As soon as she heard the door chime announce Blaire’s exit, Kate limped up the stairs to the guest room where Blaire was staying. The room was immaculate. All of her things were neatly stacked on her dresser, her suitcases zipped and next to each other on the wooden luggage valet in the corner. Kate unzipped the Mulberry duffel first. Rifling through as quickly as she could, she pulled out some books, a makeup bag, boxes holding jewelry. She didn’t even know what she was looking for. She put everything back, trying to make sure it was in the same order she’d found it. Next, she unzipped one of the suitcases. Neatly folded jeans and shirts. She lifted the clothes out and placed them carefully on the bed. A leather journal sat on the bottom of the suitcase. Kate picked it up and opened it. Blaire’s bold handwriting jumped out at her. She flipped through the pages and came to one dated the day of her mother’s funeral.

I’m coming back to town. It’s not the way I would have planned our reunion, but there’s no way I’m missing Lily’s funeral. This isn’t the way it was supposed to be. All these years I’ve been kept away from her. You’re to blame for keeping us apart and for depriving her of my love and me of hers. It could have been so different. We could have been a real family, but your pride was more important. You don’t deserve my friendship, but I’ll pretend to offer it. I’ll be right there, giving you my sympathies, pretending to feel sorry for you, maybe even holding your hand. But inside, I’ll be seething, planning my next move, relishing the look of suffering and terror on your face.

She sank to the bed, horrified and turned the page to the next entry.

If only I could have seen your reaction when you found the mice. Did you scream, or has your job inured you to the sight of death? Do you wonder if the same fate awaits you? I hope my little present at least snapped you out of your stupor. I know you’re upset, but honestly, Kate, you had guests, and you didn’t do a very good job of taking care of them. Lily raised you better than that, didn’t she? She would have been appalled to see the coffee run dry, the creamer gone, and no one overseeing the staff to refill it. I was always a better daughter to her than you. You weren’t worthy of her. And now I’ll never get to see her again because of your selfishness.

Blaire was behind everything? Kate felt the sour taste of bile rise, burning her throat. Her hands were cold, her fingers tingling. She was going to be sick. Blaire had killed her mother?