Chapter Eight
Arlo, giving an exasperated huff, jumped off the bed and headed off to a corner of the room for a more restful sleep.
Later, when she’d gotten up, her morning exercise was sloppy at best, and she cut quite a few corners.
Then, when she looked in her fridge, she found her breakfast options uninspiring.
It hadn’t been the best day so far. She felt like she needed to hit the reset button and turn it back around again.
“I think I’m going to run out to the coffeehouse,” she announced to Arlo. He gave her a hopeful look. “Sorry, they don’t allow dogs there, which is very short-sighted of them. I’ll be back soon, love.”
Sam remembered on the way over that she’d seen Sofia Smith from book club work at the coffee shop sometimes.
Or maybe that was the underlying reason why she found herself on her way over there.
She wondered if Sofia was working today or if it was one of the days she was in her grad classes.
Of course, the problem was that it was morning, and she’d likely be busy even if she was working.
Mountain Perk Coffee Shop occupied a narrow storefront on Main Street with exposed brick walls, mismatched vintage furniture, and the rich aroma of freshly ground beans. Local art hung salon-style near a community bulletin board cluttered with flyers and business cards.
Sam found herself lucky on two counts; Sofia was working, and the shop wasn’t busy at all.
Sofia was behind the counter, wiping down the espresso machine.
She looked exhausted, her eyes red-rimmed.
She tensed slightly when she saw Sam, then gave her a tight smile.
“Hi,” Sofia said. “Sam, isn’t it? From book club? ”
Sam nodded. “That’s right. You’re Sofia?”
The young woman nodded. “What can I get for you today?”
Sam ordered an espresso, feeling like she needed the extra caffeine. Then, instead of taking a seat, she stood there to wait.
Sofia said quietly, “What did you think of book club?” Her hands were shaking slightly as she made the espresso.
“I thought everybody’s opinions on the books really gave me a lot more insight into the story than I got on my own,” said Sam truthfully.
Sofia nodded. “You’re planning on coming back next month? I mean considering everything? I guess you heard what happened.” Her voice caught slightly on the last words.
“I did. I was really sorry about Margaret.”
An expression Sam couldn’t really read passed across Sofia’s features. “I was too. Although we might have been the only ones.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s true. It sounded to me like Margaret contributed a lot to the discussions. It’s always good to have dissenting views.”
“She definitely had those,” said Sofia.
“You must really love reading. I’m sure you’re probably swamped with stuff you have to read for your graduate studies.”
Their conversation was interrupted as a customer came in. Sofia seemed almost relieved by the interruption. Sofia said to them, “The usual?” The customer nodded, and Sofia said, “I’ll get it for you in just a minute.”
Sam said, “I’m sorry to bother you. I guess I’m just trying to process everything.”
Sofia slid her espresso in front of her, and Sam paid up. Sofia said, “I get it. How about if I take a seat with you after I get this order done? We can talk about it a little. It’s been pretty slow this morning, anyway.”
“I’ll sit at the bar then. That’ll be easier for you.”
Sam watched as Sofia swiftly and competently got the customer’s drink prepared, although her movements seemed almost mechanical, as if she was just going through the motions. After checking his order out, she stood back in front of Sam at the bar. “You were asking why I joined book club.”
Sam gave her a smile. “Sorry, I must sound really nosy. I was just thinking you were already snowed under with books you had to read for school.”
“True. But I wanted to meet people. I’m new to the area.”
Sofia looked away. It felt to Sam like she was concealing something, although she wasn’t sure why she’d react that way to such an innocuous question.
“Why did you join?” asked Sofia, turning the tables.
“Actually, for the same reasons. I’m still new to Sunset Ridge, and I wanted to get more involved and meet people. Also, I wanted to show Charlotte some support.”
Sofia’s expression softened at this. “Yeah, Charlotte’s great. She’s been really nice to me.”
Sam nodded. “I’ve been in a kind of reading rut too. Just reading the same things. I thought joining the book club would be a good way for me to enjoy something totally different. Maybe I can find a new genre to read.”
Sofia gave her a rueful look. “You picked the wrong time to join, didn’t you?
I guess the police have spoken with you, too?
” She pushed a cleaning rag over the surface of the already-clean bar.
She’d made the question sound casual, but Sam noticed the tightening of her muscles, as if she really wanted to know.
“Yes, I’ve spoken with them. Actually, Charlotte and I were the ones who discovered poor Margaret. So the police were talking with us right away.”
Sofia stiffened. “You were there when she was found?”
“That’s right. Charlotte had asked me to come by when she opened so we could work on her social media branding. It was quite a shock. Charlotte especially took it hard, because she’d known Margaret for a while.”
Sofia nodded at this. “Was she at the shop the whole night?”
“I’m afraid she was. At least, it sure looks that way.”
Sofia immediately said, “I went straight home after the meeting. I had a project I needed to work on.”
“I get the impression that maybe she died before anyone actually left the building. But that’s just a guess.” Sam paused. “What did you make of Margaret?” asked Sam carefully.
“She was intense. Really critical. I don’t like speaking ill of the dead, but she was a hard person to like. I don’t think anyone in the group did.” Her voice softened a little. “Except Charlotte, maybe. But Charlotte is always really generous with everyone.”
Sam quietly sipped her espresso for a moment, thinking the pause might make Sofia continue. Which, eventually, it did.
“I wanted us to focus on some lighter reading,” said Sofia finally.
