Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sam didn’t argue.Herlegs felt shaky, and she realized her hands were trembling.
Arlo greeted them at the door with his usual enthusiasm, completely unaware of how close his human had come to serious harm.Sam sank onto her sofa while Aiden locked the door behind them and then disappeared into her kitchen.
He returned with a glass of water and a throw blanket, which he draped gently over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Sam said quietly.
Aiden sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched.“Do you want to talk about it?Or would you rather just relax and be quiet for a while?”
Sam considered.The events at the bookshop felt both surreal and far too real at the same time.“Pamela was just a sad, angry person who’d been hurt and never got past it.And she killed two people because of it.”
Aiden nodded.
Sam said, “I can’t help feeling sorry for her.Margaret stole her research, took credit, then destroyed her academic career.It was awful.But it just doesn’t justify murder.”
“No,” Aiden agreed.“It doesn’t.”
They sat in silence for a moment.Then Aiden said, “You said she tried to kill you.”
“She had a heavy bookend.”Sam stopped, the image too clear in her mind.“If that driver hadn’t arrived when he did, it could have been a totally different ending.”
Aiden’s jaw tightened.He reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.“But he did arrive.You’re safe.”
Sam squeezed his hand, grateful for the solid warmth.“I threw a book at her,” she said and was surprised to hear herself laugh.It was a slightly hysterical sound.“I have truly awful aim.I missed by about two feet.”
“I’ll take you out to the batting cages,” Aiden said, his tone serious, but his eyes warm.“We’ll work on that.”
Sam laughed again, more naturally this time.Then, without thinking too hard about it, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
He went still for a moment, then shifted slightly so she’d be more comfortable.His free hand came up to rest gently against her hair.
“I’m glad you happened by when you did,” Sam said quietly.“I needed to see a friendly face.”
“I always take Main Street on my way home from school,” Aiden said.“I saw the crowd and the woman in the road.Then I saw you.”He paused.“I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Sam lifted her head to look at him.
“I’m okay,” she said softly.“Really.”
“I know.”But he didn’t move away.“Sam, I—”
Sam’s phone rang, shattering the moment.She pulled back and fumbled for it in her purse.The screen showed Lieutenant Phillips’s number.
“I should take this,” she said apologetically.“It’s Phillips.”
Aiden nodded and stood, giving her space.“I’ll make some coffee.”
Sam answered the phone.“Lieutenant Phillips.”
