As she held out the phone for her father to see, it rang, startling her. It was Anderson. “I know it’s Christmas Eve, but can you come over?” Kate said by way of greeting.

“I was calling to let you know I’m on my way.”

She sat still, as if in a trance. Harrison pulled Simon aside and whispered something to him. Simon’s eyes widened, and he looked over at Kate, and then at Hilda.

“Hilda, would you please give Annabelle her bath before dinner?” Simon asked.

“But you haven’t read The Night Before Christmas yet,” Annabelle complained.

“I promise when you come back down, we’ll read it.”

When they’d left the room, Harrison showed the text message to Simon and Blaire. Kate felt as if she was floating above the room, seeing all of them through a misty lens. She watched grim faces having hushed conversations, unable to focus clearly.

Anderson arrived in what seemed like minutes, but when Kate looked, she saw it had been almost a half hour. She blinked, beginning to feel more in control, concentrating on his mouth as he spoke. “The text came from another VPN, so we haven’t been able to track it. We’re going to add protective custody. There’ll be a police car outside your house.” He looked at Simon. “I know you declined protection and have your own security, but now I insist.”

“Of course,” Simon said.

Kate was pacing. “I don’t understand. . . . After that last text, we’ve made sure no one can see in. How does he know about the presents under the tree? And the food allergy . . . we made cookies today. It must be someone who has access to our house,” Kate said.

Anderson shook his head. “It’s Christmas. Everyone has presents under the tree. There’s nothing specific in this text to indicate someone has access to your house. In fact, I’d say if this person did, the text would have included more details.”

“But how does he know about Kate’s nut allergy?” Simon asked.

Anderson cocked an eyebrow. “I didn’t say this was someone you don’t know.”

“Everyone in our circle knows,” Kate said. “I always have to make sure before eating anything that I check the ingredients with them.”

“What about the security detail?” Blaire asked. “Any chance one of them is compromised?”

Simon gave her a withering look. “We’re not in one of your murder mysteries, Blaire. I hired them after this started. I seriously doubt one of them is a mole.”

“Okay, okay. No need to be sarcastic with each other,” Anderson said.

“What about Hilda?” Blaire asked. “Could she have anything to do with it?”