The Christmas Ball finally arrived, and Clara is pleasantly surprised by Richard Olson’s new image. When the couple enter the country club ballroom, a sultry blonde from Richard’s past makes a move on him, leaving Clara feeling insignificant and somewhat jealous. A confrontation ensues in the ladies’ room with the blonde warning Clara to go back to Chicago or else. Sonya Olivera, Clearbrook’s newest detective, advises Clara to be careful; the blonde is the daughter of a powerful state representative.

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On the drive home, Richard acts uncharacteristically distant. Reeling from the events at the Christmas Ball, Clara takes her dogs for a walk to reflect on her life and Richard’s strange proposal. As she stands at a crossroad, Clara receives a call informing her that the Fire Marshal has shut down her shelter because of multiple violations. While on the phone, her Golden Retriever, Cody, dashes across the road and into a field. When he doesn’t return, Clara trudges through the snow-covered field to retrieve her dog, who is ferociously digging. Cody yanks a large stick from the ground and proudly prances around displaying his discovery—except it isn’t a stick.

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Within days, Richard is arrested and charged with the murder of Samantha Wagner, his former high school sweetheart who went missing 18 years ago. In shock and shut down, Richard lashes out, telling Clara to stay away. Afraid for her friend’s mental health, Clara is determined to unearth exactly what happened and soon finds herself at the hands of a killer, intent on turning her into the next missing person.