“The company is closed today. But he claims he got a frantic call this morning about some structural integrity issue on a building downtown, something to do with the base building steel frames. He had to go meet with an engineer on-site.” She would bet that the big emergency call he’d gotten that morning was from Sabrina. Probably pretending to need some comfort on her first Christmas without her father. Kate was convinced that Sabrina had a hidden agenda. She’d be more sympathetic, but she believed a good portion of Sabrina’s grieving was simply an act to get attention from Simon.

“Claims?” Blaire prodded.

“Come on. It’s Christmas Eve. Doesn’t matter anymore. Besides, I have more important things to think about. When we find this killer, Simon’s moving back out. The marriage is over.”

“Excuse me, ma’am.” It was Joshua, one of the security team.

“Yes?”

“Some flowers arrived for Ms. Barrington. We opened the box just to check everything was legit. Is it okay to bring them in?”

“Yes, please,” Kate answered.

He came in with a box filled with two dozen red roses.

When Kate looked at the flowers, the image of last night’s white roses—the ones she’d never ordered—came back to her. She turned away from the box.

Blaire took the card from him. “They’re from Daniel. I told him you’d invited me to stay here tonight and tomorrow.”

“He must be really missing you.” When was the last time Simon had sent her flowers? She couldn’t remember. But what difference did it make? She couldn’t trust him anymore. An awful sense of fear and loneliness swept over her. Blaire had become her rock again, but of course, Blaire couldn’t stay forever—she had her own life, her own husband, who sent her flowers, her own career to get back to. Doing her best to shake it off, she asked, “Want to help me finish wrapping Annabelle’s presents?”

“I’d love to.”

“Everything’s upstairs in one of the guest rooms. I put the last of it there this morning.” She glanced at Blaire as they climbed the stairs. “Everything makes it sound like a lot. I really only bought for Annabelle. Ordered some things online. I wanted to keep it happy for her, but my heart isn’t in it.”

“I’m sure it’s not. Completely understandable,” Blaire said as they reached the landing.

Together they made quick work of the wrapping, carried the presents downstairs, and arranged them underneath the nine-foot Christmas tree that filled the corner of the room.

They sat down together on one of the sofas facing the fireplace.

“Would you like a drink? Some wine? Or an eggnog?” Kate asked.

Blaire shook her head. “Nothing right now. I think I’ll go up and get ready for dinner. I also want to give Daniel a call.”

“Sure thing.”