Scarlet
“It seems I do owe you a great deal after that. I underestimated you, Nina.”
Smiling, I look up from my desk at Officer Lopez. “I told you I’d come through.”
He nods. “You did indeed.”
“But, I need you to release him for me.”
He looks angry at my words. “I have him by the balls. Why would I do that?”
“Because prison was never the place I intended Reid would end up. I told you this when I first met you.”
I think back on that day we first crossed paths. I didn’t know it then, but Lopez was much more intelligent than anyone had initially given him credit for. He knew from speaking with me that day when I spoke to Reid at the station that there was something about me.
“I make my living out of checking everyone I come across. Like Reece, you do not check out. I have no information on you other than the fact you passed Psychology at Glasgow University. There’s no mention of where you lived or where you went to school. Nothing.”
Feeling panicked, I know I have to tell him the truth. So I do. I tell him the story of how Reid thought he had killed me in a jealous rage and that I was here to exact my revenge on him. The only reason I tell him is because I know he has it in for Reid as much as I do. Maybe he will end up being my ally.
“I want to send him crazy, Mr Lopez,” I finally say once I’m done telling him my story.
He steps closer, leering at me from head to toe. “And if I keep quiet, what’s in it for me?”
I smile because although I know what the sleezeball is after, I too, am intelligent. I have thought of everything.
“Who do you think it was who gave you that tip about the drugs and the money?” When all he does is raise an eyebrow, I continue. “Reid may have absolutely nothing on you, Mr Lopez, but I do.” Scrolling through my phone, I show him a video of him taking the stash of money to his car the night he raided Reid’s bar.
His eyes widen as he watches it. “Not just a pretty face,” he finally replies.
“No. But despite what you may think of me now, I’m on your side—despite the fact that half that money you stole from Reid is what Reid stole from me.” Lopez’s eyes gleam with intrigue as I reveal parts of my relationship with Reid. I don’t tell all—just enough for him to realise why I’m doing this. Once I finish, I say, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to demand my half. I’m not interested in the money.” I smile brightly at him, so it all sinks in. “I feel we have a mutual agreement when it comes to Reid, don’t you agree?”
Finally seeing he has no other choice, he nods his head. “Yes. We definitely do.”
“Good,” I say, rising from my desk chair. “We have a saying in the UK. If I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Do you understand the concept?”
“Of course,” he answers, a little affronted.
Walking over to my drinks cabinet, I pour us both a whiskey. I hand his glass to him, clinking his once he’s holding it. “I think you and I will make a great team.”
“He planted evidence in my girlfriend’s flat,” he snarls, angry at Reid. Now he knows what a fucking bastard he can really be.
Knowing he won’t touch me, I walk right up to him. “I’ve been very patient with you. I did say that half that money you stole was mine, but I chose to look the other way. I also told you that I would prefer the devil had it than Reid. So, please. You say you underestimated me, but it seems you’re still doing so. I have plans for Reid. Plans that I have been making for a very long time. And I certainly don’t need you fucking that up. I’ve done you a great favour today, Lopez. I’ve saved your arse, so please offer me the same courtesy.”
He grits his teeth as he says, “Fine.”
“Where is he now?”
“He’s being held in a cell.”
Grabbing my bag, I walk towards the door. “Take me to him.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to be his knight in fucking shining armour.”
Without another word, we leave my offices, and I lock up once we do. As we walk to our cars, he says, “How am I going to explain this?”
Sitting myself down in my seat, I turn to him as I start the car, winding down my window. “Tell him that I was at the station with another patient of mine when I bumped into you. Tell him that I argued his case and that he’s undergoing some psychological problems for which I am treating him. Lastly, say that I’ll vouch for him if he flees.”
He shakes his head. I can tell he’s not happy with this. “This doesn’t mean he’s getting away with what he did.”
“Of course not. Just quietly make this thing go away, and trust me to do the rest. If I need help, I’ll ask.” And boy will I ask.
