Sam said slowly, “There seemed like there was a lot of tension between Margaret and the other club members.A lot of pent-up hostility.”
“That’s a pretty strong statement.”
Sam nodded.“But it’s true.I’d never met Margaret before last night, but I could tell she was the kind of person who didn’t hold back.She said exactly what was on her mind with no regard for anybody’s feelings.”
“Whose feelings did you think she might have hurt?And give me an overview of the people who attended last night, in the process.”
Fortunately, Samhadtaken those notes that Hawkins had been so derisive about.So she could easily recite who was there.Sometimes, being Type-A was useful.
“Claire Mills is the club president.She’s very chipper and eager to expand the club.Gerald Parker was there; he’s the treasurer.Sofia Smith, a grad student.Dylan Morrison, a poet.And a retired librarian named Pamela Cross.”
“No one else?”
Sam said, “Well, Olivia was there.And Charlotte.”
Hawkins said, “Olivia Stanton?”
“That’s right.”Sam was reluctant to even confirm Olivia’s presence there.She’d been a suspect before and it didn’t seem quite fair for her to be one again.
Hawkins was carefully making notes as Sam named the members.Giving a bob of his head, he said, “And you felt that tension coming from everybody?”
“That’s right.The air was thick with it.I thought maybe it was because I was there as a new member and everyone wanted to make a good impression.”
“But Margaret Brennan was less concerned about that?”asked Hawkins.
“Correct.She slammed the book they’d read.And she argued over the next selection the club was choosing.”
Hawkins nodded.“What was her manner like when she was doing this?In other words, was she just straightforward with her criticism and other statements?”
“Honestly, it seemed more mean-spirited.I can’t imagine how she must have been in the classroom.”
Hawkins raised his eyebrows.“She taught kids?”
“College students.But I bet she must have cowed everybody in her classroom.Anyway, the point was that she seemed like a tough, straight-shooting person.That doesn’t mean she was murdered, of course.It just means that I wouldn’t be shocked to discover she’d gotten on someone’s bad side.”
Hawkins nodded.“Okay.Did you actually see anyone tampering with her coffee cup?”
“No.But I wasn’t expecting her to die, of course.In general, it was the kind of environment where someonecouldhave easily tampered with her cup.There was lots of milling around and chit-chatting before Charlotte called the meeting to order.”
Hawkins said, “Tell me what happened following the meeting.”
Sam shrugged.“We adjourned.People were paying Charlotte for the next month’s selection.We put our folding chairs away and brought our teacups in the main room of the bookshop.People were still talking with each other when Olivia and I walked out together.”
“And no one noticed Margaret Brennan was left behind?”
Sam said, “No.Charlotte said she assumed everyone had left by the time she was closing up the shop.”
“It seems like she’d have noticed her in there when she was turning off the lights for the night.”
Sam shook her head.“No.The light switch for that room is on the wall leading into it.It’s in the main bookshop area.”
“Okay.”Hawkins made another note, then tapped his pencil on the notepad.“I may need to get in touch with you again for more information.”
“Not a problem.”Sam looked down the street and saw a much calmer-looking Charlotte leaving the coffeehouse with Martinez in tow.
Charlotte walked up to Sam as Martinez and Hawkins went into the shop.“I don’t even know what to say about all this.”
“It sounds like you won’t have your shop back for a while.Would you like to come over to my house?Or do you feel more like resting at your own?”
