Michelle Cantwell (Republic of Doyle)

The evil Michelle Cantwell

Michelle Cantwell (Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe) is the main villainess from "No Rest for the Convicted," episode 6.02 of Republic of Doyle (airdate October 22, 2014). She is the head of Cantwell Securities, an investment firm.

Introduction

Carl Maher enlisted Jake and Malachy Doyle (after bailing out the former from prison) to investigate Michelle, who Carl revealed was a friend of his sister, Crystal. Carl also revealed that he invested $800,000 into the firm--money that he had yet to see since, and the episode saw Michelle confronted by both Carl and Jake, with Michelle claiming that Carl signed up for the extended term, while refusing to return Carl's money to him. An angry Carl fired a shot into the building, after which Michelle ejected both men from the building, but not before Jake grabbed documents that showed that Michelle was being investigated by the securities commission.

Jake later received a phone call from Crystal, leading to a meeting with Crystal at her apartment, where it was revealed that Crystal hooked up Carl with Michelle. At that moment, Michelle entered and attempted to convince Jake that Carl's investments were safe, with both women acting seductive towards Jake. Carl later spotted Crystal arguing with Phil Cooper, and investigator, and after reporter Sam Pittman was found dead in Crystal's apartment, it was revealed that Cooper was after Michelle, who was the subject of the argument.

Reveal

Michelle unleashing her gun

As Rose Doyle later revealed, Cantwell Securities had been sending falsified statements to her clients, meaning that Michelle had been running a Ponzi scheme. Jake and Carl's confrontation with Cooper included the former opening the contents of his briefcase, revealing money inside; money that Michelle paid Cooper to look the other way. Cooper referenced the argument with Crystal, as he stated that she only received half of the money he was promised, and he'd turn her in if she didn't pay the other half. During the confrontation, Cooper coughed continuously and keeled over, and it was uncovered that he was poisoned by Michelle, who was also revealed as Pittman's killer, having used the same method in his murder.

The episode's climax saw Michelle held at knifepoint by an angry Crystal, with the villainess confessing to the murders and claiming that her scheme got out of hand, though she added that Pittman would have destroyed her and Cooper got greedy. Michelle attempted to appease Crystal by paying her off, but at that moment, Michelle turned heel and pulled out a gun, holding Jake at gunpoint. Crystal managed to subdue and disarm the villainess, but not before the gun went off and shot Carl (non-fatally); afterwards, the evil Michelle ended up arrested (off-screen) after the poison used in Pittman's murder and the attempt on Cooper was found at her home.

Trivia

• Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe was credited simply as Crystal Lowe for her role.
• Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe also played demonic villainess Cassandra Hobbs on The Haunting Hour, and later played villainess Gretchen Miller in 2015's The Gourmet Detective:  A Healthy Place to Die, as well as the villainous Sarah Albans in 2017's Wonder.

Gallery

Michelle held at knifepoint by Crystal Maher