“I don’t know how you expect me to do this. He was at my girlfriend’s apartment planting cocaine, knowing full well I was due to visit that evening.”
I raise my eyebrow at him. “I take it that your wife doesn’t know anything about your Wednesday night trysts? I bet you tell her you go to a poker game all those nights, huh?”
He huffs his annoyance, but doesn’t say anything. The fact that he doesn’t speaks volumes. Instead, he turns away without another word and walks to his car.
The twenty-minute journey to the station goes relatively quickly as I follow Lopez. I can tell he must be stewing over the fact that he’s going to have to let Reid go. Prison is too good for Reid. He needs … more.
Once we’re there, Lopez takes me to a waiting area where he gives me explicit instructions to wait until his return. It’s a good fifteen minutes before he actually does.
“I have dealt with it,” he says, motioning for me to follow him.
Rising out of my seat, I smile back. “I knew you’d think of something.”
He points to the direction of the exit. “He’s through those doors, signing papers.”
“Thank you.” I go to walk, but feel a hand on my arm, halting me. I turn, facing Lopez.
“Whatever you have in store for that English scum, it better be good.”
I smirk. “Oh, believe me, it will be.” I wink at him, and he lets go of my arm. I make sure I sway my hips a little more than usual as I stroll toward the exit doors which take me to the reception area. I know he’s watching me. They all do.
Once I emerge, Reid’s signing something. He shoves the pen forward, snarling before turning to face me.
“Dr Mercy,” he says, rushing forward, relief on his face. “How did you do it? I could have sworn it was my end when he caught me.”
I shake my head and make sure he knows I’m tutting under my breath. “I told you not to do anything stupid, and what do you go and do? Plant drugs under the chief’s girlfriend’s bed. How stupid can you get?”
In an attempt to placate me, he places his hands out. “I know,” he answers, sighing. He runs his hands through his hair. He looks frustrated, but most of all, he looks lost. I have to suppress the urge to smile. Watching Reid suffering is like watching porn.
“How did you do it?” he asks again.
I make a deliberate move to glance at the guard at reception before returning my eyes back to Reid. “Let’s get out of here, and I’ll explain.”
Without hesitation, he starts to move. “Good idea,” he replies. “Let’s get out of this hell hole.” He strides towards the exit doors, opening one before offering to let me walk through first. I do, thanking him before taking him down to my car. I say my car, but it’s not really mine. It’s a hired car I always use when I’m over here. Knowing my trips here would only be temporary, David and I decided it would be best to keep hiring the same car. That way, there are no loose ends that need to be tied up at the end. The offices I rent are on a temporary month-to-month basis, and the only reason why we’ve been allowed that is because David’s paying way above the rental asking price I hate that he’s doing this for me, and I told him as much. He just said that we’d be married soon. What is his is mine anyway. I don’t know why he trusts me as much as he does. I’m not going to swindle him at all, but David doesn’t know that.
As I start the car and make the journey back to Reid’s bar, I can see him out of the corner of my eye watching me, observing me. It’s taken me months of practice to avoid my normal mannerisms which would give me away. David actually wrote out a list of things I normally do—such as twiddle my hair when I watch TV, eat one thing at a time on my plate, rotate my foot when my legs are crossed, and bite my lip when I concentrate. So many things I never realised I did, but could potentially give me away.
“I can feel you watching me,” I finally say to break the ice.
I hear him sigh before running his hand down his leg as if to wipe the sweat off his hands. “I’m sorry. It’s just that sometimes, well,” he huffs, turning away, “never mind.”
“Sometimes, you can still swear I’m Scarlet.”
“Yes,” he answers without hesitation.
“You’re not crazy for thinking that, Reece. I think your subconscious desperately wants me to be Scarlet, so you don’t have to face up to her death.”
“I know. We’ve gone over this before.”
“Yes, we have.”
He clears his throat. “So, how did you get me out of being charged with copious amounts of offences?”
