Charlotte shook her head slowly.“It was more than that.He looked almost scared.Or angry, maybe.I couldn’t tell which.”She paused.“What I didn’t mention to the police, because I didn’t think of it later, was that Dylan had been one of Margaret’s students.It was years ago at Western Carolina.”
“Wow.He probably knew exactly how she was going to act at book club.”
“Right,” said Charlotte.“He mentioned it once when he first joined the club.Dylan said something about having her as a professor and hoping she wouldn’t remember him.Then, with what happened on open mic night?”Charlotte made a face.“I feel awful about that.Almost like I should have been able to protect him better.”
“What happened?”
Charlotte said, “Dylan was so excited.He’d been working on honing his poetry for weeks.He was really shy when he invited us all to go to the coffeehouse one night for their open mic night.”She sighed again.“I mean, the whole point of those types of events is to build community for local artists and help build them up.But Margaret eviscerated him.”
“Oh no.”
Charlotte gave a sad nod.“In front of everyone.She said his work showed ‘the dangers of participation-trophy-culture meeting poetry.’The local press was there covering it; you know how they always write-up small town events.Anyway, they quoted her.Dylan was devastated.”
“That’s incredibly brutal.”
Charlotte said, “And his girlfriend broke up with him over it.”
Sam frowned.“Really?That’s ridiculous.”
“Well, that’s what Dylan said to me.Apparently, she was embarrassed to be seen with him after the article in the paper came out.”
“That’s a pretty strong motive,” said Sam slowly.
“I know.”Charlotte looked miserable.“That’s why I told Chief Hawkins about it.But Sam, I’ve known Dylan over a year.He’s passionate about his creativity, and he can be intense.But I can’t see him murdering anybody.”
“Maybe it was just the straw breaking the camel’s back?”
“I suppose.”Charlotte took another bite of her sandwich, chewing thoughtfully for a few moments.“Then Gerald called me this morning.”
“What did he want?”
Charlotte said, “He was worried because he thought you might suspect him.He mentioned that the two of you had spoken during his lunch break at the bank.He wanted to make sure you knew he didn’t do anything wrong.”She sighed.“Gerald’s got his secrets.I mean, everyone does.But he’s not violent.He’s just anxious, I think.Whatever he’s hiding, it’s not murder.”
“Do you have any idea what Gerald is hiding?”
Charlotte shook her head.“It’s nothing that would lead to murder, Sam.I’m certain of that.”
Was Charlotte’s judgment clouded by her friendship with him?
“There was one other thing that struck me as odd yesterday.About Pamela.”
“The retired librarian?”asked Sam.
“Right.I saw her at the library yesterday afternoon.I like to go in there sometimes to read some of the national papers.Pamela is often in the library, even though she no longer works there.Anyway, Pamela was in the reading room, just sitting there staring at nothing.When she got up to leave, I could tell she’d been crying.Her eyes were all red and puffy, mascara smudged.”She shook her head.“Pamela’s usually so composed and put-together.I’ve never seen her like that.”
Sam asked, “Did you talk to her?”
“I wanted to, but she left before I could catch her.She was definitely not herself.”
Sam made a mental note to talk to Pamela.“Do you know if she and Margaret had any history?Beyond book club, I mean?”
“I don’t think so.But Pamela’s pretty private.She doesn’t share much about her personal life.”Charlotte picked at the corner of her sandwich wrapper.“Actually, now that I think about it, Pamela usually helps me clean up after meetings.She’s always been really considerate that way.But after book club, she didn’t even say goodbye.She just left.”
Charlotte frowned, then added, “Gerald kind of scampered away, too.I felt sure he was going to follow up on collecting dues at the end of the meeting.”
It seemed to Sam that everyone had been off that night.And Margaret was now dead.
“Sam.”Charlotte’s voice pulled her back to the present.“I need to say something, and I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.”
