a coffee shop in the mall. Scott knew he needed to explain a few things to her, and say goodbye.

   After taking a shower, and grabbing a quick lunch at the hotel, Scott and Tiffany made their way over to the mall. Sharon was already there when they arrived and was sitting sipping her coffee at a table in the far corner. Scott ordered the drinks while Tiffany went to join Sharon at the table. He wasn’t a big coffee drinker, but anything that could help him stay awake today, was needed. So, with a coffee in each hand, he joined the ladies at the table.

   “Hey Sharon, how are yer?” he said as he sat down.

   “Hi Scott, Tiffany was just telling me that I may be able tae go back tae my house soon.”

   “Aye, I dinnae think yer going tae have any more problems.”

   “So who was it? And what was it all aboot?”

   “A local organized crime boss called Ally Fitzgerald. Do yer recognize the name?”

   “Nae, it does nae sound familiar.”

   “Well, I dinnae know exactly how
, but apparently Chris got in tae debt with him. Did yer ever know him tae be a gambler?” Scott asked.

   “Nae at all,” she replied shaking her head.

   “I have a theory as tae why all this happened, do yer want tae hear it?” he asked her.

   “Aye, I’d like tae know.”

   “Yer said Chris was splashing a lot of money aroond when he got back fae visiting me. I think that when the money started running oot, he looked fer a way tae make quick cash and started gambling. First on the slots, then through that, he may have met someone who introduced him tae casinos. It just turned oot that the casino he went tae happened tae be illegal and run by Ally Fitzgerald. Now, Fitzgerald himself told me that Chris owed him 20 grand. And, when he couldn’t pay, then he offered Chris the chance tae work fer him tae pay it off. I dinnae think Chris realized at first what kind of people he was getting involved with and by the time he did, it was too late.”

   “Och I cannae believe it, he was always guid with money,”
she said solemnly.

   “Aye I know, it wa
s a surprise tae me too. I know Chris was nae the type of guy who’d work fer someone like that, and he did nae know what tae do. I really wish he’d have contacted me but there’s nae anything we can do aboot that now. Another thing is yer said he’d met yer new boyfriend. Now, I’m nae blaming yer at all Sharon, I know yer were split up and he was dating too. However, I do think that maybe the thought of another guy aroond his kids, particularly at Christmas may have just added tae the stress he was under and he had some kind of breakdoon.”

   “Aye, that’s possible,” she agreed with a sad look on her face.

   “The truth is, none of us will ever know what happened fer sure. All we do know is that was nae the real Chris who walked in tae those woods. We’ve just got tae remember the guid guy that we knew, and try nae tae let this mystery get tae us. We have tae accept that there are some things that we will nae ever know.”

   “Yeah, that’s right Scott. It’s hard
, but there are some things we all want to know that only Chris would be able to answer,” Tiffany added.

   “Aye, yer reet. It’s just difficult when the kids ask questions. I’ll make sure they remember how guid a man their Dad was though,” Sharon said.

   “Aye he was a guid man,” Scott commented.

   “So, why is this Fitzgerald nae going tae come looking fer his money anymore?”

   “He’s in jail. He was arrested this morning and there’s nae chance of bail. He was involved in human trafficking, illegal gambling, drugs, prostitution and lots more. He’s a suspect in some murder investigations too and the police have just received a lot of new evidence that’s going tae keep him in prison fer a long time. And nae just him, his entire underworld operation is aboot tae get shut doon.”

   “Why do I get the feeling yer
had something tae do with this?” Sharon asked with a smile on her face.

   “Och, I just found oot the information fer yer,” he said cheekily.

   “Aye, I believe yer. Thousands would nae!”

   “Hey Sharon, it was guid tae see yer again although the circumstances were nae guid. Tiffany and I have tae get ready fer our flight. If yer need me fer anything, yer have my number.
Also I have nae mentioned anything tae Angela but if yer want tae share any of what I’ve said tae yer today, then that’s fine with me. Take care of yerself and look after those kids. Make sure they know how cool their Dad was,” Scott said as he stood up and hugged Sharon.

   “Bye Scott, thanks fer everything
,” she said as she reached up and kissed him on the cheek, before turning to Tiffany and saying farewell.

   On the flight home, Scott reached over and held Tiffany’s hand. She had the window seat and was looking down at the clouds.

   “Hey I’m sorry that we did nae get the chance tae head up tae the highlands. I know yer really wanted tae go.”

   “It’s fine Scott, I had a good time. Although it was stressful, it was a nice break and I enjoyed seeing your country. This trip wasn’t really about sightseeing though was it?”

   “Aye I know. I promise we’ll come back soon though
, and I’ll take yer up tae see the highlands and Loch Ness when we do.”

   “I look forward to it. I’m glad you got some closure Scott, even though I know you didn’t find all the answers you wanted.”

