Page 113 of A Secret Scottish Escape

I thrust one hand into my shoulder bag and produced the copy of the Meredith Stone magazine article.

Hazel’s eyes darted from me to the paper in my hand and back again. I offered it to her and she hesitated before snatching it from my grasp.

She scanned the article, the previous arrogant edge to her features melting away. “So what?”

“This proves you’re using someone else’s name. You’re really Hazel Jennings, jewellery designer.”

Without seeking her permission, I sank down into a nearby armchair. “What did you mean that night when you accused Rafe of being a murderer?”

Her lips, slicked with a frosted-pink lipstick, ground together. “What do you think I meant? I would have thought that was obvious.”

“I don’t believe it.”

She moved to the other side of the bed and sat. “So Rafe Buchanan has got you fooled too. He always had a real way with the ladies.”

“He hasn’t got me fooled at all,” I snapped, my frustration and worry growing. “I like to think I’m a good judge of character…”

Mac chose, at the moment, to appear in my mind and my voice tailed off.

I swallowed and locked eyes with her.

A triumphant glint hovered there. “Having doubts already?”

I shrugged off my shoulder bag and dumped it down beside my feet. “How do I know you’re not making all of this up? You could be a spurned fan of his or some sort of stalker.”

Her smirk faded. “I’m not making anything up. I have proof.”

She turned and bent down to a small bedside cupboard. Pulling open the polished wooden door, she took out a section of newspaper.

“I suggest you read this.” She shoved it towards me.

Now it was my turn to look from her to the newspaper cutting she was gripping in her hand.

I took it from her. There were various articles on the page taken from The Sydney Enquirer, dated 22 May 2016, one of which had been circled in black pen.

I lowered my gaze and began to read.

FATAL COLLISION KILLS DANCER

A talented dancer from Melbourne was killed last night in a car accident, after having just departed from her engagement party at The Hyde Park Hotel in Sydney.

Emily Jennings and her fiancé, Rafe Buchanan, were travelling on the Pacific Highway to their home in Terrigal, when their silver Toyota Corolla was struck by a delivery truck.

Mr Buchanan managed to escape from the vehicle, but Ms Jennings sustained serious injuries and died at the scene…

I blinked as the text loomed up at me. Oh God. So Rafe had been engaged to Hazel’s sister and she had been killed in this awful accident.

“So there’s your answer,” Hazel said, examining my shocked expression. “Well, part of it.”

I slowly lowered the article. “What are you talking about?”

Hazel raised her chin. “He left my sister to die.”

“What?”

She regarded me steadily with her glassy, marble-like gaze. “That article doesn’t tell the whole story.”

Her voice wavered. “Rafe Buchanan saved himself and left Emily. Now, he’s going to pay for what he did.”