She’d been impressed by Detective Anderson’s manner when he questioned her about her whereabouts the night of Lily’s murder. She told him the truth—she’d been in New York at the time. Daniel had gone to Chicago for a talk he’d been invited to give at Northwestern and had stayed the weekend to see his parents, but Blaire’s doorman was able to confirm her story. He’d seen her come and go several times that day, as had two neighbors on her floor. She’d tried to find out from Anderson if Gordon’s alibi was solid, but he wouldn’t give her any information. Blaire intended to find out more. Maybe he’d been cooking the books and Lily was onto him. Blaire couldn’t really imagine him killing someone, but as she’d discovered from her research, it was sometimes the most mundane, docile-seeming people who had the most potential for violence—plus, he was clearly obsessed with Kate.
She was expected at Gordon’s house in Baltimore’s Federal Hill at eight. On the way, she stopped to grab a bite to eat at a small restaurant, ordering a tonic water with lime as she perused the menu. When she looked up, she was surprised to see Simon walk in with Sabrina. What was going on? They looked way too chummy, and Blaire watched as Simon held the chair for Sabrina, then sat opposite her. They were leaning in close, talking and laughing. No wonder Kate was so pissed off about her. Simon was still the same phony bastard. How could he be out on the town, especially with the woman who was causing all the problems in his marriage, when a killer was on the loose and his wife was terrified out of her mind? She pulled out her phone, put it on silent, and snapped some pictures of the two of them.
“Excuse me. Are you ready to order?”
She gave the server a tight smile, pulled a twenty from her wallet, and handed it to him. “Something’s come up. This should take care of my drink.”
Before he could answer, she slipped out the side door and got into her car, relieved to have left without Simon seeing her. She preferred that he not know she’d caught him out with Sabrina.
Twenty minutes later, she pulled onto Gordon’s street. His brick townhouse was at the end of a charming row in this historic neighborhood full of quaint shops and taverns and the famous Cross Street Market. The view from Federal Hill onto Baltimore’s Inner Harbor was magnificent.
Blaire pushed the doorbell and heard the chime inside. She stood shivering on the front porch, waiting for Gordon to open the door. When he answered, and she stepped inside, she was surprised; instead of being stuffy and boring, the decor was bold and stylish. The brick interior wall gave the living room a hip feel, and the sleek white furniture set it off perfectly. A red leather chair was the bright focal point in the room, but it matched the stripes in the geometric throw rug on the shiny hardwood floors. Gordon had taste in decor, if not fashion—tonight’s bow tie featured little green frogs that matched his wool cardigan.
“Good evening, Blaire. Can I get you anything?”
“Not right now, thank you.” She smiled as she took off her coat. “I’d love to use the bathroom, though.”
“Of course. Right this way.”
She followed him down a hallway, passing a den with a plush sofa and a large-screen television before coming to his office. After she’d used the bathroom, she snuck a quick peek on the way back. A large computer monitor was the only thing on the pristine wood desk—no papers or personal items littered its surface.
When she returned to the living room, he was sitting on the sofa.
“Maybe I will take a drink after all,” she said. “But only if you’ll join me.”
“Sure. What would you like?”
“Do you have any bourbon?”
“Of course. Straight up?”
She nodded.
He returned with two tumblers filled halfway.
“Cheers,” Blaire said, lifting her glass.
She took a small sip and watched as he drank half of his in one gulp. Interesting.
Blaire leaned back. “Gordon,” she began. “I was wondering . . . you know what, never mind.”
His brow furrowed. “What?”
She waved her hand. “It’s nothing really. Just something I noticed at the funeral luncheon about Kate, and I wanted to get your opinion.”
At the sound of Kate’s name, his eyes lit up, and Blaire could see he was still besotted. She’d never forgotten what Kate had told her many years ago about Gordon pulling that stunt with the spying and his camera. He was odd. And he’d always been too fixated on Kate. Another reason she’d come tonight was to see if she could get more information about Simon’s finances, but she wasn’t ready to rule Gordon out either. If there was anything to find, it would be here, in his house, which was precisely why she had steered their meeting away from his office.
“Go on.”
“Things seemed strained between her and Simon, and that new architect, Sabrina, seems to be hanging around him quite a bit.” She put a hand on his arm. “I realize you can’t discuss your clients, and I would never ask you to betray a confidence. I’m just wondering, as an old friend like me, have you noticed anything off?”
He took another sip from his glass and looked at his hands, then back at Blaire. “Well . . . as a friend . . . I’ve never thought Simon was right for her.”
She leaned in closer. “Strictly between us, of course . . . I don’t trust him. Do you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know what she ever saw in him. I think he’s a bourgeois opportunist.” Color rose in his cheeks.
Blaire nodded. “I couldn’t agree more. You know, I never wanted her to marry him in the first place. It’s the reason she and I have been estranged all these years.”
He looked at her with renewed interest. “I didn’t know that.”
She nodded slowly. “Frankly, I’m worried. If it was a robbery, not much was taken from Lily’s house. It’s very possible that the killer was someone Lily knew.” She gave him a long look. “What if it was Simon?”
Gordon’s mouth dropped open. “What? Why would he kill Lily?”
“He says he was working late that night. Kate said Sabrina was the only one with him. She could be covering for him. And I just saw them both at a restaurant on my way here, looking very cozy. I left before they could spot me, though.” She paused and gave him a weighted look. “Maybe something’s going on, and Lily found out. The police are being very close-lipped about who they suspect, though I hope they questioned Sabrina. Did they question you?” She tried to make her tone casual.
He nodded. “Yes, I think they’ve talked to everyone in Lily’s circle.”
She smiled at him. “Well, I hope you have a good alibi.”
He made a face. “I was home that night, but they have no reason to suspect me.”
She laughed. “Of course not. Back to Simon. I know that he and Kate have a prenup, that Lily insisted on it. And apparently he and Kate had separated right before Lily died. Now he’s back in the house. Awfully convenient, don’t you think?” She had to break Kate’s confidence about the separation in the service of finding out more.
“I didn’t know that.” He picked up his drink and threw the rest back in one swallow, slammed the glass on the coffee table, then got up and brought the bottle of Blanton’s back with him, refilling his glass. Blaire wondered if he always drank this much after hours, or if it was their conversation stressing him out.