“What did you find out?”asked Sam.
“That she was just herself.Brilliant and cutting and incapable of holding back.”There was sadness in her voice.
Aiden said, “Did your mom recognize you?It sounds like it had been a while since you’d seen each other.You said the last time you talked was on the phone.”
“That’s right.It had been six or seven years.And no, she didn’t seem to recognize me at first.”Her tone was bitter.“But then, she didn’t really look at me when Charlotte introduced me to the group, and I wasn’t using her last name.She acted indifferent.”
“But later?She knew who you were then?”asked Sam.
“It took a few weeks.Then I saw her studying me, this sort of flat expression on her face.She didn’t look happy to see me.But she clearly knew who I was.”Sofia sighed.“I thought maybe if I could understand my mom better, I could figure out how to talk with her.I wanted to try to bridge that gap between us.”
Sam said gently, “You wanted your mother alive.”
“Of course I did.I was angry and hurt, but I didn’t want her dead.I just wanted her to really see me for once.Maybe to even be proud of me.”She gave a short laugh.“Although that might have been asking too much.But our time together was cut short anyway, so I guess I’ll never know.”
They were quiet for a few moments.Then Sofia continued.“Look, I know how this seems.You’re right that it’s better for me to figure out how to present this because the police are sure to take it seriously.I lied about who I was.I lied about how I was connected to Margaret.My mom.I just panicked.”
Aiden nodded.“It’s understandable.Still, it’s probably better for you in the long run to tell the police about your connection to Margaret before they find out on their own.”
“You’re right.”
Sam said slowly, “So, the last time we spoke, you mentioned Dylan was someone who might have wanted to murder Margaret.”
“That’s right.Honestly, he’s the one who worried me most.After that open mic disaster and the interview where my mom gave that awful quote, he was totally devastated.”
Aiden asked, “So he was more upset than angry?”
“Well, he was both.Definitely more upset at first.His poetry is something he’s obviously passionate about.He was embarrassed by what happened.But then, a couple of weeks later, something shifted.Dylan looked furious to me.There was something on his face.It looked like he wanted to kill her.Believe me, I understood.My mother took it way too far.”
“Did you ever hear Dylan threaten your mom?”asked Sam.
Sofia shook her head.“Not in so many words.But his body language was pretty clear.I mean, other people weren’t happy with my mom either.But his anger was the most visible in the group.And, after all, his humiliation was both public and documented.I wouldn’t have thought it possible for him to murder her at first, but after the newspaper article came out, he seemed capable of anything.”
Sofia glanced at the clock behind the bar and straightened.“I’ve got to cut this short.My break’s almost over.”She looked between Sam and Aiden, her expression still raw from everything she’d revealed.“Thanks for listening.And for not making me feel like a terrible person for lying.”
“You were just protecting yourself,” said Sam gently.
Sofia managed a small smile.“Maybe.Or maybe I was just a coward who couldn’t face telling my mother I wanted to get to know her.”
Aiden stood, picking up their empty cups.“For what it’s worth, I think it took a lot of courage to go to book club at all.”
Sofia’s eyes glistened, but she blinked quickly and reached to take the cups from Aiden.“I’ve got these.”
Sam and Aiden made their way out into the bright Saturday morning.The mountain air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the first hints of fall.
“That was intense,” said Aiden as they reached his car.
“That’s an understatement.”Sam slid into the passenger seat.“She really thinks Dylan’s the threat.”
Aiden started the engine but didn’t pull out of the parking space immediately.“What did you think?”
Sam glanced up from her phone.“About Dylan?”
“About Sofia.About everything she said.”
Sam considered this.“I believe her.I think she wanted to reconnect with Margaret, not murder her.Her grief seemed real.”She paused.“But I’m not sure about Dylan being the killer.She’s pointing at him because his anger was the most obvious.That doesn’t make him a murderer.”
“No,” Aiden agreed, finally pulling out onto Main Street.“But it does make him someone we need to look at carefully.”