“You know, something fun and engaging. But Margaret didn’t want that.
She made me feel stupid for even suggesting it.
Having Margaret around made everyone uncomfortable.
It made us all second-guess our opinions about a book or offering up anything to begin with, since she was going to shoot them down.
She was just really critical and harsh. It made us all pretty tense. ”
“I’m sorry. It sounds like a really tough atmosphere for an honest exchange of ideas. It’s terrible what happened to Margaret, but it sounds like the book club meetings, in some ways, might grow for the better.”
Sofia bobbed her head. “That’s totally true.” She absentmindedly wiped down an area of the bar that she’d already cleaned. “Margaret had a bad effect on everybody. Dylan, especially.”
“He’s the poet, isn’t he?”
Sofia took a deep breath. “He wants to be.”
“Did he share any of his work with Margaret?” Sam winced inwardly at this. She hoped he hadn’t, in some ways. Margaret certainly wasn’t the most nurturing of reviewers. And the young man had seemed vulnerable to her in some ways.
“He knew better than to do that. He’d seen what happened when Claire talked about writing romance.
But he had an open mic night. Right over there,” said Sofia, gesturing to a corner of the store where the shop would host performers.
“I wasn’t working that night, but I heard about it. It was a real disaster.”
Another couple of customers came in, and Sofia spent the next ten minutes taking care of their orders.
Sam thought about how discouraging Margaret had been to the nascent talent of the younger book club members.
It wasn’t ever easy to have your dreams dashed like that.
Was it enough to murder someone over, though?
Maybe in the heat of the moment, but if Margaret had been poisoned?
After Sofia wrapped up the orders, she stood in front of Sam again.
“You were talking about Dylan,” Sam said.
Sofia made a dismissive gesture. “I don’t really know anything about it. Like I said, I wasn’t here. But I know he was really crushed by Margaret’s reaction to his poetry. He mentioned quitting the club. I was glad he stuck around.”
Sam circled back to something that had been bothering her. “You said Margaret made you feel stupid for suggesting lighter reading? It sounds like she did that often? Made people feel small?”
Sofia’s hands stilled on the milk pitcher she’d been wiping. For just a moment, her carefully neutral expression cracked.
“She did it her whole life.” The words came out sharp, almost bitter. Then, Sofia seemed to catch herself, softening her tone. “I mean, from what I heard. From the other members. That Margaret was always that way.”
“You’ve heard stories about her from before the book club?” asked Sam.
“Just . . . you know. It’s a small town. People talk. Charlotte mentioned Margaret had been teaching for like thirty years. That’s a lot of students who probably have stories.”
“Did you know her from before?” asked Sam. “From the university, maybe? Before she retired?”
“No.” The answer was quick, defensive. Sofia busied herself with rearranging the cup lids that didn’t need rearranging. “I didn’t know her. But I’ve known people like her. Professors who think tearing other people down is the same as teaching.”
Then the door opened as another customer walked in, and Sofia’s professional mask slid back into place. Sam turned to see that the customer was Chief Hawkins. He spotted Sam immediately. “Ms. Prescott. You’re everywhere, aren’t you?”
“Just getting coffee.”
“Uh-huh. Just try to leave some investigating for the actual police.” In his voice was a weary acceptance.
Before she could answer, Hawkins was chatting with Sofia. Sam decided this might be the perfect opportunity to ask him a few questions. But not in front of Sofia. She quietly finished her coffee, waved to the barista, then left to sit at a table outside the coffeehouse to wait for her quarry.
Hawkins followed a few minutes later with his coffee in hand.
“So,” he said, taking a sip. “Sofia Smith. What did you learn?”
“Like I said, I was just visiting with her. She’s a member of my book club, after all. I’m trying to get to know everyone.”
“Right.” Hawkins waited.
Sam sighed. “I didn’t learn much. She said she barely knew Margaret because Sofia’s a new member. She left when everyone else did and went back home to work on a grad school project.”
“Which matches what she told us,” said Hawkins.
Sam hesitated. There was something off with Sofia, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “She seemed really stressed out. That could just be school, work, and the fact she’s now caught up in an investigation.” She paused. “Which I’m assuming is a murder inquiry.”
Hawkins frowned at her. “What makes you assume that?”
“The fact you’re pressing me on what I heard from Sofia.”
Hawkins sighed. “Margaret’s death was suspicious. You were right about that.”
“Was it poisoned? The coffee, I mean?”
He nodded. “That’s right. Although I’m still curious how you came to that conclusion. You’re sure you didn’t know Margaret Brennan?”
“Not at all. I hadn’t met her before book club. Our paths hadn’t crossed whatsoever.”
“Kind of odd in a small town,” said Hawkins. He took another sip of coffee. “Look, I know I can’t stop you from asking questions around town. But when you learn something relevant, I need to know. This isn’t a game. And you could get hurt.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” His voice was gentle but firm. “Because somebody killed Margaret Brennan, and killers don’t appreciate amateur detectives getting too close to the truth.”
“I’m careful.”
“That’s what worries me. You’re pretty good at this, and you don’t know when to quit.” He sighed. “Just watch your back. And call me if you find anything solid.”
“I will.”
Hawkins headed toward his cruiser, and Sam turned toward her car. As she did, she glanced back at Mountain Perk.
Through the plate-glass window, Sofia stood at the counter, clearly visible. Watching Sam with a thoughtful expression on her face.