   “Aye, we just have tae move on though. There’s nae anything we can do aboot it. Unfortunately it’s just one of those bad things that happen,” he said reluctantly.

   “Let’s just hope our next trip is more relaxing,” she added smiling.

   “Aye, I’m looking forward tae it. I want tae concentrate on work fer the next few months though. I dinnae feel like I’ve done much fer yer Dad’s businesses yet, with all the time off fer treatments and now this trip. I should be able tae get a lot done now that I’m feeling stronger though. And I have the motivation of looking forward tae our cruise. It’s going tae be great, I cannae wait.”

   “Yeah, it’s going to be fun. We’ve got a
great summer to look forward to,” she said as she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

Chapter 12

   It was now early April. The couple had been working hard and had been enjoying the great spring weather. Scott had thrown himself back into work and was enjoying it immensely. He had gotten a lot of things accomplished and security at Jim’s Vegas casinos was now functioning how Scott thought it should be. After another ‘all clear’ at his most recent hospital appointment, Scott was starting to increase his training too. He’d been running a lot and was back to lifting weights. He was determined to get back into tip-top shape before the cruise. He’d also gone with Tiffany a few times down to Kyle’s gym. Scott had been interested to see Kyle train and had been quite impressed with the young man’s progress. It was a Friday evening and Scott was just pulling into the driveway. He was tired after a long day’s work but was looking forward to spending the evening with Tiffany. She was waiting for him at the front door as he climbed out of the car.

   “Hey Tiff, how are yer?” he said as he walked towards her.

   “Good babe, come and sit down. I’ve got something to tell you,” she replied as she flung her arms around him, and then, took his hand.

   “What is it? Yer look happy!” Scott remarked as he sat down next to her.

   “I’m very happy Scott, and I hope you will be too.”

She paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

  “I’m pregnant. Scott, we’re going to have a baby,” she said, unable to keep the smile from her face.

   “Och I cannae believe it, that’s awesome. Are yer sure? Have yer been tae the doctors?”

   “I did a couple of tests today, they were both positive. I’ve booked an appointment at my doctor for next week.”

   “This is great, have yer told yer Mom and Dad yet?”

   “No, I wanted to tell you first. I think I’ll wait until next week after I’ve seen the doctor before I tell them.”

   “Okay, wow, I’m nae sure what tae say. Let’s go oot tonight and celebrate,” Scott said as he hugged her.

  
The following week, Tiffany’s pregnancy was confirmed. They were both extremely happy and excitedly passed the news on to her parents, who in turn, were overjoyed. It was going to be their first grandchild. Over the next few weeks Scott and Tiffany were very busy, and made a lot of important decisions. They put her house up for sale and started looking at more family orientated houses. They were having fun house hunting, and deciding where they wanted to live. They also arranged to get married. There was no romantic proposal, there didn’t need to be. It was what they both wanted. It could not be a big affair with pictures posted everywhere. Because of Scott’s background it had to be a low key private event. Tiffany was happy with that although Linda was a little disappointed. She’d wanted it to be a big occasion, just like Katy and Josh’s wedding.

   The couple had made an enquiry about getting married whilst aboard the ship, on their Alaska cruise. In the end though, they’d decided against it, as it would have meant her family not being able to attend. However Scott did suggest they could get engaged on the ship and then have the wedding when they returned. It wouldn’t be a complete surprise proposal, but he could surprise her a little by not telling her when he was going to do it. Tiffany was very happy with that and the wedding was booked for the last week of June, a week after they were due to return from their cruise. It was going to be different, having a ‘kind of’ honeymoon before the actual wedding, but that’s just the way things go sometimes, Scott thought.

   Tiffany also received the news that her first ultrasound scan would be the last week of June too. It was booked for just a couple of days before the wedding. In a perfect world, things would have happened differently. It would have been nice to have gotten engaged, with a romantic ‘real surprise’ proposal. Also it would have been better if they could have got married and had a proper honeymoon, and if the pregnancy would have come after those events. However, it wasn’t a perfect world, Scott was very much aware of that. Ever since he was forced to retire from the military, his life had been a series of dramatic highs and lows. He’d experienced some great times and also some terrible things had happened. It was like he’d been riding an emotional rollercoaster for several years and now, just a few months after receiving some devastating news, he was on a high again. Higher than he could ever remember being before.

   By the middle of May, they’d chosen a house they wanted. It was a modern 2-story home on a quiet street, in the city of Moorpark. The home had everything they wanted and was in a nice neighborhood with good schools. It was only about 15 miles from Santa Monica but was a few miles inland. Scott was going to miss having the beach so close, but it was still only a short drive to get there. Tiffany received an offer for her house too. It had only been on the market for a few weeks. It was in a desirable area though, so despite the offer being not quite as much as she’d hoped for - it was accepted. There was a lot of paperwork to take care of, but if everything went to plan, they hoped to be in their new home before they left for the cruise.