9 Marianne FreemantleMarianne was out of time. Four o’clock on the final day of the year and she was the last person in the office. Possibly the only person left in the entire building.
She and Nigel were supposed to be at a house party by eight o’clock. Bruce and Sue Zachary had invited them and three other couples to ring in the new year at their estate on the eastern shore of Lake Washington.
Bruce was the most recent member to join Nigel’s best-paying board of directors. Nigel had mentioned how eager his new corporate buddy was to meet her. Hinted strongly that the designer dress he’d “found” for her at Nordstrom would be the best choice for the event. Had suggested conversational topics.
Clearly, he wanted her help with whatever he hoped to achieve tonight.
When they’d accepted th
