Blaire cocked an eyebrow and grinned. “He can always learn.”
Carter announced that the silent auction was closing in half an hour, and everyone started milling around again. Blaire got up, wanting to check on a pair of pearl drop earrings and a framed lithograph she had bid on. She looked around the room and saw Selby whispering to Carter. She looked angry. Good, Blaire thought. As she scanned the room, she suddenly wondered if the killer could be there, and a chill ran up her spine. Blaire knew as well as any cop that some psychopaths got off on watching their victims. If the killer had in fact come, he might have made a hasty retreat when he saw that Kate wasn’t here. She’d ask Kate to have Selby give her a list of anyone who didn’t bid on the silent auction or who left before collecting their winnings. Or maybe he was still here. It could be anyone, really. The thought that a cold-blooded murderer could be standing inches away from her made her shudder again.
9
Kate woke up drenched in sweat. The familiar feeling of dread washed over her as she opened her eyes, and it was a herculean effort to sit up and get out of bed. A wave of nausea made her sink back down. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Rising, she plodded to the guest bathroom and turned the water on for the shower while she brushed her teeth. She had hardly slept all night, primed to hear the ping of her phone and another menacing text message. Simon had tried to convince her to leave her phone downstairs, but she wanted it next to her in case she had to call 9-1-1. What if someone cut the lines to their home phone? The latest twisted nursery rhyme played in her mind, and she struggled to find a clue in its words. It didn’t make any sense to her. Maybe someone was out for revenge. The police were going through the applications from patients who Children’s Heart Foundation hadn’t been able to help, but so far, they hadn’t mentioned anyone to her.
After a quick shower in the guest bathroom, she went back to her bedroom and threw on a white cotton shirt over jeans. Blaire was on her way over, and Kate was hoping they might make some progress today. Kate was coming down the stairs just as Blaire arrived, and she took her friend right to the living room.
“Did you get any sleep?” Blaire asked.
Kate shook her head. “No. I can’t stop thinking about these horrible texts . . . those dead animals.” She lowered her voice when Fleur, a slight woman with prematurely gray hair, walked in with a French press of hot coffee and two cups. They’d asked the staff to be on high alert, but she didn’t want Fleur to hear all the sordid details.
“Thanks, Fleur.” Kate filled a cup and handed it to Blaire.
“Mmm. Thanks.” She took a sip. “At least the police are monitoring them now.”
Kate sighed. “For all the good it’s done. This person is shrewd. It’s like those stalkers you see on TV. I feel like I’m going crazy.”
Blaire squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Let’s talk about something else.” Kate tucked one leg up underneath the other. “How did everything go last night?”
“A huge success. Everyone missed you, though.”
“I’m sure they were excited that you were there.”
“Everyone was great, for the most part. I did meet someone last night who gave me pause, though,” Blaire said. “What’s the story with Sabrina, the woman who works for Simon?”
“Why do you ask?”
Blaire arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t like the way she was looking at Simon at the funeral luncheon. And when I introduced myself to her last night, she made a very inappropriate comment about you bailing on your commitments, or something like that.”
Kate frowned. “Are you kidding me?”
Blaire shook her head. “No. And when I said you’d just lost your mother, she sort of breezed over it like it was no big deal. Said that she was hoping to see Simon, but he had to mollify you or something to that effect.”
Kate felt the heat rise to her face. Why had Sabrina even gone the night before? “She’s been a problem. The truth is, Simon and I were separated before Mother was killed. In fact, he had just moved out.”
Both of Blaire’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. What’s going on?”
Kate shrugged. “We’ve been fighting about Sabrina. He swears there’s nothing going on between them, but she’s so . . . brazen. They have a long history together. He feels a loyalty to her because her father took him under his wing after Simon lost his own dad.” Kate sighed. “Simon insists that I’m blowing things way out of proportion.”
Blaire put her hand on Kate’s arm. “Well, just watch your back.”
“Believe me, I am.” Kate was gratified to know Blaire was not only looking out for her but validating her impressions of Sabrina as well. It reminded her of how strong their friendship had been once, how they’d been completely in sync.
“Aside from her, so many people asked me to convey their good wishes to you and all the work you’re doing. You have a lot of fans.”
Kate tried to put Sabrina out of her mind. “That’s nice to hear. Well, thanks again for going in my place. There’s no way I could have faced being there with all those people. I’d have felt too exposed.”
“Oh, Kate. They’re going to get this person. And in the meantime, you’re safe here.”
“But what if I’m not? What if I’m next? And then Annabelle won’t have a mother . . . or worse, what if they’re after her? I can’t lose her. Maybe this is all about me—take my mother, then my child.” Suddenly she couldn’t breathe.
Blaire put a hand up. “What-ifs are not your friend, remember?”
“I know, I know, but I can’t help it. Someone is out there. Just waiting. Someone who’s already killed my mother.”
Blaire gripped each of Kate’s forearms. “Look at me. Come on. Eyes.”
Kate forced herself to breathe in and out and locked her eyes on Blaire’s.
“What did we used to do?”
“One, two, three, four, I don’t have to think it anymore.”
“Five, six, seven, eight. Things get better when we wait,” Blaire finished.
Kate gave her a weak smile. “Thanks.” This was a method Blaire had come up with to help Kate when they were teens.
Blaire clasped Kate’s hands in hers. “We’re going to take care of this.”
Just then they heard a commotion in the hallway and the sound of raised voices.
They looked at each other, panic-stricken, and sprang up at the same time to run into the hallway, where they almost collided with Simon.
“They’ve apprehended someone on the property. Coming from the woods!”
“Did you call the police?” Kate asked, her heart racing.
Simon nodded. “The security team already did. They told me to make sure we all wait here.”
Maybe this was all going to be over now, Kate thought, feeling a surge of relief.
Blaire was looking at her with concern. “Kate, you’re white as a sheet. Come on, sit down.” She maneuvered her to a chair by the staircase.
Finally the front door opened and Brian, the lead security officer, was dragging someone in.