“Okay.”Sam looked curiously at her friend.
“It’s just that I think you should back off and let the police handle this.Really.I know you like to figure things out, and you’re good at it.But somebody killed Margaret.Gerald has already noticed you’re poking around in this, and it won’t be long before others do, too.I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Sam studied Charlotte.Was Charlotte trying to protect her?Or was she trying to protect someone else?“I’m just talking to people.I’m sure the other book club members are probably doing the same thing.I promise I’ll be careful.”
Through the bookstore’s front window, Sam glimpsed Dylan Morrison walking past on the sidewalk.He had his hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets, his head down against the wind.
Charlotte noticed Sam’s gaze and followed it.“Dylan,” she called out, tapping on the window and gesturing for him to come in.
He hesitated, clearly spotting Sam through the glass.For a moment, Sam though he might pretend he hadn’t heard and keep walking.But Charlotte was already heading to the door, opening it.
“Come in for a minute,” Charlotte said.“I’ve been meaning to call you.”
Dylan’s eyes met Sam’s through the doorway, and something flickered across his face.Was it wariness or resignation?He came inside.
Chapter Ten
Charlotte gave hima cheerful greeting, but Dylan still seemed uneasy.Charlotte quickly said, “Hey, I got that new poetry collection.The Kaveh Akbar one.You’d been asking about it.”
Dylan’s features cleared.“Oh, thanks.I’ve been wanting to read it.”
“I kept it behind the register for you.Just in case there are other big poetry fans out here in Sunset Ridge.”She gave him a wink as if to say she seriously doubted it.
Charlotte handed him the book, and Dylan almost reverently started turning the pages.Then he hastily pulled out some crumpled bills from his wallet, handing them to Charlotte.“Thanks.I can’t wait to read it.”
She gave him his change, and Dylan looked as if he might hurry off.Then he seemed to focus back on Charlotte.“I heard what happened.Are you okay?That must have been ...” He seemed to search for a word before settling on one.“Upsetting.”
Charlotte nodded.“It was.And still very unsettling.”She gestured to Sam.“Sam was with me, too.”
Dylan gave Sam a sympathetic look.“I’m sorry.Sorry for you both.What an awful thing to have happened.I mean, Margaret was challenging, but I never wished her any harm.Was it a heart attack?”
That seemed to be the ailment of choice everyone had chosen to explain Margaret’s death.But then, Margaret had told everyone she was on heart medication.
Charlotte looked over at Sam.Sam said, “The police are treating it as a suspicious death.”
“Arethey?”Dylan paled.“You’re saying she was murdered?”