I keep my eyes on the road when I say, “I was with another patient of mine when I bumped into Lopez. He told me they had you in custody and what you had done. I explained to him that I felt responsible as I have a duty to care for you. I also told him that you were having some difficult times and that you are on medication. I said that placing you behind bars would put more pressure on you. Most notably, I made up some bullshit about you displaying a form of Schizophrenia and that you didn’t know what you were doing when you went round to his girlfriend’s apartment.” I smirk. “The other little thing I let out was if this became public, then the risk of his wife finding out about his girlfriend would be greater.” I smile as if I’m patting myself on the back.
At first, Reid just stares at me, mouth slightly open. “Has Dr Mercy turned rogue? I’m impressed. In fact, I’m more than a little bit turned on by you right now. Are you sure we can’t fuck to celebrate?” He notices my widened eyes and starts laughing. “No harm in asking.”
As I shake my head, I indicate right to turn into the entrance of Reid’s bar and notice there are quite a few cars parked outside. “You really are becoming popular, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I think I may start advertising for new staff next week. I’ll see what our weekly turnover is on Sunday.”
Once out of the car, we both walk in and are greeted by the sound of “Cold” by Maroon 5 playing in the background. I have to smile at that. I feel nothing but cold whenever I’m around Reid. I no longer get that electric pulse I once had whenever I was around him. All I feel is hate. Deep-seated, vengeful hate. He’s like a fly caught in my web. A web that will soon collapse all around him, trapping him and squeezing him until he suffocates. I know I’ve been going easy on Reid lately, but it is a purposeful thing. I’ve lulled him into a false sense of security. When the shit starts hitting the proverbial fan again, it’ll hit him harder than ever. I’m going to make sure of it.
The majority of people in the bar are sitting at tables, so Reid and I sit together on a stool by the bar. “Let me buy you a drink,” Reid says, getting Akilah’s attention. “It’s the least I can do.”
Akilah soon rushes over. “What happened, brother? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Reid begins before turning to me with a smile, “thanks to Dr Mercy here, who rescued me.”
I wave my hand dismissively and with a smirk, I say, “Ah, it was nothing. I just didn’t want to lose one of my most high-paying clients, that’s all.” I give Akilah a wink, making him smile.
I notice Reid shaking his head, so I turn to him. Right now, he seems happy. Happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.
I can’t be having that!
“So, drink?” he asks, choosing to ignore my jab at him.
I could murder a gin and tonic, but instead I say, “Red wine, please.”
Yuck!
Reid turns to Akilah. “Red wine and a half a pint for me.” As Akilah scurries off, I tut, causing Reid to face me. “I know I’m not supposed to drink, but one half pint won’t do any harm, will it?”
I still shake my head. “I guess not, but only that one, okay?”
“Ooh, I love it when you nag at me.”
“Yeah? Well, I love it when you don’t listen to the advice of your therapist,” I jibe back.
We watch as Akilah comes back with our drinks. As he sets them down, Reid picks his up in salute. “I’m being sincere now when I say thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
I clink my glass to his with a nod. “That’s very nice of you to say.” As I sip my wine, I suppress the urge to gag. God, this stuff is revolting.
“I guess I owe you one.” Reid carries on sipping—or rather gulping. He shouldn’t be drinking, but I’m not going to keep on about it. In fact, I hope he carries on drinking after I leave. It’ll make my plan a lot easier later.
“Reece, the only thing you owe me is an honest effort to move on with your life. Let go of the past, and allow yourself the freedom to move on.”
He tilts his head to the side, smiling brightly at me. “You know what? For the first time in a long time, I feel I can say that it’s possible.”
“Fantastic news,” I reply, saluting him with my drink. I seriously can’t drink any more without throwing up. I want to hold my nose as I down a large gulp. I can’t finish it, but I also know I need to leave soon. Especially since I have a lot to plan for later. The more I watch Reid being happy, the more it pisses me off.