“Raking through the past is pointless,” Harrison said. He stared hard at Georgina. “The question now is, were you at the house that night?”

“I’ve told you I wasn’t.” She turned to Detective Anderson. “It’s Randolph’s word against mine. This is ridiculous.”

Anderson watched her for a moment before speaking again. “He keeps detailed logs. What possible reason would he have for lying? Especially as it could cost him his job.”

Kate was watching everything with mounting frustration. Anderson was right. Why would her driver lie? Georgina must have been there that night.

Anderson gave her a stern look. “Tell us the truth—otherwise the wrong person will go to jail. Simon English has just been charged with the murder.”

Georgina turned to Detective Anderson. “Why would you charge him? If Blaire tried to kill Kate in the fire, she’s probably the one who killed Lily. You should arrest her.”

“Ms. Barrington may be guilty of other things, but murder is not one of them. She was in New York the night Mrs. Michaels died. We have incontrovertible proof of that. I have no reason to arrest her.”

“She admitted to Kate that she was the one who sent all the messages,” Harrison said. “You must be able to prove that and charge her.”

Anderson shook his head. “We have no proof of any of it. She’s made it look like Simon sent all those messages.

“At this point,” Detective Anderson went on, “Ms. Barrington denied planting that evidence, so it’s her word against Dr. English’s. Mr. English has no alibi other than his claim that he was at the office working late, and we now believe that Ms. Mitchell is not a reliable alibi witness.”

“But surely . . . surely, you’ll see your mistake and release him,” Georgina said.

“Everything points to him.”

Kate ran her hands through her hair, catching a whiff of the smoke that still clung to her.

Anderson crossed his arms in front of him. “You were there that night, weren’t you, Mrs. Hathaway?”

“I told you, I wasn’t.” Her voice shook.

At once, all eyes turned to the entrance as a tall figure strode in, clearing his throat. “I can’t let this go on without coming forward,” Randolph said. “I am not mistaken, and I am not lying.” He looked at Georgina. “I’m prepared to testify in court that I drove you to Mrs. Michaels’s house the night she was murdered.”

Georgina stood up straighter, her eyes flashing. “How dare you. You’ve forgotten your place.”

“No. My place is here. In this room. Telling the truth.”

Kate watched Georgina’s face go white, her nostrils flare. “I won’t have this, Randolph. You’re dismissed. Get out at once